When a conversation comes up about Lowcountry high school baseball teams, Stratford High School must be considered one of those with legitimate chances to reel in a region crown and possibly more as spring approaches and the curtains come up on a new season.
Last season, Stratford ended up 19-7 and made the Class 5A playoffs, a 12-game improvement in the win column from 2017. Practically the whole squad has returned in 2019 as the Knights look to make a run.
“We have had a good offseason in the weight room and will continue to lift throughout the season,” said Brandon Beckman, entering his fourth season as the baseball coach on Crowfield Boulevard. “We’ve made it a priority for our athletes to be in the weight room and get stronger. We are excited for the opportunity to get back on the field and see how much we have improved with getting a year older.”
Among the group returning are senior catcher Travis Lott and senior first baseman Blake Marrs, who will be counted to provide a lot of pop in the middle of the order. Lott, a Citadel signee, batted .387 with 23 RBIs and .577 on-base percentage. Marrs, a Lander commitment, batted .338 with 17 RBIs. He’ll also see time behind the dish.
Senior shortstop Dylan Stewart missed last season with an injury but started at third base and batted leadoff in 2016, finishing with a .435 on-base percentage. Sophomore third baseman Josh Davis slides over from shortstop. Sophomore Nick Lott is projected to start at second base.
Extra infielders are senior Kevin Mood (1B), sophomore A.J. Bryant (2B/3B) and sophomore Mason Lord (3B).
From left to right, junior Matthew Cudd, senior Cody Kinard and sophomore Jace McQuillan are projected to start in the outfield. Additional outfielders are junior Carter Smith, senior Vito Dorio and junior Jaden Maynor.
On the bump, junior southpaw Robbie Fleming returns after going 4-2 with a 1.84 earned-run average. Davis was 2-3 with a 0.94 ERA and threw one no-hitter in 2018. Cudd was 4-0 with a 3.38 ERA. Maynor was 2-1 with a save and Dorio earned two wins on the year.
Kinard, the saves leader, is also coming back.
Additional pitchers are senior Kaden Taylor, Stewart, Bryant and McQuillan.
“Looking at our schedule and our group coming back, we have the opportunity to be successful and reach some of the goals we have set but opportunities are only what you make of them,” Beckman said. “We must continue to get better each and every day and can’t be afraid to face adversity throughout the season. We really believe that if we can be mentally tough throughout the year we will have a chance to be where we want to be at the end of the year.”
Beckman believes the slate the Knights have to face will prepare them for the postseason.
They begin the year in the inaugural Shipyard Park/PBR Showdown against Indian Land, Nation Ford and Byrnes on Feb. 22-24 at Shipyard Park. The Knights will also cap the regular season in a tournament, the Hanahan Invitational Tournament April 15-18.
They’ll tangle with West Ashley (March 6/April 12), Fort Dorchester (March 8), Stall (March 15), Ashley Ridge (March 22), Summerville (March 29) and White Knoll (April 13) in the non-conference portion of their slate.
Conference showdowns are James Island (March 12-13), Wando (March 18, 20), Cane Bay (March 25, 27), Berkeley (April 1, 3) and Goose Creek (April 8, 10).
“This year is going to be challenging,” Beckman said. “We are in a difficult region. We will see Berkeley, who is always well coached and mentally tough. James Island, which has talent, has always been a one- or two-run game. Wando, which is one of the largest schools in the state, has the ability to win a lot of games each year. Cane Bay has shown they are a talented group of kids with great coaches who know how to win. You throw Goose Creek in there, which is always gritty, and it makes for a tough region slate. You throw in our non-conference schedule and that will battle test you each night.”
