After serving as Louisville's head softball coach for three seasons, Kylie Ming took over as the Wildcats' baseball skipper two years ago.
Last year, Ming helped guide the Wildcats back to the postseason after a two-year hiatus. Louisville was defeated by Ripley in two games in the first round, but Ming said stellar team chemistry this year should help his squad make it back to the playoffs.
"I'm really excited about this year," Ming said. "I see us making the playoffs and going further. We have good leadership this year, and that was something we didn't really have last year. The team chemistry is so much better. And we have grown. We have a good group of freshmen who have really worked hard in the offseason and they're really mature for freshmen."
While this year's version of the Wildcats is young, Ming will rely on three seniors to provide the leadership. To do so, he'll call upon centerfielder Shemar Eiland, first baseman/pitcher Deonte Yarbrough and utility player/pitcher Takobe Johnson.
"They all have a purpose this year, playing," Ming said of his seniors. "All three are trying to get scholarships at the next level, and on top of that, they know they can't do it by themselves -- they have to have the rest of the team, so, therefore, they are leading them. And honestly, it makes it easy on a coach to run practice."
Helping Ming's three seniors is a quintet of Wildcats which will bring versatility and three talented arms to the lineup. Orian Evans, Jace Hudspeth and Kam Sanders will play important roles in Louisville's pitching rotation as well as in the infield. Dre Shumaker will serve as the Wildcats' talented utility player, while Roper Stoots will man the catcher position.
"That's kind of the thing that's great about this team this year, we have a lot of guys who can pitch," Ming said. "So depending on who's on the mound, we'll determine who's playing what position that day. That was one thing I did not have last year."
The Wildcats are currently 2-2 and open Region 4-4A play next week. Barring injuries, Ming believes he and the Wildcats will build upon their successes from last season and emerge as a contender in Region 4-4A.
"I'm expecting to make playoffs again and make a run in district," Ming said. "I see us going further than just the second round. We have the fight and the talent on the team to make it a long way this year."
LAST WEEK
Louisville's baseball program improved to 2-2 this year with a pair of wins last week.
The Wildcats swept Noxapater by scores of 11-3 and 20-11 last Saturday and Tuesday, respectively.
"We had just got our basketball boys back, who had just finished with playoffs, and we finally got the team together as one," Louisville coach Kylie Ming said. "I was really enjoying having everybody out there, and the chemistry of the team was phenomenal. As a team, we took care of business in two games."
Louisville out-hit Noxapater 10-4 in both teams' first game. Shemar Eiland and Braylon White each went 2-for-3 in their at-bats, and both players finished with two RBIs apiece. Orian Evans chipped in two RBIs, while Eiland drew a team-high two walks. Eiland's speed on the base path resulted in four stolen bases.
Wildcat pitcher Takobe Johnson went five innings and earned the win. He struck out seven, walked five and was tagged for two earned runs.
Louisville led 5-2 at the end of the first inning and added another run in the second. It scored three more runs in the third, one in the fourth and three in the fifth.
The Wildcats played Noxapater three days later and erupted for 20 runs. Eiland produced six RBIs, Johnson added four and Camden Sanders chipped in three.
Sanders had a team-high three hits, while Eiland, Braylon White, Roper Stoots and Evans tallied two apiece. Sanders swatted two home run and Eiland bashed another.
Louisville batters out-hit Noxapater 13-3 and stole 11 bases.
Three Louisville pitchers appeared in the contest, as Sanders, Evans and Jace Hudspeth handled duties. Sanders struck out 10 Noxapater batters to share the win with Evans.
Louisville took an 8-1 lead into the fourth inning and exploded for a 10-run fourth. The Wildcats added two additional runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth.
Over spring break, Louisville hosts Caledonia on Wednesday before gearing up for region play next Tuesday when it welcomes New Hope.
