Tuesday, February 11, 1997

Cowboys need pitching to go with good hitters

Hardin-Simmons University baseball coach James King believes his team has them hitting and the experience. Pitching is the question mark in 1997.

Geoff Heatherington, the team's only returning starter, will be the starting pitcher today when the Cowboys open the season at 2:30 p.m. against LeTourneau College in Longview.

The pitching staff, other than Heatherington, will rely mostly on freshmen. Heatherington was 6-4 with a 5.47 earned run average last season.

"We hit the ball well," King said. "I think we'll score runs. If we get the pitching, we'll be all right."

The Cowboys return seven of their eight position players from last year's squad which won the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament and advanced to the NAIA West Sectional playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.

Leading the way is senior first baseman Deric Neal from Cooper. He was an all-conference selection last year, batting .386 with 11 home runs and 53 runs batted-in.

Other returning starters for the Cowboys include catcher Jason Graham from Cooper, all-conference second baseman Robbie Schwab, shortstop Javier Solis, third baseman Raymond House, and outfielders James Daugherty and Craig Copeland from Abilene High.

Copeland is also expected to play some at third base and will be a relief pitcher for HSU.

Freshman Clay Johnston from Midland High will start in left field today.

The Cowboys were 21-29 last season, despite their strong finish. That was King's first losing season ever as a coach.

"That was disappointing," he said. "But we'll have a lot more experience this year. The pitching staff has come along, and the guys have worked hard. They are ready for the season to start."