The Panthers are preparing for another deep playoff run
Posted at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, March 7, 2023
- Northside’s Allie Huynh returns after being the Coastal Plains Conference pitcher of the year last spring. (Steve Barnes/Washington Daily News)
After a trip to the third round of the 1A state baseball tournament last spring, the Northside Panthers return six of their nine starters along with their top three pitchers.
Among those returning is right-hander Eli Huynh, who was named the Coastal Plains Conference Pitcher of the Year after going 6-2 with a 2.12 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 59.1 innings. Huynh also led the team with 38 runs scored, 27 runs scored and 20 stolen bases.
“He’s a good baseball player and it’s great to have him back for another season,” coach Keith Boyd said. “We feel like we have three effective pitchers and our top six hitters are pretty strong. In the end, we should be in the thick of things again.”
Northside got off to a 2-1 start with double-digit wins over Riverside and Tarboro to open the season before losing 12-3 at Aiden-Grifton after taking a 3-2 lead with two outs in the sixth inning.
“I’ve never seen a team score 10 runs with two outs, but that’s what they (Aiden-Grifton) did,” Boyd said. “We just couldn’t pull them out. It was good experience for us against a very good 2A team and it will help us later.”
Boyd expects juniors Brandon Arthur and Hunter Chrisman to compliment Hayne on the mound and at the plate after joining him on the all-conference team last year. Briley Cooper, Tres Cherry and Jarrett Spruill are also in the starting lineup.
“I like our lineup one through nine,” Boyd said. “Our conference is more competitive this year (after the Panthers went 10-0 last spring) and we should have some closer games. Jones, East Carteret, Pamlica and Southside are off to a good start, so we’ll have a lot of work to do.”
