HOLCOMB GETS ANOTHER SHOT AT ST. VINCENT

The St. Vincent Indians had no competition at state last year, winning 10-0 and 9-0 in the Class 1A semifinal and championship games.

But the sectional game, now that was a different story.

The Indians slipped past a gritty Holcomb team 3-0. It was their final close game of the season.

St. Vincent (15-11) will take on the same Hornets squad in a sectional game at 3 p.m. today in Holcomb, Mo.

"I felt like we might have been one of the top four teams last year because we played them so close," Holcomb coach Jerry Buchanan said. "Us, Oran and St. Vincent were some of the best teams in the state and it's probably the same way this year."

Holcomb enters today's contest with a 16-5 record and has some impressive victories. The Hornets' victims include Poplar Bluff, Woodland and Senath-Hornersville twice. Holcomb lost only 1-0 to Kennett, a 3A school that finished second in its district.

St. Vincent will face left-handed pitcher Kerry Emerson (7-1, 2.52 earned-run average). His twin brother, Brett, is also a lefty hurler.

"They're typical crafty left-handers," St. Vincent coach Rick Wibbenmeyer said. "They're real solid but not flame-throwers."

Greg Rickman (.464 batting average) and Brett Emerson pose the biggest threats in the Hornets' lineup, but the team in general does not hit for much power, Buchanan said.

Holcomb has five players returning from last year's team.

St. Vincent, meanwhile, will go with senior pitcher Derek Kutz (7-4, 3.62 ERA).

Kutz and junior Tyler Wengert (3-4, 3.54 ERA) posed a nasty one-two punch in St. Vincent's title run last year.

"Kutz is our senior and the leader," Wibbenmeyer said. "This doesn't mean we think more of Derek than we do of Tyler."

Wibbenmeyer likes the character of his team. Many of the baseball players were not only contributors on last year's baseball team, but were also on the football team which finished second last year, fourth the year before that and second in 1998.

"It's very big," Wibbenmeyer said. "In the big games, they're relaxed. From an offensive and defensive standpoint, we're able to relax our hands and see the ball. Some of our younger guys don't have that same experience and they may be a bit nervous, but we've got to channel that in a positive way."

Kutz, Wengert and Ryan Brown lead the Indians offensively. Wengert leads the team with a .434 average, while Brown has a team-high 27 runs batted in, including a big two-run home run in St. Vincent's 8-5 win over Oran in the district championship game.

Even with St. Vincent's experience, Wibbenmeyer isn't exactly satisfied with the way his Indians have played recently.

"We've been playing solid, but I don't think we've peaked yet," he said. "I think we can hit better and I know we can field better. We need to keep making thing happen and put the ball in play on offense.

"I know it'll be a battle for us and we're looking forward to the challenge."