Young PC team moves into new area
will be competitive.””]Sulligent and Lamar County both reached the playoffs in 2010, but neither team advanced out of the first round.
While the Bobcats should have a good chance of competing for a playoff spot, they are a team with little experience at the varsity level.
Phil Campbell has four seniors — Jordan Benford, Derek Duncan, Jake Dill and Corey Alexander — on this year’s team, and Alexander has not played competitive baseball in three years.
“We’re young,” Welborn said. “I’ve started six 10th graders and have 12 total. Only two or three have played a lot.”
Benford is four-year starter and is the Bobcats’ top hitter right now. Welborn said the team is struggling at the plate and the hitting is streaky.
The hitting should even out as the season progresses, but until it does, the Bobcats need strong pitching to keep opposing hitters in check.
Benford will be the No. 1 pitcher. Brent Whitten, Colton Vickery and Alexander are also pitchers that will see quite a bit of time on the mound.
Welborn said Vickery, a freshman, and Whitten are quality pitchers and Alexander will be good once he gets used to playing again.
Ben Stancil will also be a pitcher when he comes back from injury.
Defensively the Bobcats’ strength is in the outfield, where they have speedy players with quite a bit of range and are fundamentally sound.
The infield is a question mark, with the only returning starter playing the same position as last year is the catcher, Duncan.
“The whole infield is new,” Welborn said.
One of the things Welborn has tried to do to help the young team is schedule tough games early. Since the Bobcats are in a four-team area, they do not have to play area games until later in the season.
Welborn has taken advantage of the extra games to schedule quality opponents like Mars Hill, Lexington, Sheffield, Colbert Heights and Brooks.
“Last year we had to play [area games] March 5,” Welborn said. “This year I boosted the strength of schedule. There are no easy ones early, but I think it will make us better.”
Phil Campbell has started the season 3-5, but it is still early in the season. The Bobcats do not begin area games until March 28.
By then Welborn is hoping the hitting has become more consistent and the infield is playing well so Phil Campbell can return to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
