It’s a new era of baseball at Louisville High School and theWildcats are about to break in under first-year head coach Nich Morrow.
Morrow inherits a team of no seniors and four juniors as he’llhave to mix it up in Class 4A. One thing that Morrow enjoys about the job tothis point is he’s got multiple sport players on his team, but it’s also made timelimited as football went into December with a state championship win and basketballis in the playoffs.
“Football was very successful this year and the majority ofour guys played so it was up until December before I got everybody and I havethree at basketball,” Morrow said of his team. “The ones that have been with mesince December, they learned early that the culture was a little different thanwhat they were used to. They’re hungry and have bought in to what we’re tryingto do.”
There are a few players returning that have some experience,but with no seniors and a season that was barely played a year ago, it’s goingto be some inexperience involved for Morrow’s squad.
He’ll rely heavily on the bats and arms of his junior classto get them going, especially early. On the mound, multiple players will haveto go both ways and string it together.
“We’re young, but the juniors that I have bought in and leadthe younger ones well. I have four players that have any varsity time ever.Jace Hudspeth and Isaiah Hardin are the only two starters that I have returning,”Morrow said. “Trey Eiland is going to be a big asset for us. He’s a silentleader and the guys look up to him. We have a good core junior group.”
“We’re looking at five or six that are going to have to stepup and find a way to do it (on the mound). Regardless of your class title, guysare going to have to get up there and get after it. All of our guys are goingto be on a pitch count and we’re going to piece it together.”
Morrow is hopeful to have a busy and competitive week tojump start his coaching career in Louisville. The Wildcats will play at NanihWaiya on Tuesday, Choctaw County on Thursday and then will host Noxapater onSaturday.
The early games this season are a precursor of what’s tocome in the schedule for the Wildcats as the coach wants to play a challengingslate to prepare his team for district play down the road.
“Every team around our area can play baseball so it’s goingto be a challenge. Nanih Waiya is always a contender and they know baseball. I’moriginally from Choctaw County and my little brother plays there so I know they’regoing to be good,” Morrow said. “I wouldn’t ask for any other way to start outagainst good quality teams. I’m excited to take on that challenge and set thetone early.”
