2001

Page 2 of3

.teridian Star

"We can't afford to be running into any outs," he said. "We need to be smart base runners and not give outs away."

While Clark said the pitching staff could be the strength , he also said he is pleased with the freshman catching duo he has in Josh Chaney and Kenny Stewart. "We will be exceptionally strong defensively, and I like the way they handle the pitchers," he said. "With me I look at my catcher in terms of defense and anything offensively is a bonus."

A couple pitchers Clark hopes those catchers are playing defense for often are left-hander Brandon Fish and right-hander David Ryan .

Fish, a 6-foot-6 sophomore from Demopolis, Ala. , is coming off an injury-plagued year.

"If we can get him back and he is strong, that will be a big, big plus for us," Clark said. "He really is a good pitcher and has some nice stuff."

Two other guys being counted on heavily on the mound are Corey Amis of Newton County High School and Shawn Soulier from New Roads, La. Other pitchers on the squad are Jason Wooten, Dustin Magee, Corey Blackwell and Chris Comans. When they are not pitching, the Migliacio twins will be playing first base or seeing action at destgnated hitter. Also in the hunt for playing time at first is Adam McCurdy. "He has some power and I like the way he has swung the bat," Clark said. "He could play first or DH. We will try to get his bat in there somewhere." The middle infield will be made up of Neshoba Central's Turk Stovall and Newton High School's Josh Thoms. Stovall will likely start at second, with Thoms at short, but the two can be flip-flopped.

"Those two, in addition to Dee Hornsburger who will see some time at shortstop, make us very solid up the middle defensively," Clark said.

Justin Reed and Soulier will battle for time at third base, while Chaney may play some third as well when he is not behind the plate.

Center field will be held down by one of last year's leading hitters, Kent Chamblee. Hal Thompson or Louis Bradford will play right, while Reed , Thompson or Soulier could play in left field. Others being counted on to provide depth for the Warriors, who compete in the MACJC's South Division , are Ryan Renfrow, Dwight Brannon and Robert Oswalt.

Clark said his Warriors have another ambitious schedule this season.

"The best teams we will play this year, in no particular order, will be Bevill (Ala .), Northwest, Meridian and Gulf Coast," Clark said.

While Gulf Coast is a division foe and the Warriors won't face them until the Bulldogs pay a visit on March 17. ECCC doesn't wait long before they face the other three.

http://www.meridianstar.com/meridian.../myarticles.asp?H=1&S=584&P=347012&PubiD=603 1 9 0 l