Page 4 - RVO Diamond Roundup March 2017

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SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2017 | RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL REVIEW
CONWAY WAMPUS CATS
Winning is tradition for Wampus Cats
BY DONNA LAMPKIN STEPHENS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In his 33rd season atop the Conway base- ball program, Noel Boucher has built the Wampus Cats into one of the best, most consistent teams in the state.
Since he birthed the program in 1985, the numbers don’t lie:
• 641-237 all-time record (.730 winning percentage);
• Two state championships (1989 and 2011);
• Six state runner-up finishes (1993, ’94, ’99, 2007, ’15 and ’16);
• Six state semifinal showings (1996, 2002, ’10, ’12, ’13 and ’14); and
• Zero losing seasons in 32 years.
Barry Lueders has assisted Boucher since Year 2 in 1986.
And the numbers for 2017 bode well for the Wampus Cats:
• 10 returning starters from a squad that fin- ished 23-8 and Class 7A state runner-up; and
Conference: 7A Central
Coach: Noel Boucher
Assistant coaches: Barry Lueders and
Ryan Reed
2016 record: 23-8
Mascot: Wampus Cats
Returning starters: McCall Dail, Eli
Davis, Cade Tucker, Garrett Fusilier, Parker Gavazzi, Andrew Hreha, Matt Lloyd, Jack Stroth and Jordan Wicks
•Four of six seniors will play college ball next year.
“We hope to be competitive again this year,” Boucher said with typical understatement.
Over the past two years, the Wampus Cats have gone 48-12 with back-to-back state runner-up finishes.
Conway has not finished outside the Class 7A Final Four since 2009.
Wampus Cat baseball just wins.
It’s a matter of pride for these seniors — and all the Wampus Cats — to continue that winning tradition.
McCall Dail (5-10, 176) recorded 26 hits — including five doubles, two triples and a home run — in 80 at-bats. He batted .325, scored 24 runs, delivered 13 RBIs and struck out just seven times in 187 innings. He has signed with Independence (Kansas) Com- munity College.
Cade Tucker (6-0, 210) batted .283 — 28 hits in 99 at-bats in 211 innings. He had eight doubles and two home runs with 16 RBIs. Eli Davis (6-1, 195), playing just 19 innings, bat- ted .250 — two hits in eight at-bats, includ- ing a double. They have signed with Eastern Oklahoma Community College.
Kolby Reck (5-11, 192) recorded 27 hits — including five doubles, a triple and a home run — and 27 runs scored in 99 at-bats and 200 innings. He had 15 RBIs and batted .273. He
MATT JOHNSON/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Conway sophomore Colby Cormell fires the ball back to the infield during practice.
has committed to Eastern Oklahoma Commu- nity College.
The other Wampus Cat seniors are Brady Newman and Nick Stillwell.
The Wampus Cats’ major strength, Boucher said, will be those returning starters. A weak- ness is a lack of depth, but that could get better as the season continues.
“We’ve got some really good returning players,” Boucher said. “Jordan Wicks is go- ing to pitch and play first. Matt Lloyd is a junior second baseman. Garrett Fusilier will be at third when Cade Tucker pitches. Jack Stroth caught last year. Parker Gavazzi is re- turning in center field.
“Nick Stillwell is throwing pretty good.
MARCH 23-25 ........ @CENTRAL ARK. TOURNEY MARCH 28 ..................................... @CABOT* MARCH 31 ............. FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE* APRIL 4 ................................. @LR CENTRAL* APRIL 6 ...................................LR CATHOLIC* APRIL 7 .......................... MEMPHIS HOUSTON APRIL 11 ...................................... @BRYANT* APRIL 14 ................FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE* APRIL 17 .................................... WHITE HALL
APRIL 18 .................. @NORTH LITTLE ROCK * APRIL 21 .......................................... CABOT* APRIL 22 ................................ @LR CATHOLIC APRIL 25 ............. @FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE* APRIL 28 ..................................LR CENTRAL* APRIL 29 ................... @NORTH LITTLE ROCK* MAY 2 .................................. @LR CATHOLIC* MAY 5 ........................................... BRYANT *
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
CONWAY BASEBALL continued on 5VV CONWAY BASEBALL