By Brian Anderson

The Troy Dixie Minor Rookie team is looking to compete and put pressure on their opponent in their first district game. They want defense to be a focal point throughout district play.

The DM Rookies played in a warm-up tournament recently in Enterprise against some of the teams they will compete against in district. Huner said his team played very well and won three of their four games.

“The first thing about a tournament team is you have to get them playing together because they all come from different teams,” he said. They have to get to know each other and build team chemistry he said.

This is the first league the players begin pitching and Huner has seen his pitchers develop well.

“We have been practicing hitting and another priority has been working on our pitching mechanics and I have been pleased with their progress,” he said. They have had four practice games and they have gotten better in each one he added.

The team has been practicing fundamentals of the game such as catching ground balls and hitting. His team also is practicing how to bunt and how to defend against a bunt. He said in this league they have to work hard on accuracy and throwing the ball.

“I really want to see the kids play to their potential and see them implement some of the things we have been working on,” assistant coach Al Renfroe said. “Derek Irons (CHHS head coach) says ‘So what, next pitch’ and that is what we tell our players when they make a mistake.”

He said the team as a whole has improved and they are hitting the ball much better since practice began even the players who are playing different positions.

“Our biggest improvement is our pitching because a lot of these kids have never pitched before and they look really good so far,” he said.

The Rookie team will start district play Friday in Luverne. They will play against the Enterprise Nationals at 4:00 p.m.