BATTLE-TESTED INDIANS WILL TAKE ON HOLCOMB

Take a look at the record of St. Vincent High's baseball team and you might think the Indians aren't very strong.

But looks can often be deceiving, which is certainly the case for the Indians, who will carry a 12-13 mark into today's 3 p.m. Class 1A sectional game against 12-5 Holcomb at the Perryville City Park.

The Indians competed against primarily larger schools all season as a member of the Jefferson County Conference. And they got off to a slow start this year.

However, once the Indians hooked up with fellow Class 1A teams in last week's District 2 Tournament, they thrived, allowing just four runs in three games to capture their first district title since 1989.

"We are very excited to be in the sectionals," said St. Vincent coach Rick Wibbenmeyer. "We struggled early, but we've been playing a lot better lately. Even though we play lot of bigger schools, we should have won more than we did, but that's the way it goes."

Wibbenmeyer, a Perryville native in his first season at St. Vincent after being hired as the school's principal, spent the previous 11 years coaching at Chaminade in the St. Louis area, the last three as head coach. He led the Flyers to the 1998 4A state title.

"Going into the season, I thought we definitely had a shot (to win district)," he said. "I was very hopeful, then we struggled and I thought maybe I was overly optimistic. But the kids hung in there and now we're playing real well."

The fourth-seeded Indians were certainly on top of their game during the district tourney as they knocked off second-seeded Oran 2-0 in the semifinals and top-seeded Advance 3-2 in the championship game.

Pitching and defense have carried St. Vincent most of the season and that was certainly the case during districts as hurlers Derek Kutz and Tyler Wengert were on top of their game.

Kutz, a junior who is considered the Indians' ace and will start today, has just a 2-7 record, but he sports an outstanding 2.36 earned-run average. He four-hit Oran during the district semifinals.

Wengert, a sophomore, is 6-3 with a solid if not spectacular 3.32 ERA. He pitched two of the district wins, including allowing four hits and striking out 12 during the title contest against Advance.

"Our strengths have certainly been pitching and defense," Wibbenmeyer said. "We haven't allowed any big innings. I can't say enough about Derek and Tyler. They have been pretty consistent all year and they're just continuing to get better and better."

Offensively, the Indians are not overwhelming as only two regulars bat better than .300. But St. Vincent has gotten solid production out of the heart of its lineup with Gabe Hotop (.354, one home run, 22 runs batted in), Brandon Carroll (.333, two homers, 14 RBIs) and Ryan Brown (.297, three homers, 18 RBIs).

Wengert (.293) and Adam Bockman (.286, 16 stolen bases) have also been solid offensively for the Indians.

While St. Vincent is making its first sectional appearance in more than a decade, Holcomb has been a traditional Class 1A power, advancing to the state's final four three times during the 1990s, the last appearance coming in 1997. The Hornets finished second twice and third once.

"We've had a pretty good program down here and I expected us to have a good team this year," said Holcomb coach Jerry Buchanan.

The Hornets are led offensively by Craig Rickman, who carries a sizzling .600-plus batting average. Adam Tucker and Bo Franks are both above .400.

Holcomb's top pitcher, who is scheduled to start today, is left-hander Kerry Emerson, who is 6-1 with a microscopic ERA of less than 1.00. He fanned 11 and allowed just one hit during an 11-1, six-inning win over Gideon in the District 1 title game.

"He's not overpowering, but he's got a real good curve," said Buchanan of Emerson.