BOGUE CHITTO – Coach Jody Britt returns six starters for the 2012 baseball campaign. He has high expectations for his squad as they aim for a repeat of last year’s success that took them all the way to the South State 1A finals series against Nanih Waiya.

     “We are looking forward to the season,” said Britt. “We need some of our younger players to step up, especially pitchers.”

     The Bobcats are at West Lincoln Friday for two Classic games. They play West Lincoln at 4 p.m. and Enterprise at 8.

     Britt, 27, is starting his third year at the helm. His Bobcats finished 22-8 last season, one of the best-ever records at Bogue Chitto.

     Replacing graduated  ace pitcher Michael Martin (8-3) will be a top priority as the Bobcats battle Natchez Cathedral, Vicksburg St. Aloysius and West Lincoln in the region race. Junior pitcher Zach Avants posted a 5-1 record last season. At the plate, he batted .342.

     Pitcher Brock Roberts fashioned a 2-1 record last season as a freshman. He batted .339, hit 2 homers and drove in 14 runs.

     Seniors Hunter Ginn (.494) at catcher and Colton McClendon (.393) in the outfield led the 2011 team in RBIs with 32 and 23 respectively. First baseman Kevin Brothern (.301) hit 2 homers and had 14 RBIs. Brice Roberts (.300) collected 20 RBIs.

     Besides Martin, second baseman Garrett Wallace, third baseman Reid Bales and outfielder James Wilson graduated.

     Britt, a graduate of Loyd Star, Co-Lin and Mississippi College, believes the region race should be intense. “It will be a war. West Lincoln is expected to have one of their best teams.”