Season Preview | Baseball: Griffis, Mullins lead Patriots into 2016

Homewood baseball has enjoyed three consecutive playoff seasons, and making that four straight is a virtual lock.

 “The last three years, we’ve had our three best years,” head coach Doug Gann said.

The top two teams from each area qualify for the AHSAA state playoffs, and Class 6A, Area 9 will likely feature only two competitive teams: Homewood and Briarwood Christian.

Don’t expect the Patriots to coast through the regular season, though. There is work to be done, most notably replacing seven starters from last year’s team.

“It’s exciting,” Gann said. “You’ve got people coming back and have some new guys stepping in. There are plenty of suspects that can get it done, but they just haven’t gotten the opportunity.”

Two players expected to carry the Homewood team are returners Carson Griffis and John Marc Mullins, who each started every game in 2015. 

“[Griffis has] pitched for us the last two years and played quarterback for the football team,” Gann said. “He’s got a lot of experience.”

Griffis will anchor a rotation that lost the next five highest innings totals behind him. Mullins, a junior, gained some experience on the mound last season, and his role is expected to increase. Josh Miller, Jacob Fitts and Austin Spiers are other hurlers the Patriots are looking to produce quality innings.

When not on the mound, Griffis can play the outfield or catch when needed. Gann calls him his “security blanket.”

Mullins provided a great deal of leadership as the Patriots’ leadoff hitter a season ago.

“Leadership is always a vital thing that we look for,” Gann said. “You don’t have to be a senior. John Marc Mullins led by example. He plays hard. A lot of our guys fed off him and he was just a sophomore.”

The Patriots hit the field on February 15, as they take part in the Hope 4 Gabe Classic at Chelsea.