COLLEGE: WNC is home at last

The road warriors of junior college baseball, also known as the Western Nevada College Wildcats, are finally home.

WNC has played 36 of its 40 games away from the friendly confines of John L. Harvey Field. WNC is 24-12 in road/neutral site games and 4-0 at home.

The Wildcats are tied for first place with Salt Lake for first place in the Scenic West Conference with 21-3 records. WNC starts a 16-game homestand today at noon when it meets College of Eastern Utah in a doubleheader. Anthony Consiglio and Kody Gorden wil start on teh mound for the Wildcats.

"It feels great (to be home)," said WNC coach D.J. Whittemore. "I've had so much time I don't know what to do with myself. I'm enjoying my family tonight.

"The kids get to sleep in their own beds and I'm sure they are getting a home-cooked meal tonight. We're rested and prepared for this weekend."

Whittemore said he hears very few complaints from his team about being on the road for such an extended time. All 35 road games have been at least 450 miles away from Carson City, and the Wildcats have played games in California, Arizona, Idaho, Utah and Colorado.

"I have to press pretty hard, but when we travel there are three to four players in each room and only two beds," Whittemore said. " It's no fun sharing a bed. It's hard academically to be successful. You have to manage your time. To do as well as we have academically in the past is really impressive.

"These guys actually like being around each other. Of course it makes it easier when you are winning."

WNC enters the game with four hitters above the .300 mark - Chris Woolley (.340, 22 RBIs), Connor Eppard (.337, 23 RBIs), Sean Potkay (.333, 29 RBIs) and Donald Glover (.333, 6 RBIs).

Glover has been bothered by injuries, and has played in just 21 games this season. The versatile Woolley has been able to get even more playing time with the dismissal of Steve Taylor earlier in the season. Woolley can play infield and outfield, and he has been impressive.

Beau Day is hitting .292 and is tid with Potkay for the team lead in RBIs with 29.