Raiders set to open season at Williamsburg

By Steve LeMaster
stevelemastersports@yahoo.com

STEARNS – The McCreary Central baseball team is slated to open its 2018 season on the road at Williamsburg on Monday, March 19.
Under the direction of head coach Marc Taylor, McCreary Central competes with Wayne County and Southwestern in the 48th District. The Raiders fell to Wayne County in the opening round game of the 2017 48th District Baseball Tournament. Following the loss to Wayne County in the district tournament, McCreary Central exited the 2017 season with a 8-19 record.
McCreary Central will look to produce more offensively during the 2018 season. In 2017, opponents outscored the Raiders 203-114.

Williamsburg, an opponent from the neighboring 13th Region, finished the 2017 season 9-17. The Yellow Jackets are under the direction of Bryan Hopkins.
South Laurel ended Williamsburg’s 2017 season, defeating the Yellow Jackets 5-2 in the 50th District Baseball Tournament. Williamsburg competes with longtime rivals South Laurel, Corbin and Whitley County in the 50th District.

The season opener will be the first of two games between the McCreary Central and Williamsburg baseball teams over the next couple of months. McCreary Central is due to host Williamsburg for a regular-season finale on May 18.
The Raiders and Yellow Jackets did not meet during the 2017 season.
In-state rivals and foes from bordering Tennessee fill the Raiders’ 2018 schedule. McCreary Central has additional regular-season games scheduled versus Jackson County, Scott (Tenn.), Berea, Leslie County, Bell County, Cumberland County, Whitley County, Lynn Camp, North Laurel, Pulaski County, Oneida (Tenn.), First Baptist Academy (Tenn.), Southwestern, Wayne County, Campbell County (Tenn.), Clinton County, Barbourville and Danville.

The Marc Taylor-coached Raiders started preseason practice in February.