Eagles' baseball opens season this weekend

Staff

Published Friday, February 23, 2001

Sports Writer

GOSHEN - While the basketball team is still alive and kicking getting most of the attention in the postseason, the Goshen High School baseball team is quietly preparing for the upcoming 2001 regular season.

With the warmer February weather and spring-like conditions dominating the landscape, the Eagles have been able to get in several productive workouts on the baseball diamond with the exception of Wednesday afternoon's steady drizzle as the first game approaches.

However, one of the drawbacks Goshen faces in the early portion of the baseball season is that five players on the basketball team who play baseball are still on the hardwood as the Eagles continue tournament action this afternoon against Southern Choctaw with a possible Final Four appearance still in the cards for head coach Major Lane's squad.

GHS head baseball coach Chad Dube said he recognizes the challenges he faces without some of his key players in the early portion of the season.

"Right now as it stands, we're missing three varsity players and a junior varsity player," Dube said. "I expect those people to be impact players. To not have them at this time of the year will have an impact. But at the same time, the people we do have are working very hard and getting better. I still feel pretty good about this year's team even though we don't have any of those players."

Despite last year's sub .500 record, the Eagles made the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year before losing to Leroy in the first round. After being in 3A over the past two years, Dube said the move back down to 2A will benefit the Eagles.

"We had a lot of youth and inexperience on last year's team," Dube said. "I feel like we've grown up some from last year. The kids worked hard last year, but they didn't play much organized baseball until last year. With football and basketball doing well, I really hope the drop to 2A will help us. I'm anticipating some success with the baseball program this year."

Five starters return from last year's team including senior Michael Hatten, who transferred back to Goshen from Highland Home this season. Hatten, who is expected to be a relief pitcher,

will also play either first or third base for the Eagles.

Dube said Hatten has tremendous ability and is expected to contribute heavily while providing great leadership this spring.

"Michael is an excellent left handed hitter who has a very fluid swing from the left side of the plate," Dube said. "He is much stronger physically and can hit for power and average because he has very good offensive abilities."

Despite suffering an inflamed elbow at the end of football season last fall, Dube said Hatten has shown no signs of soreness during baseball workouts.

Senior Brandon Nickolson returns at his shortstop position. Dube said Nickolson is an excellent hitter who also has an extremely accurate arm to go along with good range.

Junior Jason Burgans, who batted .397 last year, returns at second base to complete the middle of the infield for the Eagles. Dube said he expects Burgans to be one of his top run producers in the middle of the order. A possible college prospect, Dube said Burgans "needs to stay focused on a daily basis" and be more disciplined with his baseball instincts. As a pitcher, Burgans is a power pitcher who has the ability to blow people away with his fastball.

Following the conclusion of basketball season, junior Averick Rogers will return behind the plate for his third season. Dube said Rogers is "a silent leader who goes about his business and is successful at whatever he does."

Rogers has quick feet along with a strong arm and is adapt at handling pitchers. As far as his offensive abilities are concerned, Rogers is a great contact hitter who is capable of finding the alleys in Goshen's spacious ball park and getting numerous doubles and triples. Rogers led the Eagles with a .410 batting average.

Senior Mylo Jones returns to the outfield for the Eagles. Dube said Jones has exceptional speed and is expected to be the lead off hitter following the departure of Dee Brundidge. Dube said Jones has excellent bat speed with the ability to hit to all fields.

Among the players who didn't start last year but is expected to make major contributions include sophomore center fielder Wesley Wright, freshman infielder Matt Qualls, eighth grade relief pitcher Brandon Walters, junior Marcus Scott, freshman hurler Damario Green and junior outfielder Marcus Scott.

As far as the pitching staff is concerned, Wright is expected to be the number one pitcher while Burgans, Nicholson and Rogers

fill out the rest of the rotation. While the starting rotation is expected to be much improved, Dube said he is hoping to establish depth in the bullpen as the season progresses.

Dube said he is also expecting key contributions from eighth grader Matt Johnson along with freshmen Victor Norton and Chad Sanders who have all participated in the junior varsity program for three straight years. Other newcomers who are expected to make an impact are junior Allan Fannin and sophomore Warren Mills. Both players will makeup a deep outfield for the Eagles.

Going into the season, the Eagles should be deep and athletic in the outfield while their starting pitching is expected to improve significantly.

However, Dube he's concerned about the infields lack of experience despite possessing much talent.

"The one thing we'll have to gain through game experience is baseball savvy," Dube said. "It's not something that can be taught or learned. Once they get into a game situation, they'll start to work together as a unit."

With the Eagles owning a large ball park by high school standards, Dube said his team will have to win with speed, pitching and defense in order to compete this spring.

"I'm a firm believer that defense and pitching wins games," Dube said. "We can outscore our opponents, but most of the time we'll come on the short end of the stick. We'll have to manufacture runs with our speed, steal bases and hit and run. It's not that we don't have kids that can hit home runs, but we can't bank on it."

In order to make another strong run at the playoffs, Dube said the Eagles must become a stronger team fundamentally.

As far as the area is concerned, the Eagles will face off twice against Red Level, Georgiana and Straughn. The schedule consists of 17 games against the likes of Pike County, Ariton, Luverne, Eufaula and Highland Home. Dube said he's hoping to add a few more games later in the season.

The Eagles open up the season this Saturday morning when they face off against Houston Academy and Eufaula in a doubleheader. The first pitch is set for 10 a.m. at Wallace College in Dothan.  

 

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---