17 June, 2005

Cardinals perched to play ball

The Orleans Cardinals have a new head coach, but he's a familiar face around Eldredge Park.

Kelly Nicholson spent the past four summers as the Cardinals pitching coach, the position he formerly held at Loyola Marymount University. He replaces Carmen Carcone, who led Orleans to the Cape League championship in 2003.

"I'm really honored and completely humbled," Nicholson said.

Hopefully for Nicholson, he won't be humbled by too many opponents this season. The Cards usually present a strong club and should do so again, but Nicholson will have to work with the hitters as well as pitchers this year.

"It'll be difficult in the sense that it's hard to let go of the pitching staff because I like working with the pitchers so much," he said. "But I have one of the best young pitching coaches around in Chris Beck, who was with Brewster last summer, so the pitching staff will be in good hands with him."

Nicholson is optimistic the Cardinals will have a good year.

"On paper, our guys are pretty good," he said. "But everybody starts with a clean slate when they get up here. I do all the recruiting. I've seen them play on TV a bit, and I got to see some of the kids (June 11) in the military game."

Steve Singleton (San Diego) had a couple hits, including a home run, in the game against the team of military all-stars. The Cape League squad won 5-0 at McKeon Park in Hyannis.

The Cardinals always get top talent from Georgia Tech, going back to Nomar Garciaparra, and this year the big Tech recruit is third baseman Wes Hodges, who hit over .400 with nine homers and 43 RBI. They also have pitcher Lee Hyde, who was 3-2 with Y-D last year.

Tyler Chambliss of Florida State will be in the bullpen. He had 13 saves with the Seminoles.

Lefthander Mike Ballard (Virginia) will be one of the starters. Jacob Cook (James Madison), David Coulon (Arizona), Brett Cecil (Maryland), Andy Graham (UC Santa Barbara), Brad Meyers (Loyola Marymount), Brant Rustich (UCLA), Dustin Evans and Everett Teaford of Georgia Southern and Steve Wright (Hawaii) will round out the staff.

Greg Dowling is a Georgia Southern slugger and will play first. The two catchers are Jason Jacobs (Georgia) and Brock Ungricht (San Diego State). Issac Omura (Hawaii) and Josh Satin (Cal Berkley) are infielders.

Brant Peacher (Florida State), Robert Perry (Santa Clara), Chris Pettit (Loyola Marymount), Brett Pill (Cal State Fullerton) and Chuck Caufield (Oklahoma) are the outfielders.

"I think Orleans is the best place," Nicholson said. "But obviously I'm partially biased. The people in Orleans are great. The Orleans Athletic Association is outstanding with Ron Conte, Sue Horton and the rest."

Nicholson knows it's hard to predict how things will go.

"A lot has to do with chemistry and desire, the team that wants to stay up here an extra week," he said. "Chemistry and desire are the two things that are really important."