Matt Vines
STONEWALL – The North DeSoto baseball team knew that replacing two Class 4A All-Staters and another two honorable mention players, which included The Shreveport Times Pitcher of the Year and MVP, would be a challenge.
But the Griffins are passing that test, mostly with flying colors, as the season stands at the midway point.
North DeSoto is 12-4 with two more weeks until the heart of its District 1-4A schedule, sitting at No. 7 in the latest Division III Non-Select power ratings released Monday.
Coach Bo Odom said his team has progressed on his expected schedule after losing a lot of talent from a core group that led the Griffins to two straight semifinals.
“Those guys were really good, and we knew they’ve been really good since they were freshmen and sophomores,” Odom said of a core group that included Robert Ashley, Kameron Mangum, Braden Richardson, Kaleb Gibson and Eli Morris. “We knew we had a good group coming in, but we don’t have quite the offensive punch as we did last year.
“But the kids are getting better at-bats. It’s been a test to find which players will play which roles, but I really like this group and where we are at the halfway point.”
The Griffins ran into a “buzzsaw” Red River bunch in a 3-0 loss Tuesday, but North DeSoto had won 10 of its last 11 games before that.
The lone loss came to Lutcher, but North DeSoto racked up wins against quality opponents like Ouachita, Oak Grove, Tioga, Pineville and Airline.
Reni Mason has also seen his role increase, providing one of the RBIs in a 2-1 win against Pineville, and two RBIs in a 5-1 win against Tioga.
Even with Tuesday’s three-run loss, North DeSoto is 6-2 in games decided by three runs or less.
Blayne McFerren is back at North DeSoto for his senior season (Calvary Baptist last year), and McFerren, Trysten Hopper, Cole Cory, Bryant LaCour and Luke Delafield form the core of the Griffins’ offensive lineup.
“Blayne has done a fine job for us,” Odom said. “Hopper is hitting the ball well, and Delafield has really come on the past few weeks.
“We’ve got guys playing bigger roles like Cole Cory, Bryant LaCour, and Brayden Toothman, and they are coming around.”
Hopper, Kaleb Carter and Caleb Roles – all seniors – have separated themselves as North DeSoto’s top three pitchers.
“Hopper pitched for us last year, and he’s done well again,” Odom said. “Carter is throwing really well, and Roles is our other top guy.
“We’re really competitive when they are on the mound.”
To survive in the LHSAA series playoff model (rounds two and three), Odom said he’d like to develop four or five pitchers who can consistently throw strikes.
“Young guys are getting chances too,” Odom said. “Mason Byford and Trik Lively have gotten appearances, and Braden Jones is another young guy we’re trying out.
“We’re working well toward finding those guys. Our hitters have gotten about 30 at-bats at this point in the season, so we’re seeing the ones who can help us on the offensive side. That’s what we’ll be determining these next three or four weeks.”