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^ <M
StAff P HO I OS BY JOHNNY C?Alc'
no Daniels is the top West Brunswick
lis season. Daniels went 2-3 last year
it will be a key for the Trojan mound
ris, S.C., today (Thursday) in a non unswick
Sports
Tuesday, Mar. 22
South Brunswick at Hoggan
(baseball); Hoggard at Wes
Brunswick (softball); Sout)
Brunswick at Acme-Delco (softball)
Wednesday, Mar. 23
Acme-Delco at West Brunswick
(baseball); Whiteville at West
Brunswick (tennis); South
Brunswick at Hoggard (JV
baseball); Cape Fear Academy al
South Brunswick (golf); and South
Brunswick at Cape Fear Academy
(tennis).
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MON, WED, FRI-8am-12pm
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THE BRU!
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71 I S IO B UVVWJ 5
\ Mt&L
?-*r'=77;--?.1 . . ; .-'J
OUT AT FIRST?West Brunswick first baseman
Jeremy King (right) makes a play at the bag while a
Myrtle Beach runner is thrown out. The Trojans
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BiS^e're overstocked and Ed Jone
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1988 THf BBllNSWlCK Bt AC ON '
i
MS WICK BEACON, Thursday, March 17. 1988?Page 11-A
d Imnrovemant
?? BBS S jw?0 >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
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