Randy Wright has been through this before.

Every three years or so, he has to rebuild his juggernaut at Porters Chapel Academy. In 2001, the Eagles reached the MPSA Class A championship series with seven seniors in the starting lineup. In 2002, they returned to the playoffs and a year later won their first state title — with another big group of seniors. By 2006, they were state champs again.

As the 2008 season approaches, Wright is reloading again. PCA lost eight seniors from last year’s squad that reached the second round of the Class AA playoffs. There’s enough left in the cupboard, though, that he’s not expecting a huge dropoff — nor an end to a string of nine straight playoff appearances.

“We lost eight senior starters that had all been starting since they were sophomores. When you lose that kind of experience and athleticism, it’s tough to replace,” said Wright, who has led the Eagles to the Class A finals four times since 2001. “We’re going to play who we’ve got. Like that old saying goes, we’re not rebuilding, we’re reloading. We have established our program and been winning for a long time. I feel real good about us having success this year.”

It’s a lot easier to feel good when you’ve got an ace in your back pocket.

Senior pitcher Matt Cranfield is one of the top pitchers in Class A and will anchor a solid, but largely inexperienced staff. Cranfield’s fastball tops out around 90 mph, but isn’t his biggest weapon. The right-hander also mixes in a curveball, change-up and knuckleball, and can locate all of his pitches well.

He’s also pitched well in pressure situations. As a sophomore in 2006, he was on the mound for the decisive Game 3 of PCA’s championship series victory over Huntington.

“Cranfield led us to a state championship when he was a sophomore. He’s way better now than he was then,” Wright said. “He’s the backbone of the team, no doubt.”

Behind Cranfield in the rotation are Austin Barber, St. Aloysius transfer Clayton Holmes, and senior lefty Chris May. Of the three, May is the only one with significant varsity experience. He’s 7-0 over the last two seasons, has a fastball in the low 80 mph range and good curve, but struggled with his control in 2007. He walked 36 batters in 24 innings.

May said he’s worked hard this offseason to learn to locate his pitches better.

“I pitched more this year in the winter than I have before. Practiced more. I think my control is getting better,” May said. “I haven’t pitched to a live batter yet, though. I can’t wait to start to see if I’ve improved.”

PCA’s pitching staff should carry the team as its offense rounds into form. Barber, May and Cranfield are the only seniors on the roster, and of the returning players only May and Cranfield had more than 20 varsity at-bats last season. Cranfield hit .385 with four homers and 34 RBIs, while May was more of a singles hitter with a .304 average, seven RBIs and no extra base hits in 23 at-bats. As a team, PCA hit .407 last year.

The weaker lineup, along with four players getting a late start because of winter sports, may force Wright to change his offensive philosophy. Of course, that’s something else he’s been through when the roster turned over. It rarely lasts. In 2002, the Eagles hit .348 as a team. In 2004, they hit .390.

“In the past few years we’ve played a lot of gorilla ball. This year’s team may be more of a bunting and running team,” Wright said. “But we’ve showed some pop in batting practice lately. So I may be wrong.”By Ernest Bowker

ebowker@vicksburgpost.com

Randy Wright has been through this before.

Every three years or so, he has to rebuild his juggernaut at Porters Chapel Academy. In 2001, the Eagles reached the MPSA Class A championship series with seven seniors in the starting lineup. In 2002, they returned to the playoffs and a year later won their first state title — with another big group of seniors. By 2006, they were state champs again.

As the 2008 season approaches, Wright is reloading again. PCA lost eight seniors from last year’s squad that reached the second round of the Class AA playoffs. There’s enough left in the cupboard, though, that he’s not expecting a huge dropoff — nor an end to a string of nine straight playoff appearances.

“We lost eight senior starters that had all been starting since they were sophomores. When you lose that kind of experience and athleticism, it’s tough to replace,” said Wright, who has led the Eagles to the Class A finals four times since 2001. “We’re going to play who we’ve got. Like that old saying goes, we’re not rebuilding, we’re reloading. We have established our program and been winning for a long time. I feel real good about us having success this year.”

It’s a lot easier to feel good when you’ve got an ace in your back pocket.

Senior pitcher Matt Cranfield is one of the top pitchers in Class A and will anchor a solid, but largely inexperienced staff. Cranfield’s fastball tops out around 90 mph, but isn’t his biggest weapon. The right-hander also mixes in a curveball, change-up and knuckleball, and can locate all of his pitches well.

He’s also pitched well in pressure situations. As a sophomore in 2006, he was on the mound for the decisive Game 3 of PCA’s championship series victory over Huntington.

“Cranfield led us to a state championship when he was a sophomore. He’s way better now than he was then,” Wright said. “He’s the backbone of the team, no doubt.”

Behind Cranfield in the rotation are Austin Barber, St. Aloysius transfer Clayton Holmes, and senior lefty Chris May. Of the three, May is the only one with significant varsity experience. He’s 7-0 over the last two seasons, has a fastball in the low 80 mph range and good curve, but struggled with his control in 2007. He walked 36 batters in 24 innings.

May said he’s worked hard this offseason to learn to locate his pitches better.

“I pitched more this year in the winter than I have before. Practiced more. I think my control is getting better,” May said. “I haven’t pitched to a live batter yet, though. I can’t wait to start to see if I’ve improved.”

PCA’s pitching staff should carry the team as its offense rounds into form. Barber, May and Cranfield are the only seniors on the roster, and of the returning players only May and Cranfield had more than 20 varsity at-bats last season. Cranfield hit .385 with four homers and 34 RBIs, while May was more of a singles hitter with a .304 average, seven RBIs and no extra base hits in 23 at-bats. As a team, PCA hit .407 last year.

The weaker lineup, along with four players getting a late start because of winter sports, may force Wright to change his offensive philosophy. Of course, that’s something else he’s been through when the roster turned over. It rarely lasts. In 2002, the Eagles hit .348 as a team. In 2004, they hit .390.

“In the past few years we’ve played a lot of gorilla ball. This year’s team may be more of a bunting and running team,” Wright said. “But we’ve showed some pop in batting practice lately. So I may be wrong.”