High School Baseball: Mustangs are going to be cool as usual

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East Rowan pitcher Chance Mako will lead the Mustangs this season. File photo by JOHN CLUE / FOR THE SALISBURY POST. 03/25/22, Granite Quarry, North Carolina.

Cobb Hightower took over the Mustangs last year. File photo of Wayne Hinshaw for the Salisbury Post.

The fourth in a series of reports on high school baseball…

Mike London

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GRANITE QUARRY – East Rowan baseball is always good and sometimes great.

The East was great by most measures in 2022 – 25-5 – an epic season for just about everyone on the planet – but South Rowan was even better. The East tied with the South in the South Piedmont Conference Championship but ended up losing 1-3 to the Raiders, the 3A state champions.

In the class of 2022, South has attacked and defended so much that he needs to take a step back this season.

East ended the Cameron Padgett generation pitcher and deducted a solid catcher and three big bats, but the Mustangs still come back often. They have a talented core group. The East cannot take a single step back.

At the very least, the East should be in contention for another championship in a tough SPC, with the Mustangs, led by coach Brett Hatley, aiming to be one of the top teams in the 3A again.

“We’re very excited about our team and the players that we have and I think we have a deep roster,” Hatley said. “Cam was Cam, but we still have Chance (Mako) and a lot of good hands behind him.”

Now a freshman at the University of North Carolina, Padgett pitched extremely well (10 wins, .56 ERA, 115 strikeouts), was a high school ace in every sense of the word, twice Rowan County Pitcher of the Year. You can’t replace a guy like that with one arm. You must do this through the committee.

Mako (8-1) was almost as amazing as Padgett in 2022 and would have been the No. 1 player on 99 percent of the nation’s teams.

At 6’6″ and shooting bullets, Mako is a North Carolina state signer and a potential draft pick who can crush most high school hitters. For him, it’s all about control and command. If he hits where he wants to, the attackers can do little but shake their heads and return to the dugout.

“Mako has incredible stuff,” Hatley said. “He should have a big season.”

Mako also has great power in the bowl. He may not hit on average, but when he makes solid contact, there’s a pretty good chance – no pun intended – that he’ll leave the park. He’s likely to be placed at first base when he’s not pitching. He’s a threat to lead the Mustangs – and the district – in Homers.

Morgan Padgett, Cameron’s brother, will become a defendant in the case for the first time. UNC signing Pembroke has always won and is now also counted as starting number 2. He has shot very well in his first two outings this season. Padgett’s versatility is huge for the Mustangs, as he will also catch or play first base.

Logan Dyer and Nate Hayworth are ball players first and pitchers second, but they won three college games each as sophomores in 2022. Dyer also saved three games. They’ll get their chances, as will Dylan Valley, Sr., who, like Morgan Padgett, was waiting in line.

Another name to know is Harrison Ailshey, a left-hander who is very advanced for a freshman.

The catching team is led by Morgan Padgett and Joe Burlayson, with Burlayson coming out from behind the plate whenever Padgett pitches.

In the middle of a diamond, Mustangs should be about as good as everyone else. East has to turn a lot of double play to help pitching staff.

An early UNC member, Shortstop Cobb Hightower was an excellent fielder and offensive force for the Mustangs in his sophomore year. He led the team in hits (45), runs (35), doubles (9), and batting average (.429). He led the team in homers (4) and RBIs (25).

“This season, Cobb will move from being the lead to being the 3rd hitter,” Hatley said. We expect strength from him.

Dyer, who will play second base when he’s off the mound, also went to college early. He’s on his way to Catoba. He is doing well, and this season he will also add more power. Like Mako, he’s already hit a home run.

Once Dyer is on the hill, Valley will likely take over second base.

Blake Hill, who signed with the Catawba, is expected to fill the third base position. A big summer in the American Legion – he led Rowan County in the RBI – has given him confidence, and Eastern fans are hoping he can shine at Staton Field as he did at Newman Park.

East’s outfield should be one of the best in the county and in the South Piedmont conference.

The Junior Braden Shive has electric speed and his wheels give him a lot of college looks. He also started well with the bat.

Hayworth will be the center fielder, except when he is called to the field. He is another guy who can run and is useful both offensively and defensively.

McCall Henderson gives the Mustangs another powerful bat.

Eilshee could also break into the regular outfield.

“Ailsha will be one of the special ones,” Hatley predicts.

Aiden Shull gives the Mustangs another option at first base, while Witt Husman provides depth of field.

East went 1-2 on a weekend trip to Georgia which will be a good learning experience.

“I think we’re going to swing bats well, but we’re having a bad score against a good team (Greenbrier),” Hatley said. “We had one of those days where we were swinging in bad fields and taking the fields we were supposed to hit.”

The chances are good, the Mustangs will figure it out. They almost always do this.

Oriental rowan at a glance

Coach: Brett Hatley (4th year, 43–9)

Players to look out for: pitcher Chance Mako, shortstop Cobb Hightower.

Key Loss: Pitcher Cameron Padgett

Record 2022: 25-5

Record 2023: 2-2

Tonight’s game: at home vs. North Davidson

Conference Regular Season Championships (22): 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1982, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011, 20112, 2, 2 G.

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