After a run to the state tournament in 2018, and a trip to the regional semifinals in 2019, it appeared that 2020 was set to be a rebuilding project for the Christian County Colonels baseball program. However, we were denied the chance to see just how that project would go as the COVID-19 pandemic put an end to the high school baseball season before it ever got started.
The losses from 2018 were not just significant for the Colonels, they were numerous. Essentially, an entire lineup of players graduated, leaving some big shoes to fill all across the field. On the 2020 roster for Christian County were only four players that saw action in the field in more than ten games in 2019. And, only one pitcher took the mound in more than ten games over the course of the 2019 season.
The returning corp of players was set to be led by seniors Layton Stallons and Bryson Brown, and sophomores Houston George and Elijah Underhill.
George was at the top of that quartet in terms of swinging the bat at the plate. George connected for 5 doubles and 5 RBIs in 2019. Brown had seven RBIs, while Underhill had 5 of his own. Those three, along with Stallons would have been counted upon to step up their offensive production. Juniors Joshua Snorton and Isaiah Forrest would have been expected to see increased roles as well for the Colonels.
On the mound, it would have been a chance for several players to see significantly expanded roles. The loss of Lane Diuguid, Eric Silvy, and Wyatt Stevenson created big gaps in the Christian County rotation.
Layton Stallons would have been among the anchors of the 2020 rotation. Stallons appeared in the most games for the Colonels in 2019, taking the mound 13 times, with two of those being starts. He finished 2-2 with 2 saves. After Stallons, there would likely have been significant roles for Chance Henderson, Elijah Underhill, and Bryson Brown.
After Stallons, Underhill saw the most innings in 2019, with 16 1/3. Henderson and Brown had a combined 22 1/3 innings for the Colonels last year. Henderson had the best ERA of the crew at 1.75 in limited innings.
The 2nd Region appeared to have some very good teams lined up in 2020, with Hopkinsville, Madisonville, Henderson County, and Caldwell County looking to contend, so it may have been a challenging year for the young Colonels, but you never know what can happen when you step between the lines.
With all of that said, we salute the seniors, who did not get the chance to see just what they could do, just one more time:
Bryson Brown
Layton Stallons
