Wildcats baseball season under way

The 2009 season for the Enterprise Wildcats Junior High baseball team is but a month long but it’s packed with games.
“We’ve got a lot of games to play in a short period of time,” said first-year coach Buck Hanson of the season that runs Feb. 16-March 17.
“We have five pitchers and eight games this week; every day is a test of our pitching.”
Hanson said winning games is not the only goal he’s set for the team.
“We’re here to work on the fundamentals of the game every day,” Hanson said. “And we’re here to improve our knowledge of the game itself, not just how to play a position.
“Besides that, we’re working on the importance of teamwork and being prepared to play when your time comes.”
Enterprise got but four hits in its season-opening game but drew 8 walks and took advantage of several Dothan errors to earn a 7-1 win. Ben Jones had two of the Wildcat hits and stole third base; Ryan Holub had a double, a single, a sacrifice, a walk, and a stolen base.
Enterprise blasted 11 hits in its second game, but lost to Northview, 17-10, due in no small measure to 6 errors and 8 walks.
Stephen Joy was 1-for-1; Clark Quisenberry and Jacob Watson were 2-for-3; Jones went 2-for-4; Holub, Tommy Stockhausen and Ronnie Strawder were 1-for-2; and Ryan Wood was 1-for-3.
In the day’s nightcap, the Cats managed only a pair of hits in an 11-0 loss to the Cougars. Joy, leading off, had both hits and also stole a base. Enterprise made 3 errors.
The Wildcats faced the Slocomb Red Tops Monday in Dothan and lost their first outing in the Northview Middle School Tournament, 13-5.
Enterprise made 5 errors and Red Top pitchers struck out 6 Wildcats and allowed only a handful of hits.
Joy was 1-for-2 with a walk; Quisenberry was 1-for-3 with a triple; Tommy Stockhausen was 1-for-2; Watson was 1-for-2 with a double; and Wood went 1-for-3.
In the nightcap, the Cats lost a 5-4 heartbreaker; Enterprise made a pair of errors, had 6 hits, drew 3 walks, and had four strikeouts.
Robbie Stockhausen was 2-for-3 with a double; Will Collins and Jacobs were 1-for-3; and Justin Luzier was 1-for-2 with a double.
The Wildcats played a tournament doubleheader against Northview Wednesday, and will play Dothan and Northview Friday.
The Cats face G.W. Long Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on the tournament’s final day.
Collins, Holub, Strawder, Wood, Jones, Quisenberry, Brett Dunaway, Taylor Smith, Daniel Spann, Seth Hundley, and the Stockhausen brothers are eighth-graders on this year’s squad.
Watson, Luzier and Joy are ninth-graders who have seen action on the team.
Enterprise coaches - Hanson, jayvee coach Matt Barton and varsity coach Shawn Gilmer - frequently move players among the three Enterprise teams - junior high, junior varsity and varsity - for tournaments and to fill gaps resulting from weather or large numbers of games in a short amount of time.
Also included on Enterprise rosters this year, are:
Ninth-graders Eric Averett, Dalton Dalrymple, Jalen Hooks, Billy Jacobs, Lance McCann, Gabe Robinson, Patrick Stinson, Tyler Stump, Levi Tate, Justin Waters, and Garrett Weeks; and Sophomores Mark Cuthbert, Hal Davis, Jacob Malkoff, Tyler Martin, Dustin Wallace, and Austin Whitlock.
Junior class Wildcats include Vinny Carnazza, Chandler Duncan, Tyler Eldreth, Chris Evelyn, Justin Hancock, Evan Horner, Thomas Hughes, Jason Jordan, Trey Smith, Ryan Tanner, William Tremlett, and Tyler Warren.
Seniors are Chase Baldwin, Alex Garcia, Zach Kandle, Chris Morris, Brandon Tkac, and Brett West.
The EHS varsity played Headland Monday, and will host Graceville Friday at 4:30 p.m. in the Second Annual Mikey Tompkins Memorial Tournament.
Enterprise will play Elba at 10 a.m. and Houston Academy at 5:30 p.m. Saturday on the tournament’s final day.
The Enterprise jayvees entertain Dothan in doubleheader action Thursday at 5 p.m., and will travel to Troy to face Charles Henderson Monday at 4:30 p.m.