Take away your best hitter from last season and what do you get? The unlikely answer: A possibly improved offense and a bright outlook for 2010.
Despite losing slugger Kenny Artigues to graduation, McComb head coach Brady Jones believes his team’s offense is better than last season’s, and the Tigers could surprise some people in their Class 5A debut this season.
Artigues, a 2009 McComb High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, has moved on to Millsaps College after leading McComb with a .575 batting average in 2009.
“Losing him is going to hurt,” Jones admitted, “but we’ve got a group that’s gotten a year older. We have a lot of sophomores who aren’t going to hit like sophomores. They’ve dedicated themselves to the weight program during the summer and it’s paying off.”
This year’s squad will have a new look, with senior catcher/first baseman Bradley Brock likely taking over the leadoff spot after hitting .350 from the number-three hole last season.
“He’s what you look for from a leadoff hitter,” Jones said. “He’s fast and he can reach base a lot.”
Sophomore second baseman/pitcher Landon Mabile will likely once again be the number-two hitter after leading the state’s Class 4A hitters with 22 sacrifice bunts in 2009.
He will be followed by senior pitcher/first baseman Zach Rowell, who hit .320 with a team-high six home runs last season.
Jones said questions remain about the remainder of the starting lineup, adding that the Tigers will play “musical chairs” with their infield defense.
Junior Trey Terrell will start at shortstop, while sophomore Hunter Aultman will move from right field to platoon at catcher and third base.
“He’s too athletic to be sitting in right field,” Jones said of Aultman.
After playing the middle infield for the junior varsity squad last season, Adrian Brown will start in center for the Tigers this year.
The pitching rotation will be led by Rowell, the team’s ace. The right-handed Rowell features a three-pitch arsenal that includes a fastball that can break 90 mph. Rowell finished last season with a 10-4 record and averaged 11/2 strikeouts per inning last season.
“He could have gone 12-2 or 13-1 if we had more experience behind him,” Jones said.
Joining Rowell in the rotation are Mabile and sophomore right-hander Jake Simpson, who will also see time at third base.
Reserves include junior outfielder Dominic Cotton, junior second baseman/relief pitcher Joseph Isaac and junior catcher Cody Thames, a transfer from Texarkana.
Sophomore David Lowell, who saw limited time as a pinch runner last season, will get more time in right field this year, Jones said.
According to Jones, the team’s strength is expected to be its defense. The fourth-year coach said the Tigers got a surprise visit on their first day of practice Monday when former McComb standout and current New York Mets second baseman Alonzo Harris came by to work with the Tigers’ middle infielders.
“I was personally surprised with what I saw on defense,” Jones said. “We were further along after the first day of practice than I thought we’d be.”
Jones said the Tigers should improve on last season’s 14-14 mark — 11-7 in district play — if the team can avoid injuries.
“Our most successful years have been when we’ve stayed healthy,” he said. “When we’re hurt, we’re in trouble.”
According to Jones, the Tigers will face their stiffest district competition from Brookhaven, West Jones and Forest Hill.
“West Jones has always had a great group,” he said. “They don’t rebuild, they reload.
“Forest Hill is the most athletic team in the division,” Jones added.
McComb opens its season Feb. 27 with Classic games at Quitman against Seminary and Perry Central.
The Tigers’ home opener is March 9 against Forest Hill.
