MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / February 26, 2000

RESERVE – Nick Mitchell knew what he was getting into when he accepted the head coaching position at East St. John this year.He knows about the school’s tradition of success. Mitchell, a native of theRiver Parishes, grew up with many of the players who went on to win the state title in 1990 and 1992. He played against them while playing forDestrehan High School. He was an assistant coach on the East St. John squadthat advanced to the state quarterfinals a year ago in Class 5A.

Mitchell also knows changes the school has seen in its baseball program over the years. The team has had four coaches in as many years. But he alsoknows it is one of the best jobs in the state.

“The coaching position is easily a job one can succeed in because the kids they got here,” Mitchell said. “I believe baseball is still prevalent here. Theyhave had many years of success. It’s always been a goal of mine to coach atEast St. John.”Mitchell has been in baseball since he was 10, playing in the local recreation leagues. He played at Destrehan High School before going on to SouthernUniversity. In his senior season in 1996, the Jaguars captured the SouthwestAthletic Conference championship. In 1996 and 1997, Mitchell played for theKansas City Monarchs, the first all-black summer college team in the Jayhawk League.

Mitchell came back last year to be an assistant coach under Carey Ourso, handing the instruction for hitting and infield. The Wildcats would finish theseason at 19-15-1, defeating Belaire and West Jefferson in the playoffs before losing to Rummel, 10-0, in the quarterfinals. He was named the headcoach this past offseason after Ourso resigned, becoming one of the youngest head coaches in the state at the age of 25.

Mitchell inherits a team that is dominated by upperclassmen. Four seniorstarters return from last year. Mitchell said that experience was shown inthe St. Charles Catholic Jamboree last weekend when the Wildcats took 5-3and 8-0 victories over Northshore and Capitol, respectively.

“They really stepped up,” Mitchell said. “When one was down, the othersstepped it up. Leadership will be a difference this year. It will play a big part.They’ve been waiting their turn at being the seniors.”Three of those seniors can be found up the middle, perhaps the strongest part of the team this season. Roydell Williams, who will bat third and playcenter, is coming off a season in which he batted .460 with three home runs,27 runs batted in and 25 stolen bases. Tie Reese will catch and bat fifthafter batting .322 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs in 1999. TerronCharles will be at second and bat seventh.

Completing the quartet is junior shortstop Brandon Mason. Mason batted.340 last year with 20 RBIs and 28 stolen bases. He will bat second and willbring leadership to the field on defense.

“Brandon will be able to set the table for us on offense and be able to coach the game for us at shortstop,” Mitchell said. “He is a leader on the field.”Leading off the lineup is junior right fielder Mervin Williams. In the cleanupspot is junior first baseman Darwin Pittman who is coming off a season in which he batted .400 with 23 RBIs and eight triples. Junior Roderick Marshallwill pitch and bat sixth. Junior third baseman Lucas Nixon will bat eighth withsenior left fielder Randy Sutherland batting ninth. Sutherland batted .350 in1999 and was successful on all 16 of his steal attempts.

Pitching is the unknown right now. The Wildcats lost their top four pitchersfrom a year ago. Marshall, a left hander, is the number one starter. Williamsand junior Michael Brown, both right handers, will be the two and three starters. Rounding out the rotation is Sutherland, a left hander. Junior LouisGardner, Williams, junior Robert Dauzat and freshman Ronald Marshall will also see action on the mound.

“We lost about 85 percent of run production from last year but so far the seniors have stepped up to meet the challenge,” Mitchell said. “We will be okis the pitching holds up. I think we will be able to manufacture a lot of runsbecause of our speed and our experience. If we can get guys on first, a largepercentage of the time we should be able to get them in scoring position.”East St. John faces a challenge in one of the toughest districts in the state.Defending district champion Hahnville returns an experienced pitching staff.

Thibodaux joined East St. John in the state tournament last year. Destrehanis always in the hunt and swept the Wildcats a year ago.

But Mitchell likes the cohesiveness of his team and its desire to win. Some ofthe players, such as Charles and Reese, had family members play for the championship teams of the early 90s and want to go out on the same note.

And all of them remember the experience of last year when they advanced to the state tournament.

“Our fans can expect us to show up for every game regardless of the opponent,” Mitchell said. “We will play the game hard and play the gamesmart. Our fans do expect us to do some good things this year. Our goal thisyear is to win a state championship.”

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