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By Phil Sandoval
Sports Editor
Familiar faces with a new approach.
Those the main elements an experienced, yet young, Guymon baseball
team look to blend together to lift the Tigers to a winning record in
2010 after last season’s subpar 9-14 mark.
A new coaching staff, headed by Dan O’Sullivan, with assistants Matt
Manaugh and Tanner Bryson have invigorated the Tiger program with
energy and a new direction.
“We got a motto this year. It’s live in the moment,” O’Sullivan
explained. “That’s what we’re really trying to get across is break the
game down to just those moments.”
With seven returning lettermen on the roster, the method O’Sullivan
and the coaching staff have brought has been easy to install.
“I think its going pretty well,” said O’Sullivan of team practices
leading up to Saturday’s home opener with Boys Ranch. “I hope the kids
feel comfortable to what we’ve transitioned to coaching-wise.”
One part that’s led to the squad’s comfort was O’Sullivan coming in
with a clean slate.
“(As a coaching staff) we were (going to) make a concerted effort of
not to fill out a lineup card by the second week of January and say:
‘Here’s what we’ve got, ‘. We’re going to give everybody a fair shot.”
Giving the players equal opportunity has produced position shifts that
O’Sullivan said should improve the team’s overall performance.
Raul Carrillo, last year’s starting third baseman, has moved to
second. Landon Huckins, one of nine pitchers listed, also will see
time in centerfield. Depending on who pitches the rest of the outfield
will consist of returning veterans Kolton Renteria, Dang Dang, Danny
Ortiz and Landon Whatley — all .300 or better hitters.
The Tiger lineup received a boost with the return of last year’s
leadoff hitter and shortstop Kaleb Caudell to the diamond. “Early on
He broke his clavicle. That kind of hurt us,” said O’Sullivan. “It
wasn’t a big crunch. But, it took a kid away. Now, he’s back and he’s
healthy.”
Hopefully, a year away from the diamond hasn’t taking away from the
junior’s batting prowess.
Prior to suffering the season-ending injury Caudell was one of the
Tigers best hitters with a .375 average, that included a home run and
four RBIs in just four games.
Although he’s not settled into a position as yet, room will be made
somewhere in the starting lineup will be made for last year’s top
hitter Matthew Burkett’s bat.
In ‘09 as a sophomore, Burkett led Guymon in two offensive categories
- batting .392 with four triples with a co-runner 20 base hits.
Walker Rainwater established himself as last season’s ace pitcher. In
his first year as a Tiger, the former transfer student led in almost
every pitching category.
Some of his numbers while fashioning a 5-5 record included individual
‘09 seasonal bests in strikeouts (49), innings pitched (47) and
complete games (4). Two of Rainwater’s wins were shutouts.
O’Sullivan looks forward to the junior resuming that role again this
season. “He’s a smart kid, has a great mound presence and has a good
fast ball and good stuff,” the coach said.
Burkett recorded a 3-3 pitching record in 23 innings while striking
out 30 batters.
Newcomer to the Tigers varsity Gerardo Martinez, a sophomore, whose
been given a long look at catcher by the coaching staff, could also
see some time on the mound. If needed, O’Sullivan can also turn to
Carrillo and Dang for spot relief.
A concern O’Sullivan carries into Saturday’s game is how the Tigers
will play on grass. The Panhandle’s longer-than-normal winter forced
Guymon inside for most of their practices.
“We’re going to get a lot of carpet and roll than out on the infield,
because I think we’re more comfortable playing on carpet than grass
right now,” the coach said in jest.
” We can’t control the weather. We try to simulate as much as we can
inside. We’re fortunate to have a (batting) cage to get some cuts in
off a live arm. Hopefully we can outside this week and get used to
playing baseball on the grass again.” |
