Is anyone doing a better job this spring than Hertford County High School Baseball Coach Chris Towell?

The answer to that could cause long and complicated debate, but the fact is Towell has the Bears sitting at 4-1 in the Northeastern Coastal Conference heading into tonight’s game at Currituck.

The Bears, who have traditionally battled archrival Bertie for last place in the league, have been on fire inside the conference and have shown a lot of spunk.

Towell has done a good job of working hard and getting his players in the right frame of mind.

The Bears have scored runs in the league and have played solid defense. Combine those with solid pitching and you have a team that has their sites set on the post-season.

Chris Towell has done an excellent job this season thus far and he should be acknowledged for his success.

Another guy doing a good job locally is just across the yard so to speak. Rick Heckler’s Hertford County High School softball team is continuing to improve as they have every season under his direction.

Pitcher Amber Matthews works had to keep opposing teams off balance and the defense that has been a concern for several years is starting to come around.

There’s no doubt that having Allie Heckler on the field is helping both the head coach and his team. This team is a year away from being truly competitive in the conference.

Another pair of coaches on the same campus doing an outstanding job is located in Merry Hill.

Bill Swain’s Lady Warrior softball team is 9-1 overall with a first-game loss to public school heavyweight Jamesville High School. They have kept the two-year streak of not losing a Tarheel Independent Conference game intact and are steadily showing why they are a force in the state.

Just a stone’s throw away, Lawrence Head Baseball Coach Robert Kravitz continues to do the same masterful job he has done since his arrival.

He is the best young baseball coach in the state of North Carolina and every week he shows why. If Lawrence can keep him in Merry Hill, they’re going to be a power for years to come.

There’s no doubt that Bertie baseball boss Randy Whitaker’s patience through the rough years is starting to pay off as well. While the Falcons are 6-8 overall, they’re a much better team.

Whitaker’s patience with this team and knowing when to push the right buttons have made them better than most would have expected.

Don’t be surprised to see them pull off a few upsets before the season is over.

Someone who is doing a good job under completely different circumstances is Bertie Softball Coach Jackie Copeland. She is leading a team with huge expectations and she has done it well.

While keeping an eye on the overall prize, Copeland has managed to convince her squad to play one game at the time. That’s a big accomplishment and it shouldn’t be overlooked.

Keep an eye on these six coaches. They’re leading their teams in the right direction and good things will happen because of it.

Questions? Comments? Snide Remarks?

You can reach me at thadd.white@r-cnews.com or call me at 332-7211.

Be careful out there and be good sports.