Fundame! BY JOHNNY CRAIG The return of seven starters, including an unvaried infield, plus a physically stronger pitching staff have West Brunswick baseball coach Ron Simmons looking to overall improvement and a rise up the Waccamaw 2-A Conference ladder. After a cellar finish two years ago, Simmons took over the West Brunswick baseball program last spring and guided the Trojans to a sixth-place WC standing (4-10 in the conference and 4-15 overall). "We will be a much better team thus time around," said Simmons. "We've got seven starters back and Dino Daniels, a strong junior, leads our pitching staff. We are fundamentally sound and are looking good defensively. "A big asset has been placing our non-football players in the weight program. All the kids have worked hard and everyone is much stronger," added Simmons. Leading the way for the Trojan infield is the return of shortstop Scottie Babson. The junior was third in batting a year ago with a .324 average. Also back is senior second baseman Paul Jones. Jones hit at a .191 clip last season but was second in runs scored (11). Senior Jeremy King returns at first base after hitting .114 a year ago. Junior Eric Hardy is back at third base but will also see relief pitching duties. Hardy batted .118 last season. Senior Jeff Mintz returns to left field and could possibly see spot duty on the mound if the pitching staff wears thin. Mintz hit at a .161 clip last I season while also providing relief pitching help. Junior Corey Hankins will start at ! centerfield after seeing limited action last season. Hankins had only 13 plate appearances a year ago. Tommy L.ove will be the prime right fielder for the Trojans when not pitching. Love will be one of the Trojans top two starting pitchers but will also see plenty of action in the outfield. Junior Kyle Jones will be behind the plate nfter starting at catcher on the junior varsity team last season. Daniels and Ix>ve will take on most of the mound duty for the Trojans with Hardy and Billy Inman available for relief heln I.ove led the team in innings pitched last year (55.1) and strike outs (471 despite a 2-7 record. Simmons expects Love to improve upon last year's 8.8G earned run average (ERA). Ix>ve was also effective at the plate last year hitting at a .306 average with six runs batted in (RBIs). Daniels was 2-3 last season in only 18.2 innings pitched. The junior lefthander is much stronger this year and Simmons figures him to be a more vital performer on the Trojan mound staff. Daniels hit a strong .256 last year ! and was second in RBIs (11). i Inman will be one of the top j reserves at third base while transfer Talbert Williams will be a new addition to the outfield. j First baseman/outfielder Ricky Smith and first baseman Garrett j Gore are up from the junior varisty and will provide backup strength. | Gore is a good hitter but is struggling defensively according to Sim- ! mons. I Randy Daniels is also a new addition with excellent speed. "Randy can really fly on the bases," said Simmons. "We hope to have Randy worked in by midseason and give us some speed on the bases." While the Trojans have a strong starting nine players, depth could be a problem should injuries begin to crop up. "We must stay healthy in order to compete this season. With only 14 players on the roster, we don't have any room to lose anybody." The only key losses for the Trojans will be in replacing three-time allcounty outfielder Chris Johnson and all-conference and all-county performer Donnie Vansteen. Vansteen's .451 batting average and Johnson's .405 led the Trojans last year to a .248 team clip. ? ? * I-ast week the Trojans won their first preseason game in a 10-5 victory over Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Seahawks were ranked number one in the 3-A ranks in South Carolina and routed West Brunswick a week earlier in the Trojans exhibition opener. "We felt really good with the win I last Friday over Myrtle Beach," said ! Simmons. "The Seahawks are a tough team and really gave us a good 1 workout." I Looking at the Waccamaw Con- | -itnlc Dofpr W > W / W W ? W ference race, Simmons sees defending champions South Brunswick, Whiteville and East Bladen as the teams to beat. "South Brunswick is loaded with talent and coach Paul Faulk has done a very good job with the Cougars. "Whiteville has some good pitchers returning but they are not as strong a hitting team as they were a year ago. "East Bladen is also lacking some power hitting but will have the pitching, led by the return of John Schultz, to be in the conference race. "South Robeson lost a lot of seniors from last VPfir'R foiim anH uro K?q* J UIIU lib WVUV both Fairmont and West Columbus twice last season. We certainly hope to move up within the conference." The top three finishers in the Waccamaw Conference regular season advance to the state playoffs. No conference tournament will be held with the state qualifiers moving straight into the playoffs. * ? ? Helping Simmons with coaching duues this season is junior varsity coach Fred Brantiey and varsity assistant Danny Gore. "The addition of Fred and Danny have enabled me to spend more time with the varsity while at the same time the junior varsity is getting much more coaching." said Simmons. The largest physical improvement of the Trojan baseball program has been the field renovation of the LEADING PITCHER?Left-hander Di pitcher on the Trojan baseball team tl with limited pitching performances bii staff this spring. The Trojans host Lo conference matchup. This Week In Br Thursday, Mar. 17 I,oris, S.C., at West Brunswick (baseball i; Laney at West Brunswick (tennis); South Brunswick at Hoggard (softball); Hoggard, New Hanover at South Brunswick (track); New Hanover at South Brunswick (tennisI. Friday. Mar. 18 West Brunswick at Acme-Delco (baseball); Hoggard at South Brunswick (baseball); West Brunswick at Hoggard (softball); Ixiney at South Brunswick (Softball). Saturday, Mar. 19 Williams Township at South Brunswick ibaseball). Monday, Mar. 21 West Brunswick at Nakina I baseball >; West Brunswick at East Bladen (tennis); Fairmont at West Brunswick (golf); Hoggard at South Brunswick i.JV baseball); I.aney at South Brunswick (track); South Brunswick at Fairmont (golf); West Columbus at South Brunswick (tennis). BASEBAI icp To Sfo( m w Vf Brunswick County Parks am Recreation Department. Additions include new turf (all grass infield) and sprinkler system new fencing plus the outfield feno has been moved back to 350 feet. "Our facilities are among the bes in the state," said Simmons. "I owe i lot of thanks to the county commis sioners for the funds and the recrea tion department for the work that ha: gone into this facility. The Trojai Booster Club has also worked veryvery hard in getting these im provements." West Brunswick Trojans 1988 Baseball Schedule Date Opponent Mar. 17 Loris.S.C. Mar. IB at Aeme-Delco Mar. 21 at Nakina Mar. 23 Acme-Delco Mar. 25 at East Bladen* Mar. 29 Whiteville* Mar. 31 at Fairmont* Apr. 12 South Robeson* Apr. 15 at North Brunswick* Apr. 19 at West Columbus* Apr. 20 at Loris, S.C. Apr. 22 South Brunswick* Apr. 26 East Bladen* Apr. 28 at Whiteville* May 3 Fairmont* May 6 at South Robeson* May 10 North Brunswick* May 13 ." West Columbus* May 17 at South Brunswick* 'denotes Waccamaw 2-A Conference games. ifl ^7^ w w w ? w defeated Myrtle Beach 10-5 last Friday in their final preseason game before opening this week with two home contests. wrtv/?:'. ;? "3 ?LUS SALE! I s says, "LIQUIDATE", regardless of ecomes your GOOD FORTUNE! YINGS 3d Cars and Trucks! P /v A ^S$11,195 """7^ >^$8,650 V '87 Dodge Dakota ^ WAS IS P I U,U7J ^o,o I I $7,495 $5,273 $10,550 $8,556 $13,200 $10,929 $10,300 $8,300 $8,695 $6,380 $12,995 $10,900 $13,150 $11,409 COME SAVE!! iAGER AND ASK ABOUT E SEMINAR! A