Huskies baseball looking to ‘finish’ in 2020

It’s difficult for Jeff Mauldin to hide his confidence when it comes to the potential of this year’s team.

The Hewitt-Trussville High School baseball team has high expectations for the 2020 campaign, and for good reason.

Nearly every projected starter for this year’s team got significant playing time on last year’s team, one that advanced to the Class 7A state semifinals and lost a series to Bob Jones that could have gone either way.

“We’re very excited about these kids, because they’ve played a lot together,” Mauldin said. “[The seniors] played as sophomores on a team that went to Montgomery [for the state championship series] and as juniors on a team that made it to the final four.”

Last spring, the Huskies surpassed 30 wins for the second straight season, went 5-1 in the challenging Class 7A, Area 6, and defeated Oak Mountain and Florence in the state playoffs before falling to Bob Jones.

“It helps a ton,” senior second baseman Tyler Mauldin said of having so many players back from last season. “Guys who were here last year knew what it felt like at the end of last year and how terrible it felt. We know what it feels like to lose it, but we want to know what it feels like to dogpile and win it.”

The Huskies’ six seniors this year will all play significant roles, and center fielder Kerrigan Edmonson wants to see his class lead the way in going out on a high note.

“We know we have to do to get there, so we just have to work every day,” he said.

Around the infield, junior Jackson Holland returns to man first base. Holland was a big part of the Huskies’ lineup through spring break last year, when he broke his arm. He returned to the lineup for the final two playoff series as a designated hitter.

Tyler Mauldin, a Northwest Florida State Community College signee, has been a fixture at second base. Junior Hudson Boren returns at shortstop. Jeff Mauldin calls him “as steady as it gets defensively.”

Standout pitcher Michael Fowler, who has signed with LSU, will be a regular in the batting order once again this spring after being limited to just pitching last season. Fowler will play third base when he’s not blowing opponents away from atop the rubber.

“He’ll be as good as anybody in the state when he’s right,” Jeff Mauldin said. “When he’s right and feels good, he’s special.”

In the outfield, the Huskies boast three future college players. Senior Keith Lanum, who will play at Bishop State Community College, moves over to left field. Alabama State signee Edmonson will take over center field, leaving Trey Burrell, a Grambling State commit, to take over in right field after playing a big role down the stretch last year.

“Very heady player, good defensively, tracks fly balls with angles really well,” Jeff Maudlin said of moving Edmonson to center.

Behind the plate is the one spot Hewitt-Trussville returns a player without ample innings logged. Gavin Ellison takes over that spot for the Huskies this season, but Jeff Mauldin sees no reason to lack confidence in the backstop.

“He was a backup last year, so he got a lot of experience in practice,” he said.

Jeff Mauldin also made a point to mention

On the pitching staff, the Huskies have a few arms capable of supporting Fowler well. Skylar Jones, a junior, is back after a breakout campaign in 2019. Tyler Mauldin will pitch some as well, along with Riley Quick, Owen Boren, Benjamin Lamons and Aiden Rhodes.

The only flaw to be found with the Huskies’ roster is that there is not much proven beyond the team’s top-line guys.

“The biggest weakness we have is we’re thin as a roster,” Jeff Mauldin said.

Hewitt-Trussville also has to contend with one of the top areas in the state. Spain Park, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills put strong teams on the field each season, with only two of the four able to qualify for the postseason.

“All four of us could be ranked in the top 10 and two of us not make the playoffs, and we understand that,” Jeff Mauldin said. “Our first goal is to find a way to navigate into the playoffs. After that, anything can happen.”

Jeff Mauldin believes his team has what it takes to accomplish just as much as the past two seasons, and his six seniors will go down as one of the winningest classes in school history.

“It’s going to be fun to see how their chapter ends,” he said.