By Michael Kinney
The 2009 season was not an easy one for the Westmoore baseball team. With a crop of young players, they racked up an 11-17 record to go with much needed experience.
Coach Kevin Winterrowd believes that experience will show up this year, even after a rough start to the season.
"We opened the season at a tough tournament in Arlington, Tx. and went 1-5," Winterrowd said. "We played three outstanding teams that are as good as any team we will face this year and three that were as good as any we saw in our scrimmage schedule. We found out where we are and where we need to improve and faced some great competition."
The Jaguars returned to Oklahoma and took on No. 5 Edmond Memorial March 9. They beat the Bulldogs 7-2 to open Mid-State Conference Action. Friday they fell to No. 4 Jenks 4-3.
Westmoore will get back to work Thursday when they face Carl Albert, which is the No. 1 team in Class 5A. That will be their third straight game against a top-10 team.
They follow that up with a contest againsta squad from Fayetteville, Ark.
"Our expectations are the same every year," Winterrowd said. "Win the Mid State Conference, win a regional and win the state tournament. I do not worry about our overall record because we play as tough a schedule as any team in the state if not the toughest."
Even though Winterrowd said the team needs to work on every area of the game, he likes the talent on his roster.
"Mike Brewster and Josh Terrell have an opportunity to be two of the better pitchers in the area if they continue to develop and improve," Winterrowd said. "Defensively, we have the ability to be an outstanding defensive team but have been inconsistent so far this season but will be lead by our middle infield, Caleb St. Laurent and Logan Glasgow."
At the plate, the Jags will look to several players to have big seasons.
"Offensively, we have been led early by St. Laurent, Alex Tolbert, Ethan Johnson and Caleb Jenkins," Winterrowd said. "But we feel like we have seven to 10 different kids who will be capable of contributing so we should have some great competition for playing time throughout the year."
