Richey hit it on the money

A couple of weeks ago, in preparation for our yearly previews of each local college baseball team, I spoke with first-year Northwestern State shortstop Brandon Richey.

Richey, like the majority of the Demons roster, is a junior college transfer in his first season at the Division I level. One of his responses he gave in a very well-thought out, enjoyable interview, was that baseball is baseball, regardless of what level it's being played at.

So far, Richey has been right on the money. The junior shortstop, whose name came up during a brief conversation with a scouting friend of mine, is 8 for his first 20 at the D-I level and has swiped three bases in four games.

Coach Mitch Gaspard has penciled him in as his leadoff man and Richey has responded. The Demons had plenty of voids to fill after losing quite possibly their best senior class ever in terms of careers. Richey, so far, has done a nice job filling two of those -- leadoff man and shortstop.

As the season progresses -- and the weather warms -- we'll see if he can keep it up and, come June, see if any major league team notices.