Dillon’s Junior Varsity Wildcats have a new coach at the helm this year in Keith Coward, and are already off to a strong start with a 2-1 record in the regular season.

Coward is replacing Lee Page, who moved up to focus on varsity baseball with Coach Gregg Dozier this season.

While the team will lose some key players to the varsity team, including Ray-Ray McGirt, Coward says he expects everyone to work hard. “Everyone, guys coming back included, will have to work hard for us to have the success we want to have.”

“Success starts with the guy on the mound,” he said. “We need to find guys that take control of the game and throw strikes. We’re Dillon and we always hit, we just need to make sure we pitch it and field it at a winning level, too.”

In addition to pitching, Coward says the team is lacking some experience in the outfield, but should be stronger in the infield and behind the plate.

“We’ve got some good young talent,” he added. “But they have to prove themselves in practice before they get a chance in the games. I expect the guys to play hard and smart. Winning is obviously important, but we want our guys to be good students as well as good players. At the end of the day we want these JV guys to be prepared to have success at the varsity level.”

The JV Wildcats have a tough schedule that includes South Florence, Latta, Loris, and Aynor. But the JV Cats have already gotten off to a strong start.

In preseason action, Dillon defeated Marlboro County 8-4 but fell 12-11 to Darlington.

The JV Wildcats kicked off the regular season with a double header against South Florence, earning a 9-2 win in game one but falling 2-0 in game two. On Thursday, the Wildcats hosted Loris and picked up a 12-2 win over the Lions.

Dillon is scheduled to travel to Loris this Thursday, and the JV Wildcats will be back at home on Monday, March 23, to host Aynor at 6:00 p.m. Make plans to attend to support our young Wildcats!