Players to watch

By BRANT JAMES, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 10, 2002

RETURNEES

D.J. ANDERSON, SS, CENTRAL: The lanky junior has the frame coaches love. He got a feel for varsity competition last year (.267 batting average), and should be ready for two solid seasons.

BRAD WYATT, P, HERNANDO: The third-year varsity member is the main man on the mound. He threw a no-hitter as a freshman and was a solid second starter last season at 2-4 with a 3.05 ERA.

JUSTIN MELNIK, CF, SPRINGSTEAD: The athletic junior is a key to the Eagles' potential resurgence.

NEWCOMERS

JOSH SMITH, P/3B, CENTRAL: The junior went 1-0 with a 1.24 ERA in a brief varsity call-up last year. Might challenge for top starting job after a strong offseason.

TOMMY HESSLER, 2B, HERNANDO: Hard-nosed and exceptionally quick, the junior is the type of player Leopards coach Tim Sims loves.

JAY OLMSTEAD, LF, SPRINGSTEAD: The freshman is the brother ofLeopards softball standout Kimi Olmstead. Jay plays with an upperclassman's confidence and grasp of fundamentals.

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