Smith, Diamond Doggs to begin work for next year

“We are going to incorporate an intense strength/speed program three days a week and treat this time as a two-month summer baseball camp,” Smith said Monday.

The WBHS coach will have to replace several seniors from this spring’s squad who helped lead the Bulldoggs to the postseason. The summer weeks will allow Smith and his coaching staff the opportunity to get an early jump on next spring as the team will continue to compete in the perennially tough Region 8-AAAA.

The WBHS coach said the summer weeks allow the coaches to focus on teaching without the worry or stress of upcoming games. The games that are played are also used as a learning tool for the team’s upcoming season.

Smith also said Monday he expects the All-Region team for 2010 to be released within a few days. As a result of their second-place finish, the Diamond Doggs should have several team members on the All-Region squad.

At Apalachee, Diamond Wildcat coach Mike Cavey had hoped to have a summer schedule as well but said last week he did not have enough players commit for June to play games but the team will practice.