Expectations always high as Clarksville High baseball eyes another district crown

In Brian Hetland's first eight seasons as Clarksville High's baseball coach, not one time has he failed to win at least 20 games.

Three times during that span he's won 30 or more games, and his teams have never finished below third place in the District 10-AAA standings.

But since his first year as coach, in 2010, Hetland and his team have been on an exhaustive quest to return to the Class AAA state baseball tournament.

But to do that, his team must, at least, continue to dominate district play. Despite seasons when schools like Rossview and Northeast have shared top billing, Hetland's Wildcats have never failed in that area.

"I don't look at it as pressure necessarily," Hetland said last week. "I see it as pursuing those goals you set each year. There is a certain expectation with this program that I think all of our kids understand. So going into the season, every year, we know what's expected out of us in-season and during the offseason."

It would be hard to argue Hetland's best season at the helm. His 2010 squad finished 33-10-1, was16-0 in district play and advanced to the AAA state tournament. But he also led CHS to a 30-11 record in 2015 and a 31-6 record last year.

But if those last two seasons don't register for many in the program it may be because that 2015 team lost in the Region 5-AAA semifinal against Beech, and last year's team was shocked by Hendersonville in the region opener.

"There's always something we could be doing to get better as players," Clarksville shortstop and Tennessee signee Skyler Luna said. "We're always working to get better. I know I never think I have everything figured out. But for us, we have to play as well at the end of the season as we do at the beginning."

Clarksville, under Hetland, has notoriously been a fast starter. Since 2015, the Wildcats have started 8-2, 11-2, 11-2 and 8-1 this season. CHS is enjoying an 11-game win streak as it faced rival Rossview on Tuesday. His 2010 state tournament team started the year 9-2.

District regular season and tournament titles are expected from the program. He accomplished both feats last year before watching Northeast bring home the region title. His team this season is 18-4 and 10-0 in district.

"For us, we have to finish," Luna said. "We have to be playing our best when it matters. "The regular season stuff is great but it's really just the start of the most important part — the tournament. That's where we want to make our name."

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.