Page 13 - RVO Diamond Roundup March 2017

RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL REVIEW |
SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2017
13VV
VILONIA EAGLES
Coach counts on speed, hitting depth to propel Eagles to success
Good Luck to all area teams!
BY DONNA LAMPKIN STEPHENS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Vilonia’s Eagles failed to return to the Class 5A State Tournament last year, but coach Brad Wallace said he thinkgs that bump will turn out to be inspiration for 2017.
“This season, I fully expect us to be driven to return and fueled from falling short last season,” said Wallace, whose Eagles finished 16-9 in 2016.
They have lots to work with this spring.
The Eagles will return six starters, led by ju- nior Cody Mitchell, the top returning pitcher in the 5A West. When he doesn’t pitch, Mitchell will play in the outfield.
Also back in starting positions are four se- niors: infielder Nick Howard, who led the Eagles in stolen bases last year and who will play college baseball next year for Oklahoma Wesleyan; utility player Luke Gordon, who led Vilonia in batting
Conference: 5A West
Coach: Brad Wallace
Assistant coaches: Justin Moore, Joe
Bryant and Kenny Waites
2016 record: 16-9
Mascot: Eagles
Returning starters: Nick Howard, Luke
Gordon, Chris Bass, Jordan Chandler, Cody Mitchell and Josh Alban
average and RBIs as a junior; pitcher/outfielder Chris Bass, who will move to lead-off batter this spring; and infielder Jordan Chandler.
“Howard had a great offseason,” Wallace said. “Bass is a college baseball player. Chandler is a hard-hitting shortstop with home-run power potential.”
The other returning starter is Josh Alban, a
VILONIA BASEBALL continued on 14VV
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