West Wilkes Preview

PROGRAM INFORMATION

HIGH SCHOOL NAME West Wilkes

MASCOT Blackhawks

CLASSIFICATION 2A          

CONFERENCE Foothills Conference                  

HEAD COACH Drew Ward       

TWITTER @WWhawkbaseball

INSTAGRAM wwblackhawkbaseball           

HOME FIELD: The Creek 6598 Boone Trail, Millers Creek, NC 29651

                  

PROGRAM HISTORY

PROGRAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

+ Conference Champions - Mountain Valley 2021

 + State Champions -  Northwest 1A- 2010

PREVIEWING 2022     

SCHEDULE: CLICK HERE & find the 2024 schedule

ROSTER: CLICK HERE & find the 2024 roster

PRESEASON EVENT:

Tri-Scrimmage at Rockingham High School.  WW, Rockingham, Heritage Blackhawk B.E.S.T.- March 2 at West Wilkes.  WW, East Wilkes, Surry Central, North Stokes, Mountain Heritage, Polk County, North Surry Classic at The Creek- March 4-8 at West Wilkes.  WW, Saint Stephens, Watauga, Mount Airy, North Surry, North Iredell

SPRING BREAK: N/A

STARTERS RETURNING: 6           

RETURNING PITCHERS: 4           

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

Expectations for Team - Strong core of returning players that are led by two uncommitted seniors Brady Penland and Branson Davis. Look for the team to gel and make a run at the conference title. 

From the Coach,Expected Team Strength
As a team, we are excited about our returners, both in the lineup and on the mound.  We will return 6 of our regular offensive starters, last year's #2 arm and our closer.  We have been working hard to continue to develop young arms and bats that we are excited about and now return with varsity experience this year.  We plan to play a team game of baseball ,offensively doing whatever is necessary to score runs, but also feel like we can drive the baseball and do damage. Ultimately, our pitching and defense will tell the story.

THOUGHTS ON THE CONFERENCE:

We always expect to see a team's best, no matter the team or how things are going.  East Surry has won the league the last two seasons and looks to return strong.  Forbush has finished 2nd both years and has a very solid pitching staff.  North Surry, Surry Central, Wilkes Central, and North Wilkes all return key pieces to their teams and always compete. The regular season championship and slots down from there have come down to the last week of the season each year and I expect that to be the case again.  If someone runs away with it, I will be surprised.  Each night in this league, especially playing the same team twice each week, is always a dogfight.  Once we get through this conference season, I think the playoff teams are prepared for the playoffs and have been battle tested.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Eli Johnson RHP / C. E. Jordan, NC / 2024

HAYDEN GENTRY 3B / RHP / West Wilkes, NC / 2026

Zeb Shepherd CF / West Wilkes, NC / 2025