By Anvil Welch

awelch@joplinglobe.com

Miami High School is off to a 7-1 start and No. 10 ranking in Class 5A baseball.

That isn’t surprising considering Miami returns key ingredients from a 26-10 edition that reached the first round in the Oklahoma Class 4A Tournament.

“We hope to be in the mix in Class 5A,” Wardog coach Chris Mercer said Tuesday of his eighth team at Miami. “We already have beaten Class 5A teams Stilwell and Pryor.”

Offense shouldn’t be a problem for the Wardogs in most of their games.

“It’s a solid hitting ballclub,” Mercer said. “It’s unusual in that we have six — sometimes seven — left-handed hitters in the lineup. We have plenty of team speed. Eight of the nine position players probably run well.”

The pitching staff is anchored by senior left-hander Brett Abell.

“Brett is one of the best in Oklahoma,” Mercer said. “He has the fastball, breaking ball and change ... all three are good pitches. The other guys behind him are decent for Class 4A and 5A.

“Brett really has been good this season,” Mercer said. “He’s 3-0 and hasn’t allowed an earned run.”

Abell, who usually plays first base when he isn’t pitching, finished 11-2 with a 1.30 earned run average in 2007. He struck out 130 in 75 2/3 innings. He also sparkled at the plate with a .441 average, 13 doubles and 37 runs batted in.

Nick Henson, a senior right-hander, and junior left-hander Grant Longcrier follow Abell.

“Actually, Grant right now is our No. 2,” Mercer said. “Nick, because of an injury, hasn’t thrown this year.”

Completing the top six hurlers — counting Henson — are junior right-hander Andrew Allen, senior left-hander Aaron Simons and senior right-hander Jake Roberts.

Usual starters in the field, with Abell on the mound, are junior catcher Nick Jones, first baseman Longcrier, junior second baseman James Pickens, junior third baseman Josh White, shortstop Henson, senior left fielder Mike Anderson, center fielder Aaron Simons and junior right fielder Jordan Simons (Aaron’s brother).