[4/29/03]Despite dropping out of the playoffs early, St. Aloysius exceeded many expectations this season, finishing 14-7. The team lost graduating stars Blake Warnock and Aaron George from last season’s squad that won the Class 1A South State championship, but still won its third consecutive Division 7-1A title.

The Flashes started the season slowly with three losses in their first five games, but quickly rebounded to win 10 of their final 12 regular season games. St. Al swept division opponents Bogue Chitto, Enterprise and West Lincoln, while splitting its series with archrival Cathedral.

St. Al’s batters bombed opponents all year long averaging nine runs a contest, but ironically the hitting vanished in the second round of the playoffs against Union to end St. Al’s season.

“Again, just like last year after we won the South State championship, we just can’t get the job done at the plate,” head coach Joe Graves said. “We couldn’t put a finger on it. We tried to make adjustments at the plate. We just could not put the ball in play.”

The Flashes’ season was filled with positives, and a few negatives. Despite not reaching the lofty status it did a season ago, St. Al returns several players who made contributions this season.

Sophomore Rob Jones and eighth-grader Jordan Muirhead had breakout seasons at the plate, contributing to St. Al’s outstanding hitting. The lineup was solid from top to bottom providing a formidable task for opposing pitchers.

It’s difficult to replace a pitcher like George, who was 11-2 with a 1.15 ERA last season and is now playing for Meridian Community College, but senior Alex Frisbee did well for the Flashes. He was 1-1 in the playoffs with a 1.50 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 12 innings.

Senior Jason Brown also had a good season on the mound, going 1-1 in the playoffs with a 2.45 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 11 innings.

A rare two-game slump at the plate, though, caused the Flashes to exit the playoffs early, but otherwise St. Al was competitive for nearly every game with solid pitching and hitting. Only two of the Flashes’ seven losses were by five runs or more, and two losses were by one run.

As mentioned above, St. Al got out to a slow start this season, costing them a few games as they became accustomed to the new lineup and players. But it was not long before they began to win again.

The defense was shaky at times often costing a run here and there, particularly in the two-game Union series in which St. Al committed 10 errors.

Part of the reason for the defensive problems may be the shifting of positions the team endured before the season.

Senior Chad Cox moved from shortstop to second base. Senior Charlie Amborn’s shoulder injury forced him to give up his duties behind the plate to play right field full-time. Senior Walker Hengst moved from left field to center field with Warnock’s departure, while Muirhead completed the change in outfield by starting in left field.

Next year’s team will be young. The Flashes will lose five senior starters from this year’s squad, including both pitchers.

Sophomore Andy Wiles and freshman Jeremy White should pick up most of the slack next year. Seventh graders Heath Carroll and Jonathon Longmire may see some action.

Jones and Muirhead have proven themselves at the plate, along with fellow starters Drew Mazzanti and Kyle Richards, both juniors. With their combined experience, they will be looked to as the team’s leaders.

Head coach Joe Graves hopes this year’s playoff losses will motivate his returning players.

“I told my kids coming back next year, this should give you some incentives for the summer,” he said. “To work hard this summer, get in the weight room and get bigger and stronger to come back and be successful next year.”