2001

WEEK OF a)~b/

EastCentral DiamondWarriors will rely on a field of freshman talent for the 2001 season

With mainly freshmen on his 23-man ro-ter, East Cen– tral Community College head baseball coach jamJe Oark expects his pitching staff- led by sophomore tw - 1-Urio and Monte Migliacio of Plaquemme, La -to be the domi– natmg force on this year's squad. Clark, now in his 14th season at the Diamc:nd \"a.mor helm, also anticipates a "turnaround• from last \""eat' team, which finished 20-27 ) et still qualified- ~the fifth straight year- to compete m the Region 23 Tour– nament. A glimpse of just how effect1ve the Da:oond Warrior hurlers will be dunng the :!001 campaign will be t>vident on Saturda) February 10, when Eac;t Central becins season action by hosting Bevill _tate Community College of FayeHe Ala m double header action beginntng at 1 p m on Chris Gay IV Memonal Fteld. Last year Monte (6-3, 195) posted a 5-5 mark and registered a team be<:t-2.74 earned run average. He also had 60 strikeouts an allowed just 11 walks. Although Mano 6- 4, 190) had a losing record on the mound. he had a respectable 3.86 ERA and fanned 50 batters. Both are right-hander-; Other returrung hurlers mclude ,outhpaw fanned 29 batters in JUSt 29 1/3 truungs of \ · Ryan only made a brief appearance on the mound 8oth play– ers had their sea.,ons cut short due to arm m unes but have since made a full recovery and wtll return to the pitching rotation. Freshman hurlers are southpa\\ Dustin McGee (6-1, 190) of Hickory, Shawn Soulier (6-1, 195) of 'ew Roads, Brandon Fish (6-6, 195) of Demopol " Ala and right-hander David Rvan (6-5, 195) of Tuscaloosa. Fish posted a 2-4 record and

La ; Jason Wooten (5-10, 160) of Lake, Cort:y Blackwell (5-10, 160) of Nanih Waiya, Chrts Comans (6 1, 175) of :\ewton and Corey Amis (6-0, 185) of Decatur. Top returning hitters include outfielder Kent Ch,lm– blee (5-11, 175) of Carthage, thtrd baseman Justm Reed (5-9, 185) of Louisville, second ba :eman Turk Stovall (5- 11, 163) of Philadelphia and outfielder Hal Thomp– son (5-9, 165) of West Point

Last year Chamblee appeared m 223 mmngs and batted .336 wtth six doubles and e1ght RBis. He also scored 22 runs. ReC'd postt•d a .409 batting average through 57 '1 /3 innings and had five doubles. Stovall bat– ted .255 (122 innings) and Thompson had a .250 average through 41 mnings. Clark said he is "especially pleased" with his freshmen players who indude, in addition to the previously mentioned pitchers, shortstop I out fielder Dee Hornsburger (5 ·8, 155) of Noxapater, shortstop Josh Thorn~ (59, 170) of t-.:ewton,

outfielder Lewis Bradford (6-1, 183) of Htll~bon), third baseman/catcher Josh Chaney (5-10, 165) of Lit– tle Rock, outfielder Ryan Renfrow (5 9, l75 of Sebastopol, outfielder Dwight Bannon (6-3, 21 0) of Decatur, catcher Kenny Stewart (6-3, 170) of Citronelle, Ala.; first baseman Adam McCurdy (6-3, 205) ot Morton and outfielder.Robert Oswalt (6-1, 205) of Nanih Waiya. Former Diamond Warrior Jake Yarborough of Union begins his first year as assistant coach. Man.:tgers are Jason Mangrum of Kosciusko, Micah Weems of Lake and Amanda Nazary of Edinburg. In addition to the season opener with 13e"ill Stale February 10, The Diamond Warriors will be ,,t home February 14 against Northwest MissJssippt Commumty College before starting a five game road series.

APPEARED IN : LAKE MESSENGER SCOTT COUNTY TIM-:-:E:-=S:--YJ:------- UNION APPEAL '1"'7 WINSTON COUN'=TY:-:-:J:-:=0-:-U:-:-R-N_A_L____ SPIRIT OF MORTON NEWTON MESSENG-=E=R---- --

CARTHAGINIAN NESH0 BA D EMO~C::-:R=-A:-:T=------ NEWTON RECORD MERIDIAN STAR ------ CLARION-LEDGER -------