Bulldog baseball prepares for Feb. 15 season opener

The 2013 Holmes Community College Bulldog baseball team will feature only three returning players from the 2012 team, which will make it essential the younger players step up for the Bulldogs this season.

Pitcher Manning James (Canton), outfielder/pitcher Steven Blanchard (Lafayette, La.), and infielder Jordan Taylor (McComb) return for the Bulldogs along with infielder Josh Crowder (Madison), who played the 2011 season before having elbow surgery, and 21 newcomers to the team.

Infielders are LaDerick Williams (Jackson), Jared Shelton (Columbus), Brett Christensen (Richland), Ty Dean (Kosciusko), and Remarcus Stalling (Jackson) and Trey Goff (Richland) who both will pitch as well.

Pitchers are sophomore Brennan Marque (Mandeville, La.) and Coy Sorenson (Kosciusko) and freshmen Brister Dupont (Kilmichael), J.R. Hall (Weir), J.P. Ziegler (Benton), Jared Bailey (Terry), Jason Hursey (Slidell, La.), Chris Steverson (Brandon), Dylan Hodges (Terry), Brandon Waltman (Brandon), Carl Brice (Jackson) and Payden Lynch (Bush, La.), who is also an outfielder.

Outfielders include Jaylan Bledsoe (Grenada), Tal Tucker (Richland) and Jalen Nelson (Yazoo City).

Sophomore David McAdory (Louisville) and freshman Cole McBride (Durant) will battle for time at catcher.

The Bulldogs begin the season on Feb. 15 at Wallace Community College in Selma, Ala.