By By Marty Stamper/staff writer
Feb. 14, 2002
DECATUR Last spring was not a happy one for the East Central Community College baseball team. Not only did the Warriors go 19-27 on the diamond, but 14-year Warrior head coach Jamie Clark was slowly losing his battle with an inoperable brain tumor as well.
The Warriors hope this spring is a much more enjoyable one.
ECCC opens its season today at Livingston, Ala., with a single game with Shelton State. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
Adam McCurdy and Chad Loper are expected to see time at first base with Jake Nester and Dee Hornesburger (.233, 9 2B, 12 RBIs in 2001) battling for the second base position.
At shortstop are Nester and Josh Chaney (.289, 4 2B, 4 3B, 13 RBIs) with Justin Darby slated to start at third base.
Top outfielders are Timothy Fieber, Lewis Bradford (.289, 6 2B, 8 HR, 27 RBIs), Jarrod Vaughn, and William Mars.
Joey Holcomb gets the nod behind the plate.
The pitching staff consists of Jason Wooten (4-3, 2.44 ERA), Aaron Gisler, Corey Blackwell (0-1, 4.62), Chris Comans (2-2, 4.34), Brian Spillers, Alex Shephard, Nick Singleton, Corey Amis (2-6, 4.40), Michael Holifield, Vaughn, Loper, Darby, and Mars.
Completing the roster are Jason Massey (2B), Daniel Russell (2B-OF), Will Baskin (C), Mike Kulbeth (C), Paul Brown (OF), Jamie Ellington (INF), Ty Culpepper (1B-C), and Tyler Rogers (1B-OF).
ECCC scored only 200 runs in 2001, an average of 4.3 per game.
The Warriors had a 3.74 team ERA last spring, but were hampered by an anemic .269 team batting average.
Bradford swiped 12 bases in 16 attempts, while Hornesburger had nine steals in 15 tries. Chaney was 12 of 13.
Chaney also had a .936 fielding percentage at third base, while Hornesburger had a .951 percentage at second base.