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Bulldogs to open season Saturday The Sweet Water Bulldogs are slated to open their 2007 baseball season on Saturday, February 24, when they host American Christian Academy and Washington County High School in a three team round robin affair. As the Bulldogs begin the year they will be trying to improve on a 16-14 season in 2006 that ended in the second round of the State Playoffs when Maplesville defeated them. Although this year's squad is still somewhat young with only four seniors dotting the roster, none of their opponents need to mistake their youth for inexperience. "This is a really good group to work with," Head Coach Stacy Luker said. "They have been playing together for a long time with many of them seeing varsity action when they were eighth and ninth graders." Luker who has taken the reigns of the team again this year after an absence for the past two seasons, is looking forward to working with them again. He is replacing Coach Mark Davis who assumed the duties of Assistant Principal at the school this year, making it nearly impossible for him to continue the coaching load he had in previous years. Working along side Luker will be long time assistant Roosevelt Landrum. Taking a look at the Bulldogs' probable starters for the season opener we find junior Scottie Nelson returning as the starter at the all important catcher position. Backing him up there will be Jonathan Cook another junior. Around the horn in the infield, sophomore Tate Luker is projected as the starter at first base with senior Ty Glass who will be starting in the outfield expected to log some time as well. At second base junior Heath Hill is expected to get the nod with senior Brandon Pugh getting some time when Hill is on the mound. At short stop junior Drew Luker will be the starter with freshman Jul Gaines working as the back up. Over at third base, better known as the 'hot corner', junior Anthony Landrum will be the man with sophomore Sage Nelson ready to fill in when needed. Any good infield has to have a player who is versatile enough to play most if not all the positions. The Bulldogs have such a player in the form of Sophomore Antonio Landrum who as a utility player may be called on to play any one of the four positions. In the outfield those penciled in as the starters are; freshman Corey Downey in left field, senior Dominic Holt in center field, and senior Ty Glass in right field. Others expected to push for playing time in the outfield are junior Wes Burnett, sophomore Henry Smith and senior Jeremy Tucker. Moving on to the pitcher's mound, where all the action starts, the Bulldogs have seven of their number expected to see duty. In that group are seniors Ty Glass and Jeremy Tucker; juniors Heath Hill and Drew Luker; and sophomores Antonio Landrum, Tate Luker and Sage Nelson. Besides relying on a pitching staff that has the potential to be very good and a defense that appears to be solid, Coach Luker will be looking to his offense to put more runs on the board this season. In that regard, there is reason for optimism with the Bulldog lineup having a number of hitters returning who have proven they can hit for average and have some power.
Sweet Water will be competing in 1A Area 1 again this season with Fruitdale and Millry vying with the Bulldogs for an area championship and state playoff berths. Beyond that the Bulldogs will be playing only one other 1A school during the regular season with one 6A team, three 5A teams, two 4A teams, two 3A teams and five 2A teams making up the balance of the schedule.
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