Veteran baseball coach Dale Harpenau likes the makeup of the 2018 Southside Mavericks. They like practice; they’re willing to work.

And they seem to like each other.

Now, if only the weather will cooperate.

Southside won all of eight games in 2017. But that’s a distant memory as the Mavericks prepare for their 2018 season opener today against Har-Ber in the first round of the PBR Showcase at Greenwood High School.

“We really like this club,” Harpenau said. “We have Brock (Thibodeaux), Mac (Moody) and Jake (Melton) back. Stratton Whittington and Parker Wright, those guys gave us good innings a year ago. We’re concerned a little bit about our depth, but I think as time goes on we’ll get there.”

Southside’s biggest foe last year was, at times, itself. The team struggled offensively with a .224 team batting average. Seven players with 20 or more plate appearances hit .218 or lower.

Moody hit three homers and drove in 12 runs and led the team with a .354 batting average last season. Melton hit .307 with five extra-base hits.

“We have a good group of seniors showing leadership,” Harpenau said. “We have some guys going on to play college ball, so they know what to do. Guys have enjoyed coming to practice.”

Southside will be busy over the next two weeks, which includes a chance to play six games in Texas.

“Hopefully the weather will cooperate for us,” Harpenau said. “The PBR tournament gives us four games, then we’ll have six in Texas. The next couple of weeks we have a chance of getting 11 games in.

“Hopefully we’ll know the right parts, but this early, the most important thing is to just play.”
