MERIDIAN —      A promising start led to a disappointing finish in Chris Curry's first season at the helm of the Meridian Community College baseball program.

    Now the former Eagle standout is hoping a few key returnees, improved pitching depth and having his program established leads MCC back to its former heights.

    “I think the ending last year was a team that didn't know what to expect,” Curry said Monday as the Eagles prepare to open the 2012 season Friday at the First Pitch Baseball Classic in Panama City, Fla. MCC opens against Central Alabama at 11 a.m. “It was a team that didn't have an identity, that didnt understand what it means o be an MCC baseball player. This year, our guys know what to expect.

    “Year 1 with a first-year coach is always spent trying to change the culture, trying to get people comfortable with the way you want the program to be run. And there's always turnover with a new coaching staff, getting the right guys in and then teaching them how to play hard the way baseball is supposed to be played.

    “Now that we've got that and a good recruiting class, we're very excited. And once you get it rolling, it's always easier.”

    Last year – Curry's first after being named Chris Rose's replacement the previous July – MCC raced out to an 8-1 record. However, a lack of quality arms ended up costing the Eagles, as they finished 29-24, including an 0-2 stay at the Region 23 tournament.

    In hoping to make sure that quick ending isn't repeated, MCC will be looking to sophomores Wes Stokes, a West Lauderdale product, and Michael Manley to head the staff. As freshmen, Stokes and Manley led the Eagles in innings pitched, as Stokes fired 71 1/3 innings in crafting a 6-2 record with a 4.79 ERA and 59 strikeouts. Manley, meanwhile, threw 61 innings and finished 7-2 with a 3.54 ERA and 58 strikeouts.

    Once again, those two will be heavily depended upon, as will Dalton Short.

    “I expect them not to be surprised or rattled by anything when we get to our tough conference games,” Curry said. “They know what they're getting into, and I expect them to give us a quality start every time out there, getting into the sixth and seventh innings every time. And while they can't control if we're ahead or behind, they just need to limit the offensive production of the other team.

    “They need to be a veteran, calming presence out there on the mound by setting the tempo and being aggressive and then making big pitches.”

    However, the second-year head coach is hoping an influx of talented arms means more balance. Sophomore transfers Jackson Lowery and Brandon Hallford are being counted on to provide innings for the Eagles, who also added former Lamar standout Witt Haggard as a transfer from the Ole Miss football team. Quitman product Josh Lee also returns on the mound for MCC, which also added left-hander Jace Belcher from the Panthers.

    “Last year, we just didn't have any depth on the mound,” Curry said. “After three or four guys it really dropped off, and through recruiting coach (Dillon) Sudduth has addressed that by adding a lot of good arms.

    “For 200 years, they key to winning baseball games has been pitching. And I feel like we've answered those questions.”

    And if the Eagles can improve on the mound, it will alleviate some pressure on the MCC offense, which will be led by sophomore catcher Wade Wass. Wass was named an All-Star last summer playing in the Northwoods League following a freshman season that saw him hit .370 with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs.

    “I feel like a baseball team is built from behind the plate on out,” Curry said. “So having him back is tremendous.”

    MCC will need him to maintain that production as they try and replace All-American second baseman Kenny Roberts, the former Meridian High star that is now at Alabama; center fielder Ben Kingsley who hit a team-high 19 home runs on his way to Delta State; and former West Lauderdale standout Darren Farmer, who is now at Grambling State.

    Still, the loss of those stars did not come as a surprise and Curry is hopeful the Eagles have the right mix to help lessen those departures. In addition to returning third baseman Dustin James, who hit .349 in his first season after starring at West, the Eagles are also looking for help from sophomore Johnny Tolson at shortstop, freshman Johnathan Youngblood in center field and LSU transfer Samuel Peterson, who will spell Wass at catcher and also will pitch some. Tolson hit .296 in 21 games last year. MCC also has added West product Trey McPherson and former Meridian High star Dallas Hannah, a transfer from Mississippi State.

    “Losing those guys is tough, but every year in junior college baseball yo are replacing half your team,” Curry said. “We knew that, we planned for that and recruited around that. With Kenny being an All-American you don't really replace that, you hope to find someone that can kind of step in. We're excited to see who will be this year's All-American.

    “Johnny, when he is healthy, is as good as anyone, I think, in junior college baseball at shortstop. And with Ben, you lose 19 home runs in center field and I don't think we'll see that again. But with Johnathan Youngblood, a 30th-round draft pick by the Atlanta Braves, we add some speed and can cover a lot of ground in the outfield as well as create havoc at the top of the order. You lose some but you add some, too.”