Andrews Keeps Rolling, Wildcats Stay Unbeaten at 13-0

ANDREWS — It’s been about as good a start as you could ask for in Andrews. Head Coach Dane Rickett has his young team firing on all cylinders.

With a win over Swain County on Tuesday night, the Wildcats moved to 13-0 on the season and now sit at No. 4 in the state’s 1A RPI rankings. More importantly, Andrews has put itself in the driver’s seat in the Smoky Mountain Conference race as the season starts to take shape.

The Wildcats have been getting it done in all phases, but it starts with the bats.

Drew Dartez, Kelby Waldroup, Dawson Stalcup and Aiden Garrett have paced the lineup, all hitting over .500 so far this year. Dartez has been especially productive, currently sitting second in the state in RBIs. At the top of the order, Logan Hyde and Waldroup have been tough to keep off the bases, and once they’re on, they’re usually coming around — the two are tied for first in the state in runs scored.

On the mound, Andrews has been just as steady.

Ethan Sutton has put together a strong start to the season, posting a 0.78 ERA across 18 innings of work, ranking fifth in the state. He’s been a dependable arm every time he takes the ball.

Hyde and Tanner Postell have backed him up well, each picking up three wins while combining for 36 strikeouts. Between the three, the Wildcats have had a reliable group that’s kept games under control and given the offense a chance to do its thing.

At this point in the season, Andrews looks every bit like a contender — not just in the conference, but across the state. If the Wildcats can keep playing the way they have through the first 13 games, they’ll be a tough out come playoff time.