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PAGE 11
Baseball Season Outlook
‘'We'll be fine in '79,” says
Mercer baseball coach Barry
Myers. The BEARS who have
been ranked in the top 30
nationally both of the past two
seasons will be going after their
5th consecutive 30 win season.
A great 32-16 record in 1978
against Mercer's toughest sche
dule ever should be the
motivating force to do even
better this season. “We came
close last season to that coveted
NCAA tournament bid." says
Coach Myers. “I feel this team
has the ability to do it this
year. ’'
One drawback could be the
1979 schedule which Coach
Myers feels may be tougher
than '78’s.
To handle the outstanding
schedule the BEARS return a
fine nucleus from last year's
great team. Walter Prestwood
(7-3; 3.10 ERA). Gary Green
(6-6; 2.94 ERA). Dan Fitzsim
mons (6-2; 2.97 ERA), Paul
Buschman (3-1, 5.55 ERA),
Fred Heatherington (1-1, 4.29
ERA), and Terry Gaines, who
saw limited action last year,
form the heart of what could be
a great pitching staff. To bolster
the veterans. Coach Myers has
what he considers the finest
group of freshman pitchers he
has ever recruited in 16 years of
college coaching. Scott Barn-
house, Steve Home. Rob Stone,
Tim Werkin and Steve Bilbrey
all had great high school
careers. They all should contri
bute immediately. Other new
comers giving even greater
depth are Hank Sherrer, Dan
Kniffen and Jeff Gainey.
“A college baseball team
usually lives and dies with its
pitching and I expect ours to be
good. It has the potential to be
great. We have experience and
the most depth of any staff I’ve
had. I have to be excited when
you mention our pitching.
“Another exciting area is our
catching. We have in Tommy
Campbell a great one. He had
an excellent high school and
junior college career and will
give us superb catching in all
phases of the game, ’' continued
Coach Myers. Challenging Tom
my are senior Gary Parker (21
games, .008) and sophomore
Bobby Sturtevant (3 games,
.000).
Mercer’s infield returns al
most intact. Scott Hattam (.270;
.995 F.A.), a three year starter
who has no peers with the
returns at first base.
Backing Scott will be Dave
Jednesky (9 games, .300) and
freshman Fred Grady. Phil
Welch (.320, 35 runs. 27 RBI), a
fine clutch player last year and
designated hitter, returns at
second base. He is being
challenged by outstanding fresh
man Larry Walters and sopho
more Jerry Holden. Mark
Sterritt who had a great year in
1978 (.340. 43 RBI, 11 HR, .613
slugging avg.) returns at third
base. He - will be backed by
David Mahoney who had a fine
career at Mt. DeSales. Skeeter
Sommers, (.296, 47 hits) who
did a good job at shortstop in
’78 as a freshman, should be
ready to really break loose this
year. He is being challenged by
good glove man Mike Simmons.
“This should be one of the
finest infields in college base
ball. I expect them to be
outstanding both offensively
and defensively. “ Coach Myers
predicts.
If this year's Mercer team has
a question mark it might be the
outfield. Four outfielders gradu
ated. Only Bud Turner (.287, 10
SB) returns. He will anchor the
outfield in center. Outstanding
freshman Frank Millerd will
start in right. Left field could be
the revolving door position.
Dave Jednesky, Graig Pugh,
Jay Oliff, Donnie Outzs and
basketballer Jay Ross are all
battling for the job. Pitcher
Walter Prestwood who was an
outstanding outfielder in high
school may play there when he
isn’t pitching. The all important
designated hitter job is still up
for grabs.
Introducing: The Bear Cubs
by Mark Moeely °
Soccer is the most popular
sport in the world. Although its
influence is new to America, the
sport’s worldwide appeal is
universal.'The growth of soccer
in the United States has been
mercuries! and will undoubtedly
continue, enlisting fine athletes
and fans alike.
