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May 5, 2008

Putman: Pitching is the recipe for success

By Michael A. Cummings

Randy Putman has been here before. Eighteen times, to be exact.

And six times in the past 11 seasons — in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2006 — his Wallace State baseball team has come away with the Alabama Community College Conference title.

So the long-time Lions coach should know a thing or two about how to get this baby wrapped up.

And if Saturday was any indication, Wallace might be about to make it seven out of 12.

Behind the masterful pitching of right-hander Craig Kimbrel, the Lions crushed home-standing Calhoun 11-1 to clinch the second seed in this weekend’s ACCC tournament.

“On Saturday, we probably played our best game of the year,” Putman said Monday. “Craig Kimbrel pitched his best game of the year, and we got 14 hits and played great defense.

“Hopefully that will give us momentum heading into the state tournament.”

Kimbrel, a sophomore out of Huntsville’s Lee High, went all seven innings against the Warhawks, striking out ten while giving up just two hits and a walk.

It was the kind of outing Putman said Kimbrel could have every time out.

“For the first time all year Craig pitched the way we knew he could pitch,” Putman said, adding professional scouts have been keeping an eye on Kimbrel. “He was more focused on Saturday than he was in the past.

“He’s one of the top-rated pitchers in state at any level.”

When tournament play begins Saturday, the Lions could go with one of several starters. According to Putman, Jonathan Lopez, Austin Lucas, Will Rankin and Carlton Paris are all in the running to start game one, which will be against Faulkner or Lurleen B. Wallace.

In an ideal situation, Putman would then turn to Kimbrel in a closing situation before throwing him again Monday after a day off.

“In the years we’ve won the state tournament, we’ve had pitchers pitch better than they did during the season,” Putman said. “In other words, they decided they were going to be heroes. Right now we need three to four pitchers do that.”

If Wallace can get a few more pitching heroes this weekend, Putman said the Lions could be making a return trip to Grand Junction, Colo. for the NJCAA JUCO World Series.

“We hope some guys will step up and give us a chance to win,” Putman said. “And if they do, and we keep swinging the bat the way we have been, we’ll have a chance to head back to Colorado.”

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