Palmer Happy With Hitting Progress During Fall
10/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Palmer Happy With Hitting Progress During Fall
Hattiesburg, Miss. -Southern Miss Head Baseball Coach Corky Palmer has been happy with the team's hitting during fall practices and said the pitching is starting to come around after the Golden Eagles completed their second week of fall practice.
"We are having a good fall as far as our hitting is concerned," Palmer said. "Clint King and Jeff Cook are really hitting the ball well. King has hit six or seven homers in our intrasquad games so far and Cook is really hitting gaps well. Griff Israel, Jarrett Hoffpauir, Matt Shepherd and Carlos Velasquez are also hitting pretty well. Oak Grove High School standout Marc Maddox is hitting the ball well for a freshman just coming into the system."
The Golden Eagles have been working hard on their defense during the fall, and Palmer pointed out the play of the middle infield has been solid and that there is a battle for the starting job at third base.
"I challenged our infield to work hard in the fall and cut down on the errors," Palmer said. "Josh and Matt have been working hard and have done well to this point. Sophomore Beau Griffin, who filled in when Allen Winningham went down with the broken leg last year, and Meridian College transfer Adam Smith have been battling at third base and have been fairly even."
The pitching staff has some holes to fill with the departure of Shea Douglas to the professional ranks and the graduation of Charlie Rogers and Daniel Stewart. Bob McCrory is the only starter returning from last year's starting rotation.
"Bob is pitching rather well in the fall," Palmer said. "He is throwing about 91-94 miles per hour and is ready to have an outstanding year. Anthony Dewitt has been working hard and will battle for the midweek starting role. Cliff Russum has been held out the entire fall season, rehabilitating his shoulder. It is getting better and he has really made progress and is pain free. Austin Tubb, a junior college transfer from Shelton State Community College in Birmingham, Ala., has been coming on lately and will be used in the closer role. He added a couple of new pitches and is gaining more confidence every day."
Brad Willcutt had offseason shoulder surgery and also is doing better. He is now pain free in his shoulder and his range of motion is good. He started his throwing program and now has to strengthen his arm.
The Golden Eagles will practice for one more week and will finish fall practice with a scheduled Black/Gold Game on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m., at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.