Archive for Thursday, April 20, 2000
Home run race heats up
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McGwire and Sosa did it.
Now Bulldogs varsity baseball players Grady Wilson and Rob Satterwhite are providing a race of their own.
Professional baseball fans watched St. Louis Cardinals first basamen Mark McGwire and Chicago Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa hit long ball after long ball for the past two Major League Baseball seasons.
First baseman Wilson, a senior, and catcher Satterwhite, a junior, have caught the fever.
After 14 games, Wilson is the Colorado Class 4A leader with 13 home runs and a batting average of .596 while knocking in 32 runs.
"It's pretty cool being the leader and everyone knows who you are," said Wilson. "We have the No. 2 home run hitter in the state and he is doing a real good job. I am excited for the both of us."
Satterwhite is second place in the 4A home run race with nine. Satterwhite's average at the plate is .523 and he has 29 RBIs.
"It's nice to be second in the state in home runs, but I guess that I could work harder and catch up with the No. 1 guy," said Satterwhite.
Moffat County High School coach Kip Hafey believes the home run race brings the best out of his players and helps motivate the Bulldogs.
"They are just pushing each other," said Hafey. "Rob will come in and hit a couple of home runs and then Grady will come back and hit a couple more.
"The race is great and both kids are working hard at it. They are just doing an outstanding job."
Wilson said his main focus is to win games for the Bulldogs. He is a leading contributor with the Bulldogs 10-4 on the year and 3-1 in league play.
"We are both trying to hit the ball hard," said Wilson. "Rob and I always are joking around that we are No. 1 and No. 2.
"He wants to be No. 1 and I am not going to let him. As long as we win games it really doesn't matter to me."
In the Bulldogs batter order, Satterwhite hits No. 3 and Wilson bats fourth, or cleanup.
"We are probably the best tandem in the state," said Wilson. "If they pitch around Rob they get me."
With four games left in the regular season plus the district tournament, Wilson isn't done.
"I will just put the ball in play and see what happens," said Wilson.
Wilson sat out last season due to a knee injury.
"Everyday, everybody was going to practice and I couldn't go. It was hard and it made me come back and not take the game for granted," said Wilson.
As a sophomore, Satterwhite hit five home runs. He said patience is the key to success.
"I got bigger over the winter and now I am watching the ball all the way in," said Satterwhite. "I have a great team hitting around me and so they can't pitch around one guy."
Satterwhite will have to get on a hot streak by the end of the season to catch Wilson.
"I will need to keep swinging at good pitches and finish of the season strong," said Satterwhite. "As long as we win I could care less about how many home runs I hit."
The race continues at 11 a.m. Saturday when the Aspen Skiers take on the Bulldogs and the Colorado home run leaders at Craig Middle School field.
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Question of the week
Would you be in favor of the Moffat County School District shifting to a year-round school year?
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