Phantom Stang
02-19-2006, 07:31 PM
Mustangs, new coach eager to get started
By RON HOWELL/Reporter Sports Editor
Though Sweetwater failed to make the playoffs in baseball last year for the first time since 2001, there is plenty of optimism entering the new season that begins on Monday. And with good reason, because nine players who received all-district recognition in 2005 are back.
There is also a new head coach, Blake Sandford, who has been highly success-ful in his previous stops at Class 2A Early and Bangs and Class 1A Bremond. Sandford led Early to the regional finals this past season.
The Mustangs will also have a bigger field. Home runs will be harder to come by as the once-accommodating fences at Newman Park have been moved back, and the building has also started on a new concession area.
Sandford has used four pitchers - seniors Sonny Birdwell, Steven Palma and Shawn Kincaid and junior James Beckwith - during the three scrimmages and has been impressed. “Each one of them brings something to the game that makes them pretty special,” he said. In addition to the pitching, Sandford expects team speed and hitting to be strengths.
Sandford is the third head coach at Sweetwater in three years, but believes the players have done a pretty good job of adjusting to his style. “There's a sense of excitement with these kids. They're fired up and I'm fired up,” he said.
The team has four other players who are still in basketball - Kendal Carrillo, Brittan Pittman, Ben Edwards and Tripp Maxwell. But Sandford said he is extremely happy with the 11 players he currently has on board.
“I've been quite pleased with what we have done so far,” he said. “These guys have been coached well in the past and they have a good makeup and outlook.”
Freshmen Brandon Bugarin (first base), Tate Hayes (shortstop) and Rufus McCann (outfield), sophomore Matt Clark (catcher-utility) and junior Jeffery Straley (catcher) are new to the varsity squad this year.
The team's returning lettermen for 2006 are Justin Adames at second base; Kincaid at third base; Birdwell, Palma and KiKi Johnson in the outfield; and Beckwith at designated hitter or first base. Carrillo, Pittman and Edwards were first team all-district with Adames, Maxwell, Palma and Beckwith on the second team and Birdwell and Johnson earning all-district honorable mention.
Copyright © 2006 Sweetwater Reporter
By RON HOWELL/Reporter Sports Editor
Though Sweetwater failed to make the playoffs in baseball last year for the first time since 2001, there is plenty of optimism entering the new season that begins on Monday. And with good reason, because nine players who received all-district recognition in 2005 are back.
There is also a new head coach, Blake Sandford, who has been highly success-ful in his previous stops at Class 2A Early and Bangs and Class 1A Bremond. Sandford led Early to the regional finals this past season.
The Mustangs will also have a bigger field. Home runs will be harder to come by as the once-accommodating fences at Newman Park have been moved back, and the building has also started on a new concession area.
Sandford has used four pitchers - seniors Sonny Birdwell, Steven Palma and Shawn Kincaid and junior James Beckwith - during the three scrimmages and has been impressed. “Each one of them brings something to the game that makes them pretty special,” he said. In addition to the pitching, Sandford expects team speed and hitting to be strengths.
Sandford is the third head coach at Sweetwater in three years, but believes the players have done a pretty good job of adjusting to his style. “There's a sense of excitement with these kids. They're fired up and I'm fired up,” he said.
The team has four other players who are still in basketball - Kendal Carrillo, Brittan Pittman, Ben Edwards and Tripp Maxwell. But Sandford said he is extremely happy with the 11 players he currently has on board.
“I've been quite pleased with what we have done so far,” he said. “These guys have been coached well in the past and they have a good makeup and outlook.”
Freshmen Brandon Bugarin (first base), Tate Hayes (shortstop) and Rufus McCann (outfield), sophomore Matt Clark (catcher-utility) and junior Jeffery Straley (catcher) are new to the varsity squad this year.
The team's returning lettermen for 2006 are Justin Adames at second base; Kincaid at third base; Birdwell, Palma and KiKi Johnson in the outfield; and Beckwith at designated hitter or first base. Carrillo, Pittman and Edwards were first team all-district with Adames, Maxwell, Palma and Beckwith on the second team and Birdwell and Johnson earning all-district honorable mention.
Copyright © 2006 Sweetwater Reporter