OCR Text |
Show I sport and have a fairly respectable season, said Draayer. DRAAYER, WHO knows as well as anyone how competitive Region Four w ill be this year, still believes that his team has a chance of battling for one of the top spots and a chance to enter what he calls, baseballs third season. A season in baseball can be divided into we take as it three seasons. The comes with the weather and tryouts having a lot of priority. (Davis still had about 35 kids on its roster as of last Monday, a roster that Draayer must trim in due time). Falcons Appear Ready For Super Launch! pre-seas- By KEITH DUNCAN Journal Sports CLEARFIELD - After 12 years as the head baseball coach at Clearfield High and after two consecutive years of downright frustration in Region One competition, the question is, Can Ken Hicks still be excited about coaching prep baseball? -- post-seaso- n, The word is that Clearfields baseball program may be on the upswing. Three big reasons why Coach Ken Hicks might be able to back up that claim is his tandem of junior pitchers in (left to right) Greg Folk, Phil Peterson and Jeff Parry. All three of these kids saw plenty of action during their sophomore sea-so- n FOLKS, YOU can forget the past, this guy is excited! After a couple of seasons of key injuries, costly overthrows by talented sophomores who are bound to make mistakes and just a general disinterest in the sport, the Falcons appear ready to reface their image and bring back to rich baseball tradition that once was the glory of this school. and should be primed to get the job done this year. WHEN TALKING about interest, just take a look at the number of kids who tried out over the past couple of weeks. Hicks reported that over 60 kids, and most of them better than average players, came out for tryouts. Weve been lucky to get 30 kids in the past couple of seasons. We had 30 sophomores alone that came out this year, said the veteran Clearfield coach. The bottom line to all of that means that some of the seniors who played last year, will be finding it mighty tough to regain their spots back. Says Hicks about it, Itll be a challenge for kids to play here. THERESEEMS no doubt that Hicks has some quality players coming back this year, now all he hopes for is that injuries stay at a minimum, players continue to progress and the weather cooperates. The Falcon coach gives an optimistic radiance in reporting that his squad should be strong in some of the critical areas such as pitching, catching, shortstop and centerfield. At least well be stronger than in tile past, said the coach, referring to a past where Clearfield has missed the state tournament two six of twenty years in a row and won a mere of in two competition. region years games MOST OF THE players that will man positions this spring, performed extremely well in last summers competition. In fact a good many of the players were members of the champion Colt League team led by John Gardiner. Hicks has nothing but praise for Gardiner, a leader among youth baseball enthusiasts for several years. THE KIDS coming up, not only the ones in our program, are excited about baseball. The interest in the sport, thanks to guys like John, has increased an awful lot in Clinton, Sunset, Clearfield and the other areas. And not only are interested players coming up, but kids with a lot of skill are surfacing too, he said. Some of those skilled players include the Falcon pitching staff made up of all juniors, guys like Jeff Parry, Phil Peterson and Greg Folk. These kids saw much of pitching duties in last years league race. Clearfield Recreation Sets Softball Sign-Up- s THERE IS A nucleus of players that Draayer will continue to build his 83 squad around. One of those players has to be Rick Secrist who batted over .500 last season with the majority of his hits being extra base slammers. Draayer describes Secrist as the offensive sparkplug and certainly a crowd entertainer for the few who support the Dart program. Defensively I believe well keep Rick in center field this year, said the coach, We'd been using him at first and in the outfield. YOU COULDNT start mentioning good Davis High players without putting pitcher David Johnson on your list. Johnson, one of the schools better golfers and a member of that team, will be a key person in Davis pitching rotation. Draayer reports that he is throwDave has ing extremely well in even put a little more weight on. Hes up to 150 now, smiled the head coach. Three other pitchers on the Davis staff will include junior Wyley