Page 5 - RVO Diamond Roundup 2016

RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL REVIEW | SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2016
5VV
CONWAY WAMPUS CATS
Conway’s Brayden Leach takes his cuts in the batting cage.
MARCH 21 ............................ @LR CATHOLIC* APRIL 1 ........................................... @ALMA* APRIL 2 .................................... FAYETTEVILLE APRIL 5 ...........................................BRYANT* APRIL 8 ................................@GREENWOOD* APRIL 12 .............................. @LR CATHOLIC* APRIL 15 ........................@SILOAM SPRINGS* APRIL 20 ..................SOUTHSIDE FORT SMITH
APRIL 22 ................................... VAN BUREN* APRIL 23 ..........................................BENTON APRIL 27 ................................. @LR CENTRAL APRIL 29 ......................................@BRYANT* MAY 3 .....................................LR CATHOLIC* MAY 6 .................................... @VAN BUREN*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
CONWAY BASEBALL
EILISH PALMER/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
CONWAY BASEBALL continued from 4VV
Games to watch: Boucher, the father of the Wampus Cat program in his 32nd season, has been around long enough to know that every game can be dangerous. But expect Conway, one of the state’s most successful programs for years, to be prepared daily, he said.
Expectations for the 2016 season: Hav- ing finished Class 7A state runner-up to Ben- tonville last year by just 6-5 at Baum Stadium in the state championship game, and with 10 players with starting experience returning, the Wampus Cats should be an elite team again in 2016. Boucher said, “I expect a tough battle every time we take the field.” He said if the Wampus Cats could replace losses such as Jacob Adams, now at Crowder College in Neosho Missouri, but who has already signed with the University of Central Arkansas in Conway; Colin Condit; and Nick Starr, 2016 could be a special season. “But it’s the replac- ing part that’s the trick,” he said. Boucher recorded his 600th career win following the 2014 season but doesn’t spend a lot of time looking back. “What’s important to me is what we’re going to do tomorrow,” he said.