By ROBERT L. LEE

LUTCHER – After two scrimmages and one game, Bulldogs’ coach Scott Tribble said this season’s team looks promising. The Bulldogs made some defensive mistakes before beating Brusly 9-4 Tuesday, but Tribble relates those mistakes to start of the season “jitters.”

“Some of the guys are a little nervous and excited about getting in the game,” he explained. “But the team showed signs of improvement in a lot of the things we needed to improve on from last season.”

Last year’s team graduated 10 seniors, but key starters such as Ryan St. Jermaine, Bryce Matherne and Chris Guidry will return to help lead Lutcher. St. Jermaine is expected to be a force for batters to contend with from the mound, Guidry will return as the starting catcher and Matherne will return to the shortstop position. Tribble said he has also been pleased with T.J. Bourgeois and Randy Waguespack’s performance so far this season. Bourgeois, last season’s top pitcher, tore his ACL while on the Bulldogs’ football squad. Tribble said he is close to 100 percent, but not throwing at his full speed yet. In his place, Waguespack has stepped up to the mound and showed his skill, allowing only one hit in three innings against the Christian Life team.

Tribble said the recent scrimmages have been especially beneficial to the team, which needed the experience of being in game-type situations.

“They needed that experience and you can’t imitate the game-type environment in practice,” he added. “You need the fans in the stands. They need the feeling of maybe winning a close game or losing a close one, or having it come down to a hit in the fifth inning. They all haven’t been put in that stretch.”

Tribble said these early games will also help him decide who will be the best for each position at game time. Of all the positions on the field, he will be watching the pitcher’s mound and debating which of his possible choices to leave in or switch. He said eight players, from both the infield and outfield have enough of an arm for a chance to start the game pitching, or eventually be rotated onto the mound as a relief.

“I need to see what three are going to be the best starters and who can assume what roles the best on any part of the field,” Tribble continued. “It will be interesting to see who can step up and play at those levels.”