Wayne feeds off youth

Wayne's baseball team was young last year, is young this year and will be young again next year.

The Badgers couldn't be happier.

Six extremely talented freshmen — call them the Super Six — broke into Wayne's starting lineup in 2005 and led the Badgers to a semifinal appearance. A year later, those players are now sophomores looking to do even more damage.

Entering its showdown with top-ranked Panguitch Wednesday, No. 2 Wayne is undefeated and the Super Six has been at the heart of the action.

"For a 1A team, this is probably one group in a coaching career," said coach Scott Ellett.

The Super Six — composed of Jordan Ellett, Tyce Peterson, Lance Peterson, Carson Bray, Seth Taft and Trevor Taylor — burst onto the 1A baseball scene just over a year ago. Ellett had six seniors make his 2005 team, but his talented youngsters easily beat out each of the upper-classmen.

"Their stats were head-and-shoulders above the older boys," said Ellett.

Wayne's coach has known for some time that he had something special on his hands. According to him, the Super Six was part of the only squad in Wayne County history to advance to Salt Lake in the Babe Ruth League, a youth tournament.

Their collective talented has translated well at the high-school level. Jordan Ellett and Tyce Peterson were first-team All-Staters a year ago, and Lance Peterson made the second team.

Combine them with two very good juniors, Porter Ellett and Brian Chappell, and a senior, Brandon Stephenson, and the Badgers have a squad that virtually everyone thinks will be a state contender.

"Flat out, I think Wayne is a great team," said Panguitch coach Clint Barney.

Of course, Wayne won't sneak up on anyone like it did last year, but that's OK with Ellett, who said he doesn't think his sophomores will get caught up in the hype.

"This year's a lot different, but the kids have taken it in stride," he said.

Ellett and Barney both went out of their way to point out that they think Region 15 features four of the best teams in the state — Panguitch, Wayne, Green River and Piute. Those four squads square off this week, highlighted by Wayne's tilt with rival Panguitch, the defending 1A champ. Panguitch and Wayne are the only remaining undefeated teams.

Barney labeled the Wayne-Panguitch rivalry as a friendly but competitive one.