2012

WEEK OF ffkru~~ S l 'lJ>\ '2.- _

0 •

14 Wednesday, February 8, Z01 Z ECCC Baseball From press reports

staff "has continued to develop in a positive di– rection since the fall." This year's squad will be young and features only six sophomor es - outfielder Fred Hamp– ton of Nanih Waiya; catcher Carlos Leal and outfielder Ricky Velez, both of Puerto Rico; and pitchers Brock Ward and Evan Humphries, both of Louisville, and Casey Wells of West Jones. Hampton (5-10, 200) batted .293 with two home runs and nine RBi s. Leal (6', 190) posted a .277 average and had three homers and 15 RBis. Hampton and Leal are serving as team captains. Velez (6', 205) was redshirted last season due to a wrist injury but was a starter on the 2010 team that was ranked lOth in the coun– try and furished 39-20. Ward (6-2, 190) is mostly used as a relief pitcher. He posted a 1.80 earned run average last season.

Injuries in the offsea– son have provided some obstacles for East Cen– tral Community Col– lege's baseball squad as it prepares for the 2012 campaign. "But successful teams overcome obstacles," said Diamond Warrior head coach Neal Rolli- ~ man, who seeks another : winning campaign and hopefully another oppor– tunity for a state title, a feat his first EC squad achieved in 2007 and narrowly missed in 2010 by finishing state run– ner-up. Holliman, now in his sixth year at the helm, led the 2011 squad to a 28-20 overall mark. The Diamond Warriors, who were ranked as high as 15th in the NJCAA poll, finished third in the MACJC South Division with a 13-11 record and qualified for post-season play. EC fell to North– west Mississippi Com– munity College in a best of three series, with the winner advancing to the MACJC State Champi– onship.

APPEARED IN:

CARTHAGINIAN - ------ NEWTON COUNTY APPEAL___ SPIRIT OF MORTON-------– MERIDIAN STAR-- ----

NESHOBA DEMOCRAT ----- scon COUNTY TIMES --- -- WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL V CLARION-LEDGER--- ---