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The Panther
April 23, 1979
“77iis team will definitely improve with seasoning.
But we can’t look for no miracles this year.”
— Rudy Lewis
Team Is Just a
Year from Contention
By Charles Anderson
Panther Sports Editor
Several newcomers were
warming up before practice at
Mosley Park recently as if it
were their first time out.
Phillip McCrary,
meanwhile, sat alone on the
bench just pondering over the
idea of having to practice.
The veteran shortstop has
been through it all before but
while baseball is the same for
McCrary this season like in the
past three, the team is con
siderably different.
Walk-ons dominate a club
that for some odd reason,
refuses to recruit fresh
baseball talent. Only six
players, including McCrary,
return from a team that
finished second in the
conference in ’78 — Eugene
Harper, first base; David
Powell, second base; Ben
Lumpkin, right field; and pit
chers Johnny Brown and
Layfayette Powell.
So, it’s not hard to
understand why the team is
only 2-10. They are making
rookie mistakes but they have
improved steadily in every
game since the exhibition
opener in March.
“For once, the team wants to
play,” McCrary said who is the
only regular starter from a
year ago. “Everyone’s
determined to give their all.
Guys complain about Coach
(Elmer) Mixon’s coaching
techniques but he (Mixon)
can’t go out there on the field
and play. He can put guys out
there on the field and help to
bring out their abilities.
“I wish I could play with
these guys next year. They’re
going to be tough,” McCrary
added.
The outfield appears to be set
for next season with freshmen
Jorge Wright (left field) and
Johnnie Miller (center field)
returning along with Lumpkin
in right field. All three are
power hitters. Wright went
five-for-seven against Morris
Brown College when they split
a double-header a couple of
weeks ago. Miller, at 5-11, 188
pounds hits the ball perhaps
harder than anyone in the
lineup.
In the infield, where mis
takes have been more critical,
Ron Alexander looks sharp
enough at third base to retain
his position. Connie Williams
is a solid catcher who was
named Defensive Player of the
Series against Florida A & M
University in Clark’s disas
trous road trip during spring
break.
However, Clark will lose
three steady performers in
McCrary, Powell and Harper.
John Piersawl (shortstop),
Rudy Lewis (second base) and
Michael Smith (first base) are
possible replacements. Lewis
already splits playing time
with Powell at second base.
Still, the infield will be a
question mark because of a
lack of experience.
“This team will definitely
improve with seasoning,”
Lewis said, “but we can’t look
for no miracles this year.”
The pitchers have been hit
the hardest by teammates’
mistakes, not by opposing
teams at the plate. Johnny
Brown, Robert Palmer, Harold
Greenwell and Layfayette
Powell have combined for only
one win with Brown taking a 7-
4 decision on 11 strikeouts
against Morehouse College a
couple of weeks ago. Despite
their low win production,
all are capable of winning
several games. In fact, Palmer,
with his sizzling fast ball and
Brown, who can come at you in
a lot of different ways, have
caught the eye of pro scouts
who hang around during some
of their ball games.
Mixon said at the beginning
of the season that the pitching
staff was going to be tough
even with the loss of right
hander Aldo Gaither. But as
David Powell put it, “The pit
chers would be better if the
team as a whole played better.”
Only Powell, who’s only
been pitching for two years, is
a senior.
Brown, probably the team’s
best all-around pitcher,
Greenwell and Palmer, who
played two years with
Springfield College in Mas
sachusetts before coming to
Clark, will all return next year.
McCrary recently
commented on Palmer, who
despite his abilities, has been
controversial at times ac
cording to several teammates:
“A lot of guys just don’t
understand Red (Palmer’s
nickname).'' McCrary said.
“Some people can’t adjust to
different attitudes. He
(Palmer) is a pretty smart
player who knows the game
well. You aren’t going to find
anybody in this league as
tough as Red,” McCrary con
tinued. “He’s a pitcher. There
are a lot of guys who claim
they are pitchers."
On his attitude, Palmer sim
ply said, “I don’t care what
they think.”
Michael Smith is about to steal one. (Photo by Tyraun
Patterson)
Eugene Harper, team watch game intently. (Photo by
Tyraun Patterson)
CLARK’S 1979 BASEBALL
ROSTER
Phillip McCrary
Sen.
Infield
Griffin, Ga.
Eugene Harper
Sen.
Infield
Atlanta, Ga.
Johnny Brown
Jun.
Pitcher
Sparta, Ga.
Arthur Carter
Fresh.
Catcher
Long Island, N.Y.
Rudy Lewis
Fresh.
Infield
Tampa, Fla.
John Piersawl
Fresh.
Infield
Atlanta, Ga.
Harold Greenwell
Fresh.
Pitcher
Atlanta, Ga.
Johnnie Miller
Fresh.
Outfield
Ridgeland, S.C.
David Powell
Sen.
Infield
Denver, Col.
Jorge Wright
Fresh.
Outfield
Brooksville, Fla.
Connie Williams
Fresh.
Catcher
Sparta, Ga.
Robert Palmer
Soph.
Pitcher
Valley Stream, N.Y.
Ben Lumpkin
Jun.
Outfield
Washington, D.C.
Layfayette Powell
Sen.
Pitcher
Eatonton, Ga.
Michael Smith
Jun.
Infield
Albany, Ga.
Ronald Alexander
Fresh.
Infield
Central Islip, N.Y.
Kirby Bell
Sen.
Outfield
Atlanta, Ga.
Keith McCoy
Soph.
Catcher
Irvington, N.J.
Norman Goode
Soph.
Outfield
East Orange, N.J.
Connie Williams beats out Fort Valley throw. (Photo by
Tyraun Patterson)