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Show Get The Feet Wet Says Cats Coach ' v ' "5 ft,' Dave Wigham Clipper Sports WOODS CROSS Knlering his tilth season with the Wildcats coach Val Cullimore realizes what his chili has to do to get into the state tournament. tourna-ment. "W K'RK A FRY young hall cluh and w e need to p pet some good pitching if we're going to compete in ' this league. That plus the tact our seniors will have to carry the younger kids for a w hile until they get tj their feet wet a little." When Coach Cullimore took over the Wildcat program he got them into the state tournament in his first outing. In his second season the Cats were involved in a state playoff only to lose to Jordan 0j. High. Two years ago he again guided the Cats to a playoff situation, this time he had to travel south to Dixie where his club lost again. ... LAST YEAR the Cats had an opportunity to get A j into the state event up to their last game w hen they kV lost to Bountiful, who went on to win the title. "The Braves are w ithout a doubt the top team in this league, they have everyone back. But then 1 ( honestly feel it'll be a dog tight with the others. 1 ' really don't know much about Davis because they l haven't been in our league and we haven't played them, but I know Draayer and he's a good coach." he noted. " INDEED THE Cats w ill be shooting for a state 11 plavoff berth. The league champion cets an auto-ie auto-ie : i ; matic state berth but then the .second and third place clubs will play off with Region Three. The seniors that Coach Val is counting on arc-Mike arc-Mike l'.gan, Doyle Hauler and lilair Kent. "Those three will have to carry us for a while," he added. KGAN IS especially coming through for his team and coach. Through their first four games Mike is hitting at a hot .667 clip. In his last two games he has two singles, four doubles and tw o triples. The Cats have him hitting fifth in the lineup. "I studied the stats and the fifth place guy actually gets as many chances for Rlil's as the fourth," commented Val. Kent is the leader of the outfield. He has a strong arm and is one of the quickest players for the Cats. Hauler is a solid performer at shortstop along with being one of the top pitchers on the Wildcat staff. JUNIOR TODD Dyson has won the job behind the plate. "He's a good one," added his coach who was an outstanding catcher in his playing days. David Italisano and Race McCleery are being platooned at first base. "We're still experimenting at that spot. Both were moved over, Dave was a catcher w hile Race was at third," Coach Cullimore noted. He also added that Race may see action at third or in the outfield before the year is over. JUNIOR CHAD Hammond has emerged as the second baseman for the Cats. "He's a fine defensive defen-sive player, physically he's a little guy and has trouble at the plate but we 13. 1 1 . for him." As mentioned Doyle Hauler, one of the best all around athletes in the area, is at shortstop but when he's on the mound pitching for the Cats, Junior 'Troy Fuller will play short. SENIOR MIKE Fgan holds down the hotbox slot at third, besides bring a great hitter his coach calls Mike "very steady" at third. Along with Kent the Cats have juniors Doug Sendobry and Troy Cullimore in the outfield. Sen-dobry Sen-dobry leads the team in RBI's during the preseason. pre-season. SENIOR ItEAKE Anderson is Mr. Vcrsitile for the Cats. Currently he's the D.I I. on the side but he also shows up at second base, catching or in the outfield. Titching wise the Cats look to junior lefty Carman Car-man Curtis. A year ago Carman ran up a 2-0 varsity record and the coach is counting on many more wins this season. I lauter is also a fine thrower along with Troy Fuller and sophomore Mike Dalley who the coach says will be a great one some day. COACH Cullimore realizes he has a young team and hopes that his pitching and senior leadership can carry the club for the first two weeks. If that happens then the Cats will be right in the hunt for a state playoff. Senior Mike Egan is carrying a big bat for the Wildcats Wild-cats this year. Currently he leads the team with a .667 average. |