Page 33 - RVO Diamond Roundup March 2017

RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL REVIEW | SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2017
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PERRYVILLE MUSTANGS
Perryville coach: ‘Everybody has a role’ on team
BY TAMMY KEITH
SENIOR WRITER
The Perryville Mustangs are starting the season ahead of the game.
“Our strengths this year are experi- ence and pitching depth,” coach Jason Wilson said.
He has six returning starters: seniors Gavin Tindell, pitcher and utility player, who “plays ev- erywhere,” the coach said, and Colby Campbell, second base; juniors Hunter Lawrence, outfielder, and Brock Johnson, catcher; and sophomores Eddie Jeffs, infielder and pitcher, and Mason Thessing, infielder and pitcher.
All players will contribute, Wilson said, but he pointed to Tindell’s strong arm as an asset. “He pitches, he plays infield and plays out-
field — he has a real live arm,” Wilson said. He said his seniors are leaders, and “we’ve got good younger kids. My freshmen, they work hard; they’re learning. They’re going to contribute. Everybody in the baseball program has a role. They’re all equally important to me.
Conference: 3A-4
Coach: Jason Wilson
Assistant coach: Jerry Johnson 2016 record: 5-10
Mascot: Mustangs
Returning starters: Gavin Tindell,
Colby Campbell, Hunter Lawrence, Brock Johnson,Eddie Jeffs and Mason Thessing
They’re a good group; they work hard and do everything that’s asked.”
Last year’s record was a disappointing 5-10.
“We got beat out; we didn’t go to state,” Wilson said.
The coach is more optimistic about this season.
He and his assistant coach, Jerry Johnson, will ask players is to improve from last year and push it to the next level.
“We’re working on improving our quality at-bats and base-running skills,” Wilson said. “We want to also improve and continue work- ing on and developing young pitchers and their
PERRYVILLE BASEBALL
MARCH 28 ..................................... @ATKINS* MARCH 31 ............................. @TWO RIVERS* APRIL 4 .....................................POTTSVILLE* APRIL 6 ...................................... JESSIEVILLE APRIL 7 ............................................ DOVER* APRIL 11 ....................................... @LAMAR* APRIL 13 ....................................... CLINTON* APRIL 17 .............................. @DARDANELLE* APRIL 18 ......................................... ATKINS* APRIL 21 ..................................TWO RIVERS* APRIL 25 ................................ @POTTSVILLE*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
knowledge of the game and our overall knowl- edge of the game. We talk about it, and we go over it, and we practice it. There are a lot more moving parts than what is realized.”
He said among the games to watch is one against Bigelow, the traditional county rivalry. “Our expectations are to improve off of last year’s accomplishments and improve to the re-
gional and state tournaments,” Wilson said.
PERRYVILLE LADY MUSTANGS
Coach: Perryville softball team is young, talented this season
BY TAMMY KEITH
SENIOR WRITER
The Perryville softball team is looking for its 11th trip to the state tournament this season, despite a few challenges.
Coach Paul Gottsponer said he has only three returning starters, all seniors. “I’m going to be playing an awful lot of young kids this year,” he said. “I have several younger kids, ninth- and 10th-graders, who are going to have to step up and fill some roles this year.”
The good news is, he said, “I’ve got a group of about nine ninth-graders, and they can play. “I had two juniors coming back ... one moved away.” His starting right-fielder, junior Katie Rankin, tore her ACL during volleyball, so it will take some time for her to recuperate
and get back on the field, the coach said.
His returning starters are Hannah Bradford, catcher; Whitney Woods, first base and right-handed pitcher; and Emma Skinkle, who
is a left-handed pitcher and plays first base.
He said he’s confident in both his pitchers’
abilities, and each has her strengths. “They’re
PERRYVILLE SOFTBALL continued on 34VV
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