Hunter: Cold weather hampered start

By DAVID HUNTER

The cold weather has affected the start of the high school spring sports schedule this week, which could not start until March 13 including Cannon County High School.

As of March 14, most of them had been postponed or cancelled, because of a combination of rain, snow and cold temperatures this week. Honestly, it has been hard to get a good look at the teams early on except for the CCMG softball team. More on them later.

First, the CCHS spring sports teams, like during the fall and winter, the same theme has applied to the Lions and Lionettes. This spring is no different. The Lions soccer and baseball team will be looking to a group of experienced seniors in terms of leadership along with some upperclassmen stepping into increased roles after several key seniors graduated in 2016.

The seniors to look for this season on the diamond and pitch, who are experienced in this environment along with providing leadership include Sam Scheu, Preston Campbell and Chandler Todd for the Lions baseball team and Justin Hill, Qwentin McMackins and Jake and Josh Walkup for the Lions soccer team.

While the Lionettes softball and tennis teams also has a select group of seniors back, but will also be amid a youth movement this season, especially in starring roles so early in their high school careers.

The foursome of seniors on the softball diamond, include Joie and Kallie McCrary, Raquel Novoa and Laura Beth Nichols, while the seniors on the tennis court, include Alli Howard, Leah Hyatt, Kasay Sadler and Kaylee Nemeth.

Since all four CCHS spring sports teams have a small group of determined seniors with lots of experience, a new crop of underclassmen hopes to step in and help improve each of their respective squads in 2017 as CCHS looks to compete in the district this season.

As for the two middle grade spring teams, baseball and softball, one is looking to continue their success from 2016, while the other is looking to forget about last season.

A lot of the talent from last year's Junior Lionette softball team will play key roles for the CCHS softball team this season, but Coach Marcus Arnold's team keeps reloading as these Junior Lionettes are already 5-0 on the season as of March 14.

As for the Junior Lion baseball team, they are hoping to break through and win their first varsity game in over a year since they went winless in 2016. Five eighth graders hope the lead the way to victory this season. Last week, they lost their first game only 2-0, but it will only get better for all the local spring sports teams.