| The Indians came into the 2020 season confident that they would have a chance to compete for another 11th Region Tournament championship. And with good reason. Madison Central won 27 games the previous year and returned a deep, experienced line-up that included lots of pitching and an offense led by a Division I infielder. |  |
"We really liked our team," Madison Central baseball coach Steve Roof said. "They had worked hard together. We thought we had a good chance, but who knows?"
They will never know.
The entire 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was a very disappointing conclusion to the high school career for Central's nine seniors.
"The day we were told there wouldn't be a season, we got together. It was a mix of emotions. We were mad and sad," said Central senior Brady Snyder.
Snyder and four others, though, will get the opportunity to keep playing baseball.
On Monday, Snyder signed with the University of the Cumberlands in a ceremony at the school. He joins Bryce Travis (EKU), Bobby Vasquez (Asbury), Colton Perkins (Asbury) and D'Marko Foster (Campbellsville) as the most recent Indians to move on to the next level.
Central has had 17 players in the past three seasons sign with colleges. "We have great kids who work hard with a lot of talent," Roof said. The squad Central would have been put on the field in 2020 had plenty of potential. And those five college signees would have been a big part of a squad that was considered a preseason top-25 team. "Colton Perkins (catcher) and D'Marko Foster (first base) were both going to be in the middle of the order for us," Roof said. "Bryce and Bobby both would have been in the rotation and Brady would have competed for an outfield spot. But, it was the season that never happened." Perkins, Foster, Travis and Vasquez signed in May -- prior to the season officially being canceled because of COVID-19.
Snyder did not play much at the varsity level in 2019 and was hoping for a big senior season to impress college coaches. "He had a great offseason," Roof said of Snyder. "He was really swinging the bat well. He would have helped us."He never got that chance, which kind of left him in a state of uncertainty, until he was contacted by Brad Shelton of the University of the Cumberlands last month. "He asked me if I wanted to visit the campus sometime and if I wanted to be part of the problem," Snyder said.
Central infielder Brandon Anderson verbally committed to the University of Louisville earlier this year.
He will be a senior next season and is currently ranked among the top high school prospects in the country.
Casey Bargo, a 2018 graduate of Central, is also set to play Division I baseball.
After two seasons at Lincoln Trail Community College, the right-handed pitcher has signed with Charlotte.
Last season, Bargo appeared in 10 games with Lincoln Trail (in the COVID-19 shortened season). He was 3-4 in 26 1/3 innings with 23 strikeouts and a 3.76 ERA. Nathan Hutchinson, Richmond Register
They will never know.
The entire 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was a very disappointing conclusion to the high school career for Central's nine seniors.
"The day we were told there wouldn't be a season, we got together. It was a mix of emotions. We were mad and sad," said Central senior Brady Snyder.
Snyder and four others, though, will get the opportunity to keep playing baseball.
On Monday, Snyder signed with the University of the Cumberlands in a ceremony at the school. He joins Bryce Travis (EKU), Bobby Vasquez (Asbury), Colton Perkins (Asbury) and D'Marko Foster (Campbellsville) as the most recent Indians to move on to the next level.
Central has had 17 players in the past three seasons sign with colleges. "We have great kids who work hard with a lot of talent," Roof said. The squad Central would have been put on the field in 2020 had plenty of potential. And those five college signees would have been a big part of a squad that was considered a preseason top-25 team. "Colton Perkins (catcher) and D'Marko Foster (first base) were both going to be in the middle of the order for us," Roof said. "Bryce and Bobby both would have been in the rotation and Brady would have competed for an outfield spot. But, it was the season that never happened." Perkins, Foster, Travis and Vasquez signed in May -- prior to the season officially being canceled because of COVID-19.
Snyder did not play much at the varsity level in 2019 and was hoping for a big senior season to impress college coaches. "He had a great offseason," Roof said of Snyder. "He was really swinging the bat well. He would have helped us."He never got that chance, which kind of left him in a state of uncertainty, until he was contacted by Brad Shelton of the University of the Cumberlands last month. "He asked me if I wanted to visit the campus sometime and if I wanted to be part of the problem," Snyder said.
Central infielder Brandon Anderson verbally committed to the University of Louisville earlier this year.
He will be a senior next season and is currently ranked among the top high school prospects in the country.
Casey Bargo, a 2018 graduate of Central, is also set to play Division I baseball.
After two seasons at Lincoln Trail Community College, the right-handed pitcher has signed with Charlotte.
Last season, Bargo appeared in 10 games with Lincoln Trail (in the COVID-19 shortened season). He was 3-4 in 26 1/3 innings with 23 strikeouts and a 3.76 ERA. Nathan Hutchinson, Richmond Register
