Jefferson Davis Community College 2007 Baseball Preview
Jefferson Davis
01/25/2007

Jefferson Davis Community College

2007 Warhawk Baseball Preview

Excitement is running high as the Jefferson Davis Community College Warhawks enter the 2007 Spring baseball season. With a team comprised of 18 sophomore players, expectations are very high for this seasons team, and the members of the program are committed to achieving a successful outcome.

For the Warhawks, Head Coach Darrell Blevins enters his second season as leader for the program. He is assisted by Gary Niedhardt, a former player for Blevins and a former right handed pitcher for the University of South Alabama Jaguars.

The upcoming season is sure to be a challenge for each of the teams associated with the league, but Blevins is extremely optimistic as to how the Warhawks will perform

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?Our conference is a truly great conference to be a part of. It is full of great teams with great coaching staffs and great players from the top of the league to the bottom of the league. Now with the re-alignment of the ACCC (Alabama Community College Conference) into North and South divisions, the challenge will be even greater. Our players are ready to accept this challenge. We know that we have to perform at our best day in and day out. We are committed to giving the effort that is required.?

For the Warhawks, the major improvement over last seasons squad involves additional depth to the pitching staff. This years staff will be lead by sophomores Harrison Szuch, Michael Maraldo, Tim Horne, Adam Reed, and Alex Granade. Freshmen on the staff who will be called upon to provide support for the Warhawks include; Myles Taylor, Whitney Qualls, Josh Presley, Hunter Brown, Robby Carlson, Donovan Coker, and Justin Bailey.

Along with the improved depth to the pitching staff, the Warhawks were able to improve their catching core as well. This group, given the responsibility of handling the pitching staff include; returning sophomore Wes Burt, freshman Kyle Snedeker, and sophomore Ryan Kelley who transfers to Jeff Davis from Wallace State ? Hanceville.

In the outfield, returning sophomores Jeremy White, Ryan Gray, J. J. Cutler, and David Washington are sure to see a lot of playing time. Freshmen outfielders who will push for a place in the lineup include; George Cook, Greg Gomez, Wes Gambrill, Clay Simpson, and Joseph Spraggins.

This year the Warhawks are excited about the opportunity to have a matured and experienced group of infielders to heavily rely upon. At firstbase, Daniel Hodge returns as a sophomore and has demonstrated signs of big improvements made from a year ago. Other players including Ben Green, Wade Schepper, and Matthew Stokes are all vying for an opportunity to enter the lineup. Each of the three could gain playing time if they continue to produce at the plate as they did during the Fall baseball season.

At secondbase, sophomores Jesse Edwards and Andrew Sawyer return to action. Both players had excellent Fall seasons for the Warhawks and both can do a number of tasks very well which will allow the lineup to remain versatile in many different situations of a game. Also at secondbase is freshman Fred Young. Making drastic improvements throughout the entire fall season, this young man is sure to be an exciting player for the Warhawks for the next two years.

All-Conference Southern Division shortstop Steven Bingert is back for his sophomore season for the Warhawks. Bingert picked up where he left off last Spring and posted excellent statistics during the past Fall season for the club. A player who often flies under the radar, defensive specialist Kenny McDonald also returns for his sophomore year and is sure to see lots of playing time not only as shortstop, but also thirdbase and possibly at secondbase. He is sure to have a major impact on the success achieved by the Warhawks.

At thirdbase, sophomore Jake Bonds is making the transition from playing firstbase most of last year. Demonstrating outstanding defense and a solid bat with the ability to be a run producer, Bonds will be a huge contributor for the club this season.

A deeper, more mature, and more seasoned ball club with a focus on being their very best should make this 2007 Spring baseball season an exciting time for the Jefferson Davis Community College Warhawks?

For more information about Jefferson Davis Community College and the Warhawk baseball program, please visit our website at; www.jdcc.edu .