Pair of Knights ink with college programs

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Feb. 6, 2004
SCOOBA Bill Baldner doesn't have all the pieces he wants, but he says he's got the ones he needs.
The only thing left to find is a little bit of luck.
The Lions have plenty of experience returning in 2004 11 of 24 players are sophomores but will miss a few pieces from last year's squad, which went 19-27 overall with a postseason win.
The most critical blow dealt to the East Mississippi rotation came during a preseason game against Meridian Community College, when left-handed sophomore Jon Iverson went down with a season ending elbow injury.
Baldner said the entire Lions staff, particularly Meridian native Tyler Maxwell, will be counted on to pick up the slack.
Another player who will see plenty of playing time is catcher Justin Faulkner of New Hope, who led the Lions in home runs in 2003. Justin Best and Blake Pippin will also shoulder duties behind the plate.
The East Mississippi infield may determine much of the Lions' success in 2004. Defensively, EMCC's infielders may commit more errors than some teams, Baldner said, but they also get to more balls than most.
The outfield will look much the same as the infield fast, athletic players who will knock out plenty of base hits.
Rod Williams and Trey Barney both sophomores and Brandon Mabry, a freshman from Clarkdale, will see most of their action in the outfield, according to Baldner.
The key, according to Baldner, will be whether or not the Lions can manufacture runs staying close enough to opponents to win on base hits rather than home runs.