2007

Holliman era set for,Feb. 5 debut When Neal Holliman arrived on the scene last summer as East Central Community College's new head baseball coach, he and his coaching staiT had two major concerns: (I) Will from tc~m members be willin~ to school adjust to a new way domg t repor s of thmgs?, and (2) How , , much heart and etl'ort will players be will– ing to put into the ..new" program? who helpt.!d lead UWA to a Glilf South Conference title and was the l&tc Jamie Clark's assistant when ECCC \\on a state championship in 1998, said his goal for the 2007 Diamo~d. War~iors ~s. sin~~lc: "We want to max1m1ze th1s tca!ll s ab1l1ty, like we will try to ' -=• • do \Vith every other team, No one can guarantee where Blackburn. a product of Newton County Academy; right-handed pitcher Joshua Denson of C.1rthage; and Jordan Robinson of Union, who' II sec action at third basi!. '}rst base and catcher. Baugh was named second-team All– State and was recogni7ed as the Diamand Warriors' n_1ost improved player.

Holliman expects Harhs to be a .,maj~r contributor" this. year ?nd ocscnbcs Patterson as "a mamstay on the fnoi.md" forthe Diamond Warriors. Gosselin led the team in hitting this fall and ''has shown the versatility to play several positions." Thames, who led EC in hitting last y~ar 1s seeing action at.catcher a~ wcll ·a~ • his usual position at second base. "As a left-handed hitter, we· need Jacob to match his efforts from last season and be a consistent contnbutor in the hneup." Holliman said Blackburn Denson and Robinson will play key leadership roles in the team's success. The retummg sophomores - maddltlon Continued on 8 5... Sec Holliman...

hard work will get you, but we all know that champi– onships arc not won without it." Holliman sa1d top returnees lrom ~a~t year's squad 1 1 , , tnclude three former

And following a successful lall cam– paign, Holliman said he ts "very pleased" with the response from the Diamond Warriors. as the lom1er llntYcrsity of West Alabama and ECCC.:.

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School standouts -

outfielders Luke Baugh and John Harris, and right-handed pitcher Joe Patterson, right-handed pitch– er/infielder Chad Gos~clin of Brandon; Jacob Thames, a catcher'inficldcr fi·om Magee; th1rd baseman/catcher Lee