Baseball Team Preview - Wildcats
As defending Southeastern District Champions, the Great Bridge Wildcats know that they have their work cut out for them to retain the title in 2007. Great Bridge head coach Wiley Lee expects the district to be very competitive this season and is prepared to face opponents in the form of a senior-laden Hickory team, a potentially dominating Western Branch pitching staff, and an all-around improved Indian River squad; amongst the rest.
"It's going to boil down to who makes the least mistakes and gets the timely hits," Lee, entering his ninth season on the Great Bridge bench, says about the district. Fortunately for the coach, his 2007 Wildcat team seems to fit that description.
"We're a much younger team, there are not as many seniors," Lee says. "We had three sophomores that started last year and are coming back as juniors. It's a very enthusiastic, hard working junior class this year."
One of those hard working juniors is shortstop Brandon Shelton, who Lee will look to provide leadership as well as defensive stability in the infield. "Shelton was very mature as a sophomore," Lee says. "He was solid defensively and has come on offensively as of late."
As it has in the past, Great Bridge will rely on its defense once again to win ball games this year; mainly on the arm of senior pitcher Taylor Reeves. "He's a power pitcher," Lee says about Reeves. "He'll give us the opportunity to win some big ballgames." The 6'6", 240 pound right-hander is throwing regularly around 90 mph and has already signed with a junior college on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Offensively, Lee knows his team well and will play to the strengths of his lineup; contact hitting, smart base running, and speed. "We're not a home run hitting team," Lee adds. "We're going to get 'em on, get 'em over, and get 'em in."
PITCHERS
With Reeves as the Ace of the rotation, look for junior Phil McCarthy to step up as the team's number two. Both Reeves and McCarthy have a good fastball, curve, and change-up and Lee wants them to focus on continuing to develop those three pitches this year.
INFIELD
Catcher Ben Melinda was one of those sophomores that started last season and will be behind the plate again this year.
The first base job was still open at the beginning of the season and Coach Lee says it will come down to whoever steps up and performs the best.
At second base, the coach says that, "Junior Hunter Parrish is one of the juniors that will have to prove himself this season." Lee adds, "He can swing it, he's got a little juice." But Lee also hopes to see Parrish continue to develop defensively as well.
Shelton will be back at shortstop and juniors Ben Smith and Cody Spruill will share time at the hot corner of the infield. Both Smith and Spruill are good with their gloves and Coach Lee wants to see them add some pop to the lineup with their bats.
OUTFIELD
Junior Ty Morrison was one of the offensive leaders for Great Bridge in 2006 as he hit an impressive .350 last season as a sophomore. Senior Matt Workman is continuing to establish himself into the starting lineup and Lee says junior Jordan Whitehurst will be very solid in centerfield for the Wildcats.
