A little over a year ago at Warren Central’s Viking Field following a season-ending loss to East Webster, St. Aloysius coach Clint Wilkerson told his young team that if they got stronger, both physically and mentally, good things could happen.

In 2009, they did. The Flashes stormed past rivals Cathedral and Stringer in two enthralling Class 1A playoff series and then blitzed West Union in two games to claim the 1A state championship at Trustmark Park in Pearl. It was the school’s first baseball title since 1976.

So what changed from a 13-3 loss to East Webster back in late April of 2008 to May 15, 2009, when St. Al wrapped up the state title with a 13-2, five-inning, romp over West Union?

“We grew up,” said Wilkerson, who for the third time in his five-year stint with the Flashes, has been named the Vicksburg Post’s Baseball Coach of the Year.

“Those sophomores and juniors, who got beat up by East Webster, became juniors and seniors. They had always had good work ethic and that didn’t change. But growing a year older made them physically and mentally tougher. But most of all, they believed they were better.”

It showed on the field. St. Aloysius was good right off the bat. They won 11 straight to open the year, including a win over eventual 2A finalist St. Andrew’s. They finished the regular season at 18-3, the best mark of Wilkerson’s tenure.

In the playoffs, the Flashes (28-4) got better. They easily dispatched French Camp by the 10-run rule in both games. They crushed Cathedral 15-6 in Natchez in Game 1 and then came back to win Game 2, 7-6, in eight innings. West Lowdnes went quietly in two games. The only blemish in 11 playoff games was a 1-0, nine-inning loss at Stringer. They came back to win two straight to take the South State series and then romped past West Union in two games.

“The great thing you can say about this team is that every game they played, they brought the same approach. They brought the same intensity. From a March 10 game to the last game on May 15, we just played at a high level.

“While we may have done some little things differently, we didn’t change that much. The biggest difference, though, is that last year ended with us in defeat at Warren Central and this year, we ended with a state championship at Trustmark,” Wilkerson said.

With only three seniors departing, the odds favor a return visit next year to Trustmark in a revamped Class 1A. Two-time champ East Webster and division nemesis Stringer move up to 2A. The Flashes will be paired with archrival Cathedral in the same 1A division next spring.

Wilkerson, however, could have as many as five college prospects in his starting nine.

It starts with shortstop/pitcher Ryno Martin-Nez. Even though Stephen Evans overtook Martin-Nez as the team’s ace with a tremendous season at 12-2, Wilkerson said Martin-Nez still had his moments.

“He shut down St. Andrew’s and they made it to Trustmark in 2A. And he won his last three starts in the playoffs, including the last game against West Union. The thinking with Ryno is that he has such a great upside. He’s 6-foot-2, 200 pounds.

“He can play either short or second and this summer, he is playing on a very elite summer team in Baton Rouge. Most of those players on that team are hand-picked by the LSU coaching staff.”

Pierson Waring, who led the Flashes with 48 RBIs and 53 runs scored, is another top-flight player returning.

“Pierson will get some looks. Delta State likes him a lot. UAB and Southern Miss want to see him.

“Red (Evans) will get some looks, too. He has a lot of baseball savy and he’s a heck of a good player,” Wilkerson said.

Then you can throw in center fielder Blake Haygood and West Lowndes series star Regan Nosser.

“In Haygood, you got someone who hit .400 and did not make a single error either by catch or throw in center field all season,” Wilkerson said.

The two big replacements that Wilkerson faces are catcher Sean Weaver and first baseman Joseph Brown.

“Weaver did so many things for us behind the plate and he’s going to be a great fit for Coach (Sam) Temple at Hinds. We’ll use this summer to try and find a replacement, but he leaves a big gap to fill. Joseph Brown was our No. 3 pitcher and a good bat for us. He’s got some tryouts next month and I think he’ll land at one of them.”

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com