RSS Feed
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Taking Names and Keeping Score
As for the match-up itself, it promises to be a good one between a pair of teams which were both highly successful last season and are ready to establish themselves as teams to be reckoned with again this season. The visiting Meridian Eagles will be coming into the game with a number of question marks having lost basically eight starters from last year's squad which posted a 42 - 15 record and saw their season end in the Region Semi Finals. Ironically it was a loss to an unranked opponent that ended their chances to go to the Junior College World Series after having beaten the number one and two ranked teams in the nation to put them in good position to capture the region and secure a bid. One of those eight who are missing from this year's team is National Junior College Player of the year Tyler Moore. Despite being hit hard by graduation and then losing four of his incoming freshman class (two in the major league draft and one each to Alabama and Southern Mississippi) Meridian Coach Chris Rose is still optimistic. He believes the team this year has the potential to be improved on defense and will swing the bat well. The biggest uncertainty is on the mound where the top four starters from 2007 have departed. But even in that area Rose is optimistic that they have the people to get the job done. On the other side of the diamond the host Alabama Southern Eagles who finished the 2007season with a 44 - 10 record and ranked sixth in the nation will be entering this 2008 season with a squad that has 17 new faces on their 25 man roster. Gone from last year are five of eight starters among their position players and pitchers who accounted for over half of their wins on the mound. Much like his counterpart at Meridian, Alabama Southern Coach Scott Sealy, regardless of the losses from the 2007 squad, is also optimistic about the season that lies ahead with this year's squad returning pitchers Spence McDonald (5 - 3, with a 3. 13 era); Kevin Johnson (6 - 1, with a 1.93 era) and closer Tyler Minto who in nineteen innings picked up 10 saves and posted a 0.64 era last season. With those guys back and a nucleus of good arms coming in, from Coach Sealy's perspective there actually may be more depth in the pitching department in 2008. Defensively Sealy feels pretty confident about his squad as well and knows the potential is there for an offense that will put runs on the board. Who knows who will emerge as the victor in this early season tilt and how these two fine teams will finish out their seasons? Only time will give us those answers but for all the baseball fans in this area having the opportunity to come out and see them play here in Thomasville is indeed a rare treat and one we all need to take advantage of.
Until next time…….be safe!
|
for larger version       |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
