By By Richard Dark/The Meridian Star
MARCH 29, 2001
Meridian Community College has had a penchant in the last few years for plucking quality talent from the high school ranks.
Wednesday, the Eagles kept that trend going by inking one of the more quality young pitchers at perhaps the state's best program.
Todd Doolitle, a senior at West Lauderdale, will take his outstanding curve ball to play for Russ McNickle and the Eagles next season.
Doolittle, who currently sports a 6-0 record for the third-ranked Knights, is averaging a whopping 16 strikeouts per seven innings. He gives up only three walks in that span, as well as two hits.
He has been clocked as high as 88 miles per hour, but normally stays around the 85-86 range. He fanned 126 as a junior when helping the Knights to the 2000 Class 3A title.
Not bad for a kid who barely weighs a buck-40.
The Knights are rolling along at a seemingly unstoppable 12-1 clip, so Doolittle has much more to accomplish before the mound at Skaggs Field beckons.
Last season, the 5-10 right hander went 11-3 in helping Boatner and company to the school's ninth state crown.
Richard Dark is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rdark@themeridianstar.com.