Bulldogs point toward big goals
PERKINSTON — Mississippi Gulf Coast baseball coach Rodney Batts' goal for his program has never wavered as he enters his fourth season in charge.
The Bulldogs open the season Friday with a home doubleheader against State Fair Community College with it in mind.
"They know what our expectations are for the program," Batts said. "That is, at the end of the year, to play at a high level and get into the postseason, and hopefully make it to Enid, Okla., and play in the World Series."
First pitch Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m., but the staff has its eye on potential inclement weather which might necessitate tweaking that.
Batts has confidence in the core of his starting pitching staff, both of whom have signed Division I scholarships. Lefthander Josh Lewis (So, Theodore/Mobile Ala.) is on his way to Southern Miss after a 3-5 season where he finished with a 5.01 ERA.
Ty Barnes (So, Petal/Petal) went 4-3 with a 4.21 ERA, and he's on his way to Louisiana-Monroe.
"Ty and Josh have to carry the load on this pitching staff," Batts said. "They've been through this league before and know what it takes to win. They both had really good years for us last year, and being sophomores they'll be the leaders on the pitching staff."
Freshmen Dustan Dille (Fr, Brookwood/Tuscaloosa, Ala.) and Cullan O'Shea (Fr, Mary G. Montgomery/Mobile, Ala.) will be the other two starters for MACJC play.
The Bulldogs bullpen includes returnee Grant Atwood (So, Vancleave/Vancleave), transfer Bailey Hargrave, and freshmen Kole Kittrell (Fr, Greene County/State Line) and Jamarcus Lang (Fr, Hattiesburg/Hattiesburg). Atwood went 1-0 with a save and a 1.08 ERA in nine appearances, and Batts said he's improved.
Logan McGrew (So, Sumrall/Sumrall) and Colby Cagle (So, West Harrison/Lizana) return behind the plate. McGrew, who is headed to Southern Miss, batted .358 with 2 home runs and 30 RBI last year. Cagle batted .349, and those two players will split time behind the plate and make designated hitter appearances.
Dylan Menhennett (So, Biloxi/Biloxi) returns after playing second, short and third last year. He's expected to man second base, with Alden Davis (Fr, Pascagoula/Pascagoula) at first.
Castor Lee (Fr, Gulfport/Gulfport) is moving to third base from second, where he played most in high school. Three freshmen are battling to play short, with Cody Marshall (R-Fr, Fontainbleau/Mandeville, La) in the mix with starting pitchers Dille and O'Shea. Fisher Ray (Fr, George County/Bruce) and Trevor Davis (Fr, Vancleave/Vancleave) provide more depth and left-handed bats.
Batts said he likes the infield's versatility, which gives him the ability to mix and match to gain the platoon advantage against opposing pitchers.
The same goes in the outfield, where Chase Fagan (R-So, Hancock/Poplarville) returns to play left field after batting .276 with 3 home runs.
Orrion Bailey (So, Hattiesburg/Hattiesburg) brings speed and a strong arm to center field, with bangers Brandon Parker (Fr, West Harrison/Saucier) and Preston Stringer (Fr, Stone/Perkinston) and speedy Ike Williams (Fr, St. Martin/Biloxi) fighting in right.
"I feel good about all of those outfielders," Batts said. "I want to get our best hitters in the lineup. The thing about our outfielders is if you can play centerfield, you can play right or left."
This is the second season the MACJC championship will be determined by the regular-season standings. That means there's no opportunity to take a day off, and playing in what Batts calls the best league in NJCAA Division II top to bottom makes it all the more challenging.
Gulf Coast has several Division I teams on the pre-conference schedule, as he looks to get his squad toughened up ahead of the big grind.
"We're ready to go," he said. "We just need to start our season on a good note in the month of February. We're playing some really good opponents that will lead right into our conference season. We just have to get out of the gate positive and playing well in all phases. It builds momentum coming into the conference season."
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