After a 2018 season in which the Yellow Jackets went 21-12 and won the 52nd District championship, Middlesboro will rely on their upperclassmen to lead the young team. After graduating 10 players last season, eight of which were starters, the Yellow Jackets will see some younger guys stepping up on all positions of the field.

“I’m excited about the upcoming season,” said head baseball coach John Smith. “We graduated 10 guys last season, eight of them started. We will rely on a lot of people to step up at all positions of the field this year. I think we’ve got some older guys that are going to step up and do a great job for us this year. We’ve got a lot of new bodies, and we are just excited to get to work and get started.”

Middlesboro’s season ended last year against Whitley County on the road in the second round of the 13th Region tournament. The Yellow Jackets open the 2019 season against the Knox Central Panthers at Knox Central on Monday at 5:30 p.m.

The Middlesboro Yellow Jackets

– Junior, Braden Ausmus

– Sophomore, Austin Barnes

– Freshman, Lane Bayless

– Senior, Chris Callihan

– Junior, Collier Elkins

– Sophomore, Riley Gent

– Freshman, Bradlee Hale

– Freshman, Tyler Harris

– Junior, Stephen Justice

– Freshman, Yousiff Nabat

– Junior, Shawn North

– Senior, Hegen Owens

– Senior, Lane Perry

– Sophomore, Tyshawn Simpson

– Freshman, Warren Vaught

– Senior, Jeremiah Wilder

– Freshman, Connor Winterberger

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After a 2018 season that saw the Lady Jackets go 11-13, Middlesboro hopes to rely on their six returning starters to help steer the young team in the right direction. Middlesboro’s season ended against the Harlan Lady Green Dragons in the 52nd District tournament last season, falling 3-11.

“I’m looking forward to the season,” said coach Petie Gilbert. “We’ve got six starters coming back, and I think they’re going to do a great job at helping some of the younger players get acclimated to the game. We’ve been working hard and practicing hard. We are ready for the season to get started.”

The Middlesboro Lady Jackets

– Freshman, Aleeza Ahmad

– Freshman, Taegan Brooks

– Sophomore, JJ Brown

– Freshman, Lindsay Buis

– Freshman, Jordyn Ferguson

– Senior, Shelby Frazier

– Sophomore, Megan Gent

– Sophomore, Paige Johnson

– Sophomore, Virginia Marcum

– Junior, Hannah McCullough

– Freshman, Sidney McWilliams

– Junior, Macey Mink

– Sophomore, Chloe Ogle

– Freshman, Kailey Owens

– Senior, Aubrey Sowders

– Freshman, Jamarah Young