The birth of indoor soccer on
the. Mercer campus brought
interest and enthusiasm,
prompting comments such as
“Soccer is the best thing that’s
happened to intramurals in a
long time.'’
Another soccer venture has
been instigated and might be
the most exciting yet: Women’s
Soccer. 4The female population
has very few outlets for physical
activity at Mercer. This caused
two members of the Mercer
Soccer Team. Roland Shraft and
Mark Mosely, to start a girl’s
team. They have both been
pleasantly surprised.
The first practice brought 20
girls out. An indoctrination of
clinics and drills started and the
results were amazing. A few
had played before and the rest
of the young ladies improved
instantly. Everyone laughed
while they learned the basic
skills and concentrated on
keeping the ball from getting
the best of them. Their progress
was so quick the coaches
couldn't keep up with their
improvement, being caught
empty handed more than once.
The young ladies have had six
practices so far and are getting
better everyday. They put many
experienced athletes to shame
in their progress.
Two games have been ache-
Baseball Schedule
FEBRUARY
17
Alumni Game
1:30p.m.
26
Ga. College
3:00 p.m.
27
South Carolina-Aiken (2)
1:30 p.m.
28
MARCH
at Flagler College (St. Augustine)
3:00 p.m.
1
at Jacksonville Univ.
3:30 p.m.
2
at Stetson
2:00p.m.
6
at Florida State
“3:00 p.m.
8
Ga. Southwestern
2:00p.m.
14
at Columbus College (2)
3:00 p.m.
15.
- Appalachian State
2:00 p.m.
16
Tennessee Tech *
7:30 p.m.
17
Maryland at Luther Williams Park
1:30 p.m.
19
Maryland (2)
12:00 p.nj.
Fairfield Univ.
3:00 p.m.
20
Valparaiso
12:00 p.m.
Valparaiso
3:00 p.m.
21
Fairfield Upiv.
2:00 p.m.
22
Hiram
3:00 p.m.
23
Hiram-
3:00 p.m.
24
at Valdosta
1:30 p.m. #
26
Piedmont (2)
1:30p.m.
27
North Central (2)
3:00 p.m.
28
South Carolina
3:00 p.m.
30
APRIL
Georgia *
at Ga. Southwestern
3:00 p.m.
3
at South Carolina-Aiken (2)
2:00 p.m.
4
at Soul{i Carolina
3:00 p.m.
5
at Georgia College
3:00 p.m.
9
at Geotgia Southern
7:30 p.m.
11
at Georgia State (2)
1:30 p.m.
13
Mercer-AUanta
3:00 p.m.
14
Stetson 1
2:00 p.m.
17
Georgia Southern
3:00 p.m.
18
at Armstrong State (2)
2:00 p.m.
23
at Mercer-Atlanta
3:00 p.m.
25
at Georgia
3:30p.m.
27
Florida State
3:00 p.m.
28
Armstrong State (2)
p.m.
30
MAY
Georgia State (2)
1:30 p.m.
1
Valdosta State
3:00 p.m.
4
at Georgia Tech-
3:30 p.m.
7
Georgia Tech at Luther Williams Park
7:30 p.m.
10, 11 Si 12 Trans America Conference Tournament
- - r -.———— • (■•wm-vcuicuarj vuuegei
18, 19 & 20 NCAA Regional Tournaments
JUNE 1-8 College World Series—Omaha, Nebraska
duled with Wesleyan and
should prove to U* quite an
event. The girls have named
themselves the Bear Cubs and
are well worth watching. The
first game is Wed., Feb. 21.
Come out and watch the young
ladies play. This will be the
start of something good. As
their coaches were, you will be
pleasantly surprised. The Bear
Cubs have got style.
G
ETA
<
SUM
MER
JOS
Wll
THA
FUTURE.
Elll. CAPT. LYN i SCHMOLL
748-8811 rat. 221/222
ARMY ROIC.
THE TWU YEAR PROGRAM.