Feb. 12, 2004

Burroughs excited to get baseball season under way

Most college baseball teams would love to have a record of 36-22. However, if you're Cowley County Community College, it's considered a down year.

After ending last season 36-22 and finishing second in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division for the first time in nine years, the Tigers return a veteran group that is hungry to get back on top in the conference.

"Hopefully, we will be right in the mix again," Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said. "We're kind of greedy. We want to get the conference title back. We also want to be the best team in Kansas and get back to the national tournament and win another title."

Cowley, which won back-to-back national championships in 1997 and 1998 and had won eight straight conference titles prior to last season, enters the 2004 campaign ranked ninth in the National Junior College Athletic Association preseason poll. The Tigers also were picked to win the Jayhawk East.

While last year's team was plagued by inexperience, this year's team has plenty.

The Tigers will get a chance to see what each member of the team can do in Sunday's season-opening doubleheader against Rose State at 1 p.m. in Midwest City, Okla.

"Opening day brings out the little kid in all of us," Burroughs said. "Just the thought of playing outside brings a degree of excitement that you can't explain. We will pitch everybody, and everybody will get a chance to play."

Burroughs, who is entering his 17th season as coach of the Tigers, sees no need in having his starter go the distance on the mound in an early-season game.

"I can't run a guy out there for seven innings just to get a win in February," Burroughs said. "Plus, everybody deserves a chance to play. Our ultimate goal is to be playing our best baseball at the end of May or early June, not in February."

To back up the fact that Burroughs does not put much credence into what the Tigers' record will be in the month of February, he points out that Cowley's 1998 national championship team lost four of its first 10 games before going on to win an astounding 50 of its final 53 games.

For the Tigers, they have two solid catchers to handle the pitching staff. Clay Blevins, who was named to the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division First Team as a designated hitter, will split time with Hunter Harrigan. The Milwaukee Brewers selected Blevins in the Major League Baseball draft, and the Texas Rangers selected Harrigan in the draft.

"We have two guys returning that are very capable back there," Burroughs said. "It all starts behind the plate. If you're not good behind the plate, you're not going to be very good anywhere. You have got to have guys that can handle your pitching staff, the running game, and handle your club in general."

Dwayne White returns to man the left field position after batting .390 as a freshman. White is a solid outfielder who also was drafted by the Rangers. Kellen Linville, who played some second base last season, will start in centerfield. Steven Wright, a sophomore who came to Cowley from the University of Arkansas last season, will start in right field.

"Those guys all grew up on the spot last season, so we're pretty excited in that regard," Burroughs said.

Freshmen Chase Ohme and Matt Webb, who hit 23 home runs for his American Legion team in Blue Springs last summer, could also see playing time in the outfield.

"Competition makes you better; we are going to rotate them all," Burroughs said. "Each of those guys will play."

Colby Overstreet, a promising transfer from Oklahoma State University, will start at first base.

"The addition of Overstreet gives us another power bat in the lineup," Burroughs said.

Deik Scram of Arkansas City High School, who was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Kansas last year, batted over .500 in the fall and will start at shortstop for the Tigers. Jeff Freeman from Gladewater, Texas, is a strong guy at the plate who could add some power to Cowley's lineup.

Brandon Harrigan, the younger brother of Hunter, also has the potential to be a solid contributor for the Tigers and will start at third base.

Chad Ogden of Goddard and Daryl Graham from Fort Scott will be locked in a battle to be the team's starting second baseman.

"We have a good mix," Burroughs said. "Our sophomore kids are very capable, and our younger kids are going to do more than hold their own."

Sophomore right-hander Josh Wahpepah returns to lead the Tiger pitching staff after being named the Jayhawk East Freshman of the Year last season. Wahpepah also earned First-Team all-conference honors as he finished last season with an 8-0 record. He had an earned run average of 1.63, and allowed just 35 hits in 52 innings. He also struck out 61 batters and walked just 18.

Wahpepah was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and has signed to play at the University of Texas next season.

"There's probably not anybody better in the country," Burroughs said. "You've got to have a leader of your staff, and he's our man."