By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
DAWSON SPRINGS -- Although the high school baseball season has yet to begin, first-year Dawson Springs coach Adam Locke has slowly been breeding success for the past five weeks at Riverside Park.
Dawson Springs has not won a game since May 7, 2007, but Locke, an assistant for the Tradewater Pirates last summer, has been laying the foundation to create opportunity for many victories this season.
"He's brought a lot of people out this year and we're starting to play like a team now," senior catcher Jon Snell said of Locke's recruiting ability. "We went up from 13 or 14 last year and I think we're up to 20 or 22 this year."
Locke, who spent four years as an assistant at Muhlenberg South, represents the fourth coach in four years at Dawson. Starting third baseman Alan Higbee said he thinks the program finally has the right person in place to lead the team to success.
"He's by far the best," Higbee said. "He does know his stuff, knows exactly what baseball is. He would be the coach I want to play for if there was anybody else in the state.
"I didn't know if (previous coaches) had extra time on their hands or they just wanted to keep the program alive, but he loves the game and that's a step up."
Higbee and Snell have been with the team several years, but Locke's enthusiasm has encouraged many more to play.
Dawson Springs has not won a game since May 7, 2007, but Locke, an assistant for the Tradewater Pirates last summer, has been laying the foundation to create opportunity for many victories this season.
"He's brought a lot of people out this year and we're starting to play like a team now," senior catcher Jon Snell said of Locke's recruiting ability. "We went up from 13 or 14 last year and I think we're up to 20 or 22 this year."
Locke, who spent four years as an assistant at Muhlenberg South, represents the fourth coach in four years at Dawson. Starting third baseman Alan Higbee said he thinks the program finally has the right person in place to lead the team to success.
"He's by far the best," Higbee said. "He does know his stuff, knows exactly what baseball is. He would be the coach I want to play for if there was anybody else in the state.
"I didn't know if (previous coaches) had extra time on their hands or they just wanted to keep the program alive, but he loves the game and that's a step up."
Higbee and Snell have been with the team several years, but Locke's enthusiasm has encouraged many more to play.
"He's a real cool guy and he was just talking to me about it, asked me if I was interested," senior Ethan Scott said after sitting out last season. "I promised him I would and I'm a man of my word, so I came out."
Sophomore Dayton Reed also joined the squad. Reed used the speed he developed as a runner to secure the starting center fielder position.
Snell even did his part to bring another player to the field.
"I made a deal with Jon Snell that if he would come and play soccer, I would come and play baseball," first-year player Carson Labrado said. "He went through with his part, so it's my turn."
Labrado, a senior, said he expects to earn time in the outfield. Along with Labrado and Reed, Scott, freshman Todd Bullock and senior Seth Bean will each play outfield.
Scott, a 6-6 right-hander, will man the mound as the Panthers' No. 1 starter.
Locke said Scott's strength will be his ability to locate and the pitcher agreed.
"I'm not going to go out here and blow it past anybody, that's for sure," he said. "I know whenever (Snell) gives me a target, most of the time I'm going to get it there and see what happens from there."
Also on the rubber will be Bean and sophomores Brett Cobb and Braxton Burden.
Cobb, a left-hander, will be Dawson's No. 2 starter and Locke said Cobb's southpaw throwing will provide a huge advantage.
"You don't see a whole lot of lefties and at 6-4, he's intimidating out there," Locke said.
Behind the dish, Snell will handle the catching duties.
Locke said Snell's defensive skills have gained the attention of a couple collegiate teams.
"He's got a pop time of about 2.1 seconds, 2.15 and looking to go to college and play right now," Locke said. "He's got some coaches that are interested in him now."
Around the infield, Cobb will play first when not pitching and Bullock and Burden will both see time at second while sophomore Austin Clayton will fill shortstop.
Higbee will play third and be the team's on-field leader, Locke said.
Defensively, Locke said he thinks the Panthers will be solid, but Dawson will have to continue to improve its hitting.
During the preseason, Locke established hitting stations using live arms, soft toss, tees and one unique tool.
"We just took a dow rod, 1 1/4 inch, cut it down to two feet long and we're tossing up wiffle golf balls," Locke said. "We're really working on getting guys to focus on seeing the ball."
The workload and intensity for Panther players may be higher at practice this season, but judging from the feedback thus far, the atmosphere has helped the group gel.
"We weren't close as a team and now he's made us close as a team," Higbee said. "Now, we have people staying after practice, enjoying, laughing, having a good time. We've become more like a baseball family than just a baseball player."
Dawson hopes to translate its offseason improvements to wins beginning with the team's season-opener at 5 p.m. Monday against Hopkins County Central.
Sophomore Dayton Reed also joined the squad. Reed used the speed he developed as a runner to secure the starting center fielder position.
Snell even did his part to bring another player to the field.
"I made a deal with Jon Snell that if he would come and play soccer, I would come and play baseball," first-year player Carson Labrado said. "He went through with his part, so it's my turn."
Labrado, a senior, said he expects to earn time in the outfield. Along with Labrado and Reed, Scott, freshman Todd Bullock and senior Seth Bean will each play outfield.
Scott, a 6-6 right-hander, will man the mound as the Panthers' No. 1 starter.
Locke said Scott's strength will be his ability to locate and the pitcher agreed.
"I'm not going to go out here and blow it past anybody, that's for sure," he said. "I know whenever (Snell) gives me a target, most of the time I'm going to get it there and see what happens from there."
Also on the rubber will be Bean and sophomores Brett Cobb and Braxton Burden.
Cobb, a left-hander, will be Dawson's No. 2 starter and Locke said Cobb's southpaw throwing will provide a huge advantage.
"You don't see a whole lot of lefties and at 6-4, he's intimidating out there," Locke said.
Behind the dish, Snell will handle the catching duties.
Locke said Snell's defensive skills have gained the attention of a couple collegiate teams.
"He's got a pop time of about 2.1 seconds, 2.15 and looking to go to college and play right now," Locke said. "He's got some coaches that are interested in him now."
Around the infield, Cobb will play first when not pitching and Bullock and Burden will both see time at second while sophomore Austin Clayton will fill shortstop.
Higbee will play third and be the team's on-field leader, Locke said.
Defensively, Locke said he thinks the Panthers will be solid, but Dawson will have to continue to improve its hitting.
During the preseason, Locke established hitting stations using live arms, soft toss, tees and one unique tool.
"We just took a dow rod, 1 1/4 inch, cut it down to two feet long and we're tossing up wiffle golf balls," Locke said. "We're really working on getting guys to focus on seeing the ball."
The workload and intensity for Panther players may be higher at practice this season, but judging from the feedback thus far, the atmosphere has helped the group gel.
"We weren't close as a team and now he's made us close as a team," Higbee said. "Now, we have people staying after practice, enjoying, laughing, having a good time. We've become more like a baseball family than just a baseball player."
Dawson hopes to translate its offseason improvements to wins beginning with the team's season-opener at 5 p.m. Monday against Hopkins County Central.
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