Carlson, move-i- n Scott Ongley and senior Jay Jeppson. Carlson has been hitting the heck out of the ball in preseason to go along with his pitching skills. He can also play either short or second base when not pitching. Ongley comes to Kaysville from Bountiful and when not pitching, can play first base. n. , ' ANOTHER regular for the Darts will be last Skip Schooneover and junior outfielder, Mike Woodward. years third baseman, some very strong possibilities, even in future years. THERES no question that getting into the state tournament is our goal. Itll be important I feel, to finish well and finish strong, said the coach. Its a short season, continued Hicks, Going from March to April isnt very long, so were planning on enjoying as much of it as we can. Weve been down the past couple of years, but I see a change coming because weve got a little more talent now. JUST LIKE basketball, Hicks sees the baseball league being just as balanced as basketball was this past winter. Hicks respects the Layton program in addition to that of Roys. He says Sie Moore will make Bonneville a contender. Sky View might be the question mark land Weber, who had an excellent summer program, houle be much improved. And about 12 years and still a head coach, Hicks says, If you cant get excited about playing and being with kids, no matter how long youve been around, its time to get out. I just happen to be very excited. BEHIND THE plate also finds a wealth of experience and talent in senior Norm Taylor and junior David Peterson. Clearfields leading hitter from last year is bundle of back in Mark Wilson. This schools the of athletic energy has been one his so all experience and year, premier athletes will be valuable handle to pressure ability assets. SENIOR LAWRENCE Labato may be able to make a comeback from a serious injury that As a prevented him from playing last year. as a looked Labato promising very sophomore second basemen or shortstop. I just hope things develop for us like they are can, said Hicks in a serious tone. There THEN COMES the regular season, which we hope well be ready for soon. We got a pretty good day of baseball in at Box Elder last Saturday which isnt going to hurt us. w hich I think Then comes the weve got a good shot at this year. Good Foundation Bound To Bring Lustered Results - Third-yea- r head coach, Brad LAYTON foundation hes building on the likes Hawkins, that will hopefully bring lustered results in the spring of 83. THAT FOUNDATION includes the services Ladies League The Clearfield Recreation Department is now formulating its adult womens softball program for 1983. The program will include a Womens Slowpitch A League on Thursday night and a Womens Slowpitch B Leape on Tuesday night, a Womens Fastpitch league on Monday nights, and a Coed League to be held on Monday nights. TEAM APPLICATIONS may be obtained at the Clearfield Swim Pool, 934 S. 1000 E., Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting Monday, March 21 and ending Saturday, April 9. of seniors, guys like Kenny Heath, Craig Kennedy, Brad Merrill and Brett Talbot. In essence, Hawkins says, I think we can get into the state tournament, I really do, if our seniors can do the things I hope they can do. After a few more seniors, comes a not so well represented junior class, in fact only four juniors in total will dot Hawkins roster. THEN TO THE sophomores. Right now I could start three sophomores. Where, I dont know. Well just have to wait and see if the seniors rise up to the occasion. But the sophomores we have are good players and they will help us, said Hawkins. Hawkins pitching staff will be manned by Merrill and Talbot, who saw plenty of action as juniors. In fact a lot of Laytons success will depend on these couple of guys. Talbot has been working hard during the winter, while Merrill just got through wrapping up a very impressive state basketball tournament; ANOTHER SENIOR pitcher that could surprise is Robert Wamke. Two junior hurlers include Rob Shumway and Andy Billings, but the sophomore throwers that have a lot of people excited are Robert Femeau, Brian Bailey, James Kartwright and Ayemu Kikichara. The infield at Layton could see Merrill, Talbot and Dave Brimhall splitting playing time. Second base should be tied down by Jeff Moon, with Tom Montayo and Todd Murdock backing him up. Shortstop could see junior Paul Herald most of the time, if not Brian Bailey once in a while. Craig Kennedy will be the old faithful in the corner with Eric Naul-de- r backing him up. BEHIND THE plate