Seven starters return for UHS

UNIONTOWN -- Seven starters return for a Uniontown baseball team that finished 8-10 last season and begins its 2011 season Tuesday with a doubleheader at Yates Center.

Among the starters back for head coach Chris Woods are senior catcher Ty Clayton and junior third baseman Jordan Woods, who both earned First Team honors on the All-Three Rivers League team last season.

"We're eager to build on last season," Woods says. "(New assistant coach) Jeff Reed comes to the team with vast baseball knowledge and a hands-on coaching style

"We're looking to be more aggressive and we're eager to win. Our leaders have stepped up and taken control. I expect that this season, the Uniontown Eagles will be very successful."

Clayton had a .423 batting average, 2 home runs and 28 runs batted in. Woods hit .431, had 5 homers, 22 RBI and stole 15 bases.

"I expect their numbers to be even higher this year," coach Woods says of Clayton and J.Woods.

Also back are Honorable Mention infielder Tyler Hall, a senior, and HM pitcher Anthony Myers, another senior who also plays outfield. Hall hit .422 and drove in 8 runs. Myers was 5-4 as a pitcher. Junior second baseman Max Labbe also earned HM honors after batting .382 and driving in 12 runs.

Coach Woods noted that the Eagles batted .339 as a team last season.

Other returning seniors are pitcher/outfielder Jake Dawson and center fielder Matt Maloney.

Woods, Hall, Labbe and left-handed junior Brandon Weyant round out the Eagles' pitching staff.

This will be the fourth season of play for the UHS baseball program, which had an 8-10 record last season. In addition to the seven returning starters, three others have varsity experience. But there are only 12 players out this year.

Rounding out the roster are junior Mitch Newman and sophomore Garrett Murrow who are competing for the open first base position, senior outfielder Cameron Jackson, and freshman outfielder Chase Gleason. Newman was a .375 hitter in some occasional varsity time last season.

Dawson, Myers and Dawson also have experience in the infield and, with the Eagles being shorthanded, will be asked to fill in there occasionally.

Tuesday's doubleheader, weather permitting, will begin at 4:30 p.m.