The 2018 Sun Chief Baseball season is shaping up to be a good one. This year, Coach Wayne Larker predicts the Sun Chiefs to have a slow start but a strong finish. This year, the Sun Chiefs will only have three sophomores in the starting line-up.
Larker notes the key to any teams' success.
"Pitching is suspect to the player's control. If pitchers can command the strike zone, they will be more successful," said Larker. Mix that with experience, and any team would see positive outcomes.
Larker, who has been the baseball coach for nearly 35 years, sees the outfield as the team's strongest position unit, returning five of six outfielders from last year.
The team's infield consists of all freshmen going into the new season. However, their strengths are already evident to Larker.
"Although the position unit is young," Larker said, "they have an ability to understand the team's strategies faster than years past. There is a strong presence of leadership among the freshmen on this team."
"ACCC (Alabama Community College Conference) is a consistently strong conference," Larker said. "It has a great level of play year after year. Teams that don't lose focus and energy level throughout the season will be successful."
Competition will remain high as the teams in the ACCC strive for greatness over the next three months.
"The Southern Division of the ACCC will no doubt be as competitive as last year with three of the Conference's top tier teams. Other teams within the division are expected to improve play."
The Coastal Alabama Sun Chiefs are coming off a second place finish in the ACCC.
Noting the consolidation of Faulkner State, Jefferson Davis, and Alabama Southern, Larker feels that all three baseball programs of Coastal Alabama will see improvements this year.