As usual, Eagles expect success

Rocky Higginbotham / sports editor
The Meridian Star

A quick glance at Meridian Community College’s 2007 baseball roster shows nearly two-thirds of the Eagles are freshmen.

But it’s the quality of the 10 returing sophomores which has second-year head coach Chris Rose and MCC excited about another title run this spring.

Two-time defending MACJC state champion Meridian opens its 2007 campaign this weekend, hosting L.B. Wallace (Saturday) and Alabama Southern (Sunday) in a pair of 1 p.m. doubleheaders at MCC’s Scaggs Field.

Rose’s bunch wasn’t necessarily hammered by graduation, but the Eagles did lose three returning sophomores who transferred to other schools — including starting shortstop Paul Gatchel, who left at the Christmas break to go to Chipola, Fla.

“But we’re returning the meat of our order and the meat of our rotation,” Rose said. “So it’s hard not to get excited about those guys.”

Gone from the 2006 MCC team which went 35-18 are Gatchel, former West Lauderdale standout Parker Temple and ex-Clarkdale standout Kyle Boswell.Gatchel hit .289 and played in all 54 games a year ago. Temple, an outfielder/pitcher, is not at Northeast Texas and Boswell — a pitcher — is now at Jones County Junior College.

Back for MCC are the team’s top two power hitters as well as four pitchers with a bulk of big-game experience.

Sophomore outfielder Michael Guerrero and first baseman Tyler Moore combined for 29 home runs a year ago, and they’re also both back after being picked in the 2006 Major League Baseball draft.

Guerrero led the team in batting average (.379), hits (74), runs scored (60), stolen bases (17), doubles (20) and slugging percentage (.708) while also slugging 14 home runs from his leadoff spot. The Ole Miss signee will move to the No. 3 hole this season.

Moore, meanwhile, will bat cleanup after hitting .298 with team-highs of 15 homers and 49 RBIs. He’s been chosen in the last two MLB drafts and has signed with Mississippi State.

“They’re our 3 and 4 hole hitters and we’re expecting a lot out of both of them,” Rose said. “It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if Tyler were to challenge the school’s home run record

The 3 hole will be a change for Michael ... the way you’re pitched in that leadoff spot is just different. But I think with the cast we have around him, I think they’ll have to pitch to him.”

Taking over in center field and in MCC’s leadoff spot is freshman Toddrick Stevenson — a 6-foot, 210-pound specimen who was originally headed to LSU.

“He’s got power and raw speed and can cover a lot of ground out there,” Rose said.

Sophomore left-fielder Nathan Wright (.306, 5 HR, 25 RBIs last year) and Guerrero will flank Stevenson in the outfield.

Moore will man first base, while Shannon Steed and fellow freshman Drew Snider of West Lauderdale are vying for time at second base.Freshman Matt Holliman of Germantown, Tenn., is the new shortstop and will likely hit in the No. 2 spot, while freshman Jarrod Parks of Madison Central will play third and likely hit fifth or sixth.

Canadian Justin Worby, who was a medical redshirt last year, heads a trio of catchers which includes ex-West Lauderdale standout David Woods and Dirk Welch. Worby has signed with Southeastern Louisiana.

Ian Sharp, who could also see time as a left-handed pitcher, is one of three players who could see time at designated hitter along with Josh Demoney and Snider.On the mound, the quartet of Lee Swindle, Wade Weathers, Jordan Brown and Kedrick Martin give the Eagles a host of experience as MCC tries to replace ace Michael Robbins — who is now at Ole Miss.

“All those guys are talented, but they’re not in any particular order right now,” Rose said. “Swindle will probably be our Game 1 starter Saturday, but every one of those guys has pitched well and is capable of being No. 1. No one has really just seperated themselves that much yet.”

Swindle, a Mississippi State signee struck out 64 and had a 2.59 earned-run average in 67.2 innings a year ago; while Martin — an ex-Meridian High star who has signed with Southeastern Louisiana — was 5-3 with two saves and a 3.46 ERA.Brown, an LSU signee who racked up 107 at-bats a year ago as a position player, was 2-2 with a pair of saves; and Weathers — a former Enterprise standout who has signed with Southern Mississippi — was 5-1 with two saves and a 2.48 ERA in 42.1 innings.

Sharp and Chase Porch are two of the freshmen who could see lots of action on the mound, while Jason Coats is another who will likely throw in long relief. Stevenson may close in some games for MCC, while Graham Upshaw, 6-foot-6 Johnathan Wray and John Hendrix are all vying for time on the hill.

After a tough-opening weekend with L.B. Wallace and Alabama Southern, MCC faces a grueling schedule which includes — among others — two doubleheaders with national powerhouse Chipola, Fla., two games at Wallace-Hanceville and two doubleheaders with Pearl River.

“I know a lot of teams in the state are going to be tough,” Rose said. “But I really tried to stack the schedule this year. Lurleen B. Wallace is solid, Alabama Southern is tough, we’ve Wallace-Hanceville for a double-dip and we play Chipola four times in two days and they’re as talented as anybody in the nation.”