Page 34 - RVO Diamond Roundup March 2017

34VV
SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2017 | RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL REVIEW
SACRED HEART REBELS
Rebels look for 14th straight trip to state tourney
BY TAMMY KEITH
SENIOR WRITER
If things work out the way Sacred Heart base- ball coach Aaron Duvall wants, the Rebels will be back in the state tournament for the 14th consecutive season.
That “if ” depends on several factors, he said, including finding arms to back up dominate player and right-handed pitcher Cade Chapman.
Chapman, a senior, is one of six returning starters. Also back on the field are seniors Ty- ler Kersey, infielder, and Dayton Drilling, also a pitcher; and sophomores Alex Hoelzeman, outfielder; Eric Usery, infielder; and Zakk Hoelzeman, catcher.
“Cade has been an integral part of the Rebels successes over the last three seasons,” Duvall said. “This season, he is back as the ace of the rotation. Last year, Cade finished with an ERA of 2.29 and won seven games. He struck out 92 guys in only 49 innings pitched. He has hit the weight room hard and has added velocity to his fastball and stamina.”
Chapman is going to be a key for the team again this year. He hit .268 last year, “but has the potential to raise that average quite a bit,” Duvall said. “Cade is a contact hitter who can use all parts of the field. He will be counted on in the middle of the lineup to not only hit for average,
Conference: 1A-5 North Coach: Aaron Duvall Assistant coach: Rick Duvall Mascot: Rebels
2016 record: 12-8
Returning starters: Cade Chapman,
Tyler Kersey, Dayton Drilling, Alex Hoelzeman, Eric Usery and Zakk Hoelzeman
SACRED HEART BASEBALL
MARCH 27 ........... SOUTH SIDE BEE BRANCH* MARCH 28 .............................MOUNTAIN PINE MARCH 30 ...........................@WONDERVIEW* APRIL 3 ...........................................BIGELOW APRIL 6 .................@MOUNT VERNON-ENOLA* APRIL 10 .........................CONWAY CHRISTIAN APRIL 11 ......................................@QUITMAN APRIL 18 ................................ GUY-PERKINS*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
but to be a major run producer, as he drove in 16 runs last season.”
When he’s not pitching, Chapman mans shortstop for Sacred Heart, and “is very reliable in the field,” the coach said. “He has soft hands, good range and a very strong, accurate arm.
CHRIS RODGERS/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Sacred Heart senior Brandon Wilson fouls off a pitch during batting practice.
“Cade is poised to finish his career at Sacred Heart in dominate fashion.” The senior player has signed with Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, Duvall said.
SACRED BASEBALL continued on 35VV
PERRYVILLE SOFTBALL
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 20 ....................................MAYFLOWER APRIL 21 ..................................TWO RIVERS* APRIL 25 ................................@POTTSVILLE* MAY 1 ................................... @WONDERVIEW
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
what the expectations are from everybody around here, so that’s what we’re shooting for,” he said.
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PERRYVILLE LADY MUSTANGS
PERRYVILLE SOFTBALL continued from 33VV both very good. Skinkle throws it harder;
Woods spins it,” he said.
He also pointed to Woods as his best hitter
for average and Skinkle as his best power hitter. The young women have been noticed for their athletic skills, too. Skinkle has signed to play softball at the University of Louisiana- Monroe, and Woods is going to play basketball
at Hendrix College in Conway.
Gottsponer, in his fourth year at the school
and his first as head coach, said the Mustangs are in a “really good conference; all the 4A schools are good.”
The Mustangs were second in district and fourth in regionals last season and lost in the first round of the state tournament.
“We’ll need to be able to beat Atkins, Lamar and Two Rivers to set ourselves up good for the district tournaments,” he said. Bigelow, just down the road, is a big rivalry, he said.
Despite a bit of rebuilding this year, Gottsponer isn’t lowering his expectations.
“We want to go back to the state tourna- ment. We’ve been 10 years in a row, and that’s
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