By REED DESALVO

The Natchez Democrat

vidalia — Vidalia High School pitchers Cole Cangemi and Chandler Grayson tossed a baseball back and forth at Wednesday’s practice, but with a twist.

In an effort to improve their accuracy, the two right-handed hurlers took aim at each other’s body parts, with a point designated as to where their partner catches each throw.

“You get one point for hitting someone in the chest, and two points for a head shot,” Cangemi explained.

The first one to 10 wins.

“It’s just something we do to keep us entertained,” Cangemi said.

The Vikings are currently restricted to long-toss throwing and conditioning workouts, per LHSAA rules.

Grayson was quick to note, however, just how important days like Wednesday’s practice are to the team’s potential success.

“We do a lot of running to get in shape,” Grayson said. “We’re going to do a lot of good things if we keep working hard.”

Grayson and Cangemi are one of six returning seniors off last year’s 15-7 squad, which finished third in District 3-3A.

“We’re looking for some leadership from those guys,” Vidalia baseball coach Kale Davis said.

Davis said he expects his squad to be led by its strong pitching, which is highlighted by Grayson and Cangemi, who combined for a 7-3 mark in 2015, along with senior Jacob Wilson.

“We’re looking for those guys to lead and get us through the early part of the season,” Davis said. “When district rolls around, hopefully we’ll be in good shape to make a run at (the) district (title) this year.”

Despite not recording a single home run last year, Vidalia still managed to score over seven runs per game due in large part to a team .462 on-base percentage and 41 stolen bases.

Grayson said he expects more of the same this year, and then some.

“We’re a quicker team this year,” he said. “Maybe not faster throughout our lineup, but we have some (pinch runners) we can put in there, and we’re faster (as a team) than we were last year.”

Cangemi said he feels his squad has the potential to be the top team in the district so long as the Vikings remain focused on the task at hand.

“We have to be there mentally,” he said. “If you don’t have that, then you’re really nothing. You’re only as good as your weakest player, and if we aren’t all on the same page, then we’re not anything.”

Vidalia will start its 2016 campaign Feb. 20 at the Block High School jamboree.

“We’re looking for some underclassmen to step up and fill in some positions that were left open,” Davis said. “But if they can do that and come through, then I think we’re going to be OK.”