By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

The Wildcats looked to get a fresh start this summer in the American Legion program with the hiring of new coach Ryan Sims.

&#8220We’ve got to make the ESJ program something to be reckoned with,” Sims said Monday afternoon after traveling to West Jefferson for a game against Ray Brandt. &#8220We want to make a return to that storied program that they used to have here in the past.”

They got things off on the right foot on opening day with a win against their first opponent, in-town baseball powerhouse St. Charles Catholic. Stephen Haniford took the mound as one of the Wildcats three seniors and got the win by a score of 6-2. East St. John faltered a bit in their next two games with losses of 6-5 (to East Jefferson) and 11-1 (to West Jeff). But they have the chance to pull back to even this Wednesday, with a home game agianst Grace King, and another one set against Shaw. Those are set to start at 5 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively.

Sims last coached at Hahnville before signing on with ESJ. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Alabama A&M. On evaluating the Wildcats, Sims said that he likes the potential in his team.

&#8220Our biggest advantage is our youth,” he said. &#8220The kids willingness to compete, pick up a new system and buy into it has been a positive. Right now we just have to be patient. There’s a lot of information for the guys to pick up on, so I think we’ll just have to take our time and get better. We need our seniors to step up and be a leader for that to happen, but I think it will. It’ll just take some time.”