will be the always reliable Kenny Heath while sophomore Bart Vernon backs him up. Look for Jamie Vigil, Morrie Hartman, Mike Roberts, James Batchelor, Wamke, Talbot and Femeau taking duties at outfield positions. Only 10 teams will be allowed to participate in each league. The Coed Leape team registration fee is $150 for Clearfield teams (no more than 5 out of city residents allowed on roster). OUTSIDE TEAMS will be $190 (having 6 or more out of city residents on a roster). The Womens Slowpitch team registration fee will be $130 for Clearfield teams and $160 for outside teams. The Womens Fastpitch team fee will be $160 for Clearfield teams and $190 for outside teams. League play begins the week of May 10 and runs through July 29. PEOPLE AROUND the league respect Hawkins as a baseball coach, just as his players do. One big reason the Lancers have made the state tournament for the past two years, has been because of Hawkins leadership. Hawkins doesnt select a team captain, though he considers with all respect, Heath to be his field leader. Im the one that takes charge. Im the one that does the cheerleading. I see some captains just sitting out there doing nothing but leading exercises. I think the kids get excited with me, if they see me running and exercising with them. The excitement just seems to spread, said Hawkins. Davis Kids Have To Love This Sport! And how about this competitive region? Draayer says nobody should bet against Bountiful. Theyve finished first and second over the past two years in state competition and havent got a bad team back this year. Draayer says that Woods Cross has all their kids back from last year and should be a tough one too. THE LIST GOES on. Draayer says East and Viewmont are capable of beating anyone, or at least he sees it that way now. Highland had a very respectable sophomore crew that should make them darkhorse. Top to bottom, this league will be tough. Davis County schools dont take a backseat to anyone in baseball and then when you throw in the two Salt Lake schools, this league will be very competitive in anyones eyes, said Draayer. WHAT WILL be the key in winning it? The teams that will eventually emerge will have to have three or four excellent front line pitchers. Teams wont be able to make it with two kids pitching every other game. It just cant be done, said the veteran mentor. Lets Play Ball! - KAYSVILLE Baseball players are a different breed according to Davis veteran coach, Kent Draayer. They just have to downright love the sport to stick with it all spring. Clearfield Ogden at CHS Thurs., Mar. 17 OHS at Woods Cross Fri., Mar. 18 Bountiful at CHS Mon., Mar. 21 IF KIDS CAN get excited about baseball, were bound to develop a very close-kn- Mens League The Clearfield Recreation Department is now formulating its mens softball program for 1983. The program will include four mens slow pitch leagues, to be played on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday nights. LEAGUES WILL be classified as A, B, or C, depending on the competition level desired. Also a newly formed fastpitch league will be played on Monday nights. Teams applications may be obtained at the Clearfield Swim Pool, 934 S. 1000 E., Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting CHS at Ben Lomond Tues. Mar. 22 it spring. The reason I say that is that these kids know they won't have the following, (crowd support), that theyd normally get in football and basketball. They come out every week realizing that if they dont really love this game, theres no use in wasting their time in front of a handful of people. Therefore, the guys that usually come out each spring, want to make the best of it and usually do. Like the young kids last year. Though they didnt make the playoffs, it was still rewarding to see them fall in love with the Layton Thurs., Mar. 24th ..Ogden Tournament Davis Thurs., Mar. 17 .Bear River at DHS Tues., Mar. 22 .Roy at Davis Fri., Mar. 25 West at Davis Monday March 21 and ending Saturday April 9. ONLY 10 teams will be allowed to participate in each league, with Clearfield teams having first priority. Team registration fees for the Slowpitch leagues will be $150 for Clearfield teams (no more than 5 out of city residents allowed on roster). Outside teams will be $ 190 (having 6 or more out of city residents on a roster). FASTPITCH FEES will be $180 for Clearfield teams and $220 for outside teams. Games will be played at Fisher Park or Steed Park with league play beginning the week of May 9 and running through July 29. . |