SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW: Wildcats baseball on the championship hunt

In year three under Enterprise baseball coach J.D. Pruitt, the Enterprise Wildcats are looking for championship gold in 2018.

With one of the deepest groups of teams that Pruitt has enjoyed, he feels like the time could be now.

“I think the message and the goal is the same as it is every single year,” Pruitt emphasized. “We want to build a championship team and program by the standard we set and the culture we create within our program.

“I think with the cog of guys we have returning, the potential to be a championship caliber team is definitely there and the pieces are in place.”

Pruitt preaches competition and believes that if his team competes the same way every day, whether in a game or practice, it can be a championship team.

“I think the talent is there,” Pruitt said. “There is still a lot of work to be done but I think the message is the same. That message is just to be the best competitors that we can be each and every day.”

Pruitt pointed to the athleticism of his Wildcats and the depth of the team as some of their biggest advantages heading into the season.

“I think we’re going to be really athletic in all spots,” Pruitt said. “We’re going to be able to run the bases even more so than we have in the past, which will put a lot of added pressure on the opposing teams. I think our team speed is going to be something that really gives us an advantage.

“We still have a couple of holes to fill but there is a lot of competition at all of those spots. That’s also a big benefit for us this year; we’re deeper than we’ve ever been. We have 22 kids on the team and that’s 22 kids that can all play.”

Pruitt also emphasized that his stable of pitchers is very strong, with seniors Koty-Fulton Tice, Cole Smith, Nathan Light and Elliot Baxter all returning.

“We’re returning a lot of pitching this year,” Pruitt said. “So, I think that will be a strong suit for us. All those guys returning will be really strong, especially early in the season when you typically struggle offensively.”

Fulton-Tice, senior second baseman Chance Warren and junior outfielder Grant Thornton were members of the ASWA 7A All-State team a year ago and all three return this season, but gone is All-American catcher Santi Garcia.

Garcia, now a catcher with Alabama State, was the leader for last season’s 29-9 Wildcats on and off the field. Replacing his production and leadership will be no easy task.

“Santi Garcia is a ‘program guy’ that you build a program around,” Pruitt said. “I don’t think you replace a guy like him with just one layer. It will have to be a collection of guys that have to replace Santi offensively, defensively and leadership-wise.

“I’ve challenged our guys to step up and lead and that it doesn’t have to just be one guy that takes that leadership role. Everyone has to collectively, as a whole, do their part to pick up the slack with not having a guy like Santi.”

One player that will be called on to pick up the slack at catcher is junior Dyar Thompson.

“He logged some valuable time as a catcher behind Santi last year,” Pruitt said of Thompson. “I think he’ll do a really nice job.”

Enterprise will kick off the season on the road for a doubleheader against Opelika on Feb. 19 followed by a doubleheader against Rehobeth and Auburn on Feb. 24 at home.

On Feb. 27, the Cats face Charles Henderson in another doubleheader in Troy in the first game of a five-game road trip. The Wildcats travel to Dothan for a March 1 matchup before heading to Smiths Station on Feb. 3 and then back to Dothan for a showdown with Northview on March 5.

The Wildcats are back home on March 8 against Andalusia and then travel to the north of the state for a matchup with Hazel Green on March 10.

On March 17 Arab and Charles Henderson come to Enterprise for a doubleheader and then Faith Academy comes to town on March 19. On March 24 Thompson and South Walton (Fla.) travel to Enterprise for a doubleheader.

The Wildcats will close out March with a trip to Hoover for the Buccaneer Classic from March 28 through March 30. The Wildcats will play games against Pell City, Grissom, Cullman, Oakland and Spanish Fort during that span.

Back at home, area foe R.E. Lee comes to town on April 2 before Enterprise travels to Montgomery for an immediate rematch on April 5.

Enterprise travels to face G.W. Long in a doubleheader on April 7 and then hosts area foe Jeff Davis on April 10. Enterprise and Jeff Davis will matchup again on Feb. 12 in Montgomery before heading on the road for matchups with Thompson on April 14 and area foe Prattville on April 17.

The Wildcats will close out the season with a home showdown with Prattville on April 19.