Twin Rivers baseball coach Denver Stuckey tosses a ball during a recent practice in Broseley. Stuckey is the new coach of the Royals this fall. (Alex Abate/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

BROSELEY -- In his playing days, Denver Stuckey was a tough, hard-nosed competitor.

After coaching stints at Three Rivers Community College and Oran High School, he is looking to bring that mentality to the Twin Rivers baseball team as its new coach this fall.

"They had a baseball coaching position and that opportunity wasn't available at Oran," Stuckey said. "I knew, from being down in this area before that Twin Rivers had a good program and good kids."

Stuckey hopes the Royals will take to his tough coaching style.

"I try to coach, I guess, the way I played which was kind of scrappy," Stuckey said. "I never was a big, powerful guy. My main thing is I just like seeing the kids go out there and just play as hard as they can."

The Royals had a solid season last spring as they lost in the district title game to Clearwater in extra innings. Stuckey is still learning his players' strengths and weakness but does see some promising aspects.

"I think we are going to be pretty solid offensively," Stuckey said. "We got a couple guys that can swing it pretty well, (Garrett) Stockton has got a good-looking swing."

Garrett's older brother, Dylan, was the Royals' ace last season and leaves big shoes to fill this year.

"We are going to struggle to find some pitching, I think," Stuckey said. "We'll make due. We are young, which is good."

SOFTBALL: The Lady Royals are in their first season under Rob Brown who was an assistant under former coach Barb Cunningham last season. The main threat for the Lady Royals will be senior pitcher Carlee Vancil.

"Carlee established herself as one of the best pitchers in the area," Brown said. "As she goes, we will go with her."

Vancil often blows away opposing batters with her fastball as they struggle to catch up with it.

"We have to develop her changeup more than anything," Brown said. "I think if she can get more consistent in her changeup, keeping people off balance, she would become that much better."

The Lady Royals ended last season with loss to underdog East Carter in the district championship game but finished the spring with an OFC tournament title.

"That left a bad taste in their mouth but at the same time, East Carter is well-coached," Brown said. "I just told them to remember what this feel like."

VOLLEYBALL: The Lady Royals volleyball team is looking to rebound from the loss of seven seniors off last years' team, five of whom were starters.

"Obviously, we lost nearly all positions except for one," coach Kelly Null said. "We lost a lot of competitive spirit. Over the summer, we have struggled for a leader but by the end of the summer, I saw a couple girls stepping into leader roles."

With the loss of personnel, the team chemistry and identity will change.

"It is a completely different team," Null said. "We are smaller than last year but I think we are going to be a better blocking team."