2005

Warriors set for play in tourney FORT SMITH, Ark. -The East Central Community College Warriors begin play in the NJCAA South Central District Tournament today when they face Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College at 1 p.m. at Crowder Field on the University ofArkansas-Fort Smith campus. The Warriors' day continues with a 4 p.m. contest with Maple Woods (Mo.) Community College. NEO and Maple Woods tangle in the 7 p.m. game. The Region XXIII champion Warriors (29- 21) bring a seven-game winning streak into By Marty Stamper staff writer

the game with the 41-19 Golden Norsemen of NEO. "We began pulling it together about midway through our conference games," said ECCC head coach Jake Yarborough. "We had been knowing all year that we had a decent team. we just hadn't put it all together. ''Wc'w had good pitching performances all year, and our defense has been pretty h good," Yarborough added. I d h'tt' d e ve S rugg e •. mg an had some slumps m there, t

We began putting it together about midway through our conference

games.

W I arr ors coac "W , Jake Yarboroueh

but when we began swinging the bats better, that told us that we had a chance, if we could just put it all together in one package." For the year, the Warriors are batting just .265 as a team. Opponents, however, are hitting only .236 against Warrior pitching. ECCC pitchers have a 3.79 E and have 266 strike– outs to go with 141 walks. In 46 games, Warrior pi~chers have surrendered only 18 home runs. The Warriors will start Josh Miller on the mound in the first game and Cody Savell in the second. John Fortenberry would get the nod in a third game either on Saturday or Sunday. Miller leads the ECCC pitchers with an 11·2 record and a 2.07 ERA. In 91 1 innings, he has 85 strikeouts and 31 walks. Opponents are bat· Ling a mere .184 off the transfer from Louisiana Tech. "Miller's had an outstanding year," Yarbor– ough said. "He's got command of all his pitches. He's a southpaw that doesn't throw real hard. He's an upper-80s (mph) guy that has four pitches. If one's not on, he's got two or three others he can go to. "He's a smart pitcher. He knows how to work hitters and how to command the base– ball,'' Miller added. "That's got a lot to do with his success. Plus, he's got a lot of confidence in what he's able to do. He's a competitor and a winner."

PHOTO BY PAULA MERRITT I THE MERIDIAN

GETTING INSTRUCTIONS East Central Community College outfielder Joseph Cavenaugh gets some batting instructions from Warriors head coach Jake Yarborough in a game earlier this season. ECCC opens play in three-team Super Regional against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College at 1 p.m. today at Crowder Field on the campus of the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.

Yarborough added. "He's lost some games tlu were real close that we could have won. or hi record would be a lot better than what il is." Kevin Hatch (4-1, 1.32, 8 saves) is the dose He has 38 strikeouts in 34 inning:-. Opponent are hitting just .136 off the sophomore fro Carthage. "He's our go-to guy when the gam<' gc close at the end," Yarborough said. "He's con in a lot of times when the game is tied an picked up the wins. "He's a 6-foot-5 submarine guy, and he's rc stingy and doesn't give up many hils,'' Yarbo ough added. "His strikeout rate is pretty goo He gets a lot of ground-ball double plays. Ill' got a lot of run on his fastball and has a go< See Warriors P:::~ao 0-:1

At A Glance NJCAA South Central District Tournament at Fort Smith, Ark. Today's games 1 p.m. - East Central (29·21) vs Northeastern OklahomaA&M (41-19) 4 p.m.- East Central vs. Maple Woods (37-24) 7 p.m. - NEO vs. Maple Woods Savell (5·6, 3.94) is the No. 2 pitcher. "He throws a little .harder than Miller," Yarborough said. "He's going to stay between 87-88 (mph) and can run it up in the low-90s every now and then. "He's got a lot of run on his fastball. His breaking ball has gotten better and better,''