NEWPORT-Cocke County High School's baseball program has released the schedule for the upcoming season, which begins on March 15.

The schedule, which features several challenging foes on it, is highlighted by an extended 14-game District 2-AAA schedule and 17 non-conference games.

It also factors to be a challenging one early for a young squad that features only three seniors in the starting lineup. Cocke County's first three conference foes, Morristown West, Sevier County and Seymour, are expected to be three of the top teams in the realigned district this season, which features eight teams instead of six in years past.

"Our conference is really improved and tougher now with the addition of the three new schools," Cocke County assistant coach Andy Chrisman said. "Our schedule is tough, mainly because we'll have some young guys out there and facing three tough conference foes in the season's first three weeks.

"However, I like our character and our kids willingness to work hard to help us get through that and ultimately make us a better team as the season goes on," Chrisman said.

In addition to the 14-game conference slate in front of the Fighting Cocks, the team will also have five home-and-away series with non-conference foes with Class AA teams South Greene, Greeneville, and Carter, along with District 1-AAA teams Sullivan South and Sullivan Central and a renewal of the rivalry with Clinton and former CCHS coach Casey Taylor.

The school will also be involved in a pair of in-season tournaments, with an event at Pigeon Forge in the first week of the season with games against Pigeon Forge, Knox Central and John Battle (VA). At the first of April, the team will travel to Oak Ridge for the Kevin Calia Classic and battle Oak Ridge, William Blount and Daniel Boone.

CCHS will close the season with three non-conference games and then enter the District 2-AAA tournament on May 7. The format for the revamped tournament will be a single-elimination round involving all eight teams, with the four winners advancing to a double elimination round.

The tournament will be held at the site of the top two seeds in the opening round and the higher seeds will play host throughout the rest of the event.

All games, unless otherwise noted are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. However, due to the extended school day for Cocke County schools March 8-24, some game times during that period may be pushed back.

 

2010 CCHS Baseball Schedule

March 15 - Morristown West*

March 16 - @ Morristown West*

Pigeon Forge Tournament

March 18 - @ Pigeon Forge 7:15 PM

March 19 - Knox Central @ Seymour 5:00 PM

March 20 - John Battle, VA @ Pigeon Forge 10:00 AM

March 20 - Pigeon Forge Tournament Semifinals and Finals

 

March 22 - @ Sevier County*

March 23 - Sevier County*

March 25 - South Greene

March 27 - Sullivan Central 2:30 PM

March 29 - @ Seymour*

March 30 - Seymour*

Kevin Calia Tournament - Oak Ridge High School

April 1 - Oak Ridge     5:00 PM

April 2 - William Blount 1:15 PM

April 3 - Daniel Boone 11:00 AM

April 3 - Semifinals and Finals     

April 5 - @ Jefferson County*

April 6 - Jefferson County*

April 9 - Clinton

April 12 - @ Cherokee*

April 13 - Cherokee*

April 15 - Greeneville

April 16 - Carter

April 17 - @ Sullivan South 4 PM

April 19 - South Doyle*

April 20 - @ South Doyle*

April 22 - @ Greeneville

April 23 - @ South Greene 4:30 PM

April 24 - @ Sullivan Central 2:30 PM

April 26 - @ Morristown East*

April 27 - Morristown East*

April 29 - @ Carter

April 30 - Sullivan South 6 PM

May 3 - @ Clinton 7 PM

May 7-16: District 2-AAA Tournament

* - Denotes District 2-AAA Regular Season Contest