NATCHEZ &045; It’s a simple philosophy, really.

And take it from a man who has been in the business for a while after excelling on the mound in high school and college &045; it’s Gill Morris’ pointers for pitchers, and it’s really about as simple as a 2-0 fastball.

Stay in front, move the ball and change speeds.

You do that, and you’ve got a chance to control a ball game from the mound. It’s been the philosophy Morris has handed down to his top two pitchers &045; seniors Douglas

Davis and Glenn Williams &045; as the two make one heck of a one-two punch for the Adams Christian Rebels heading into this week’s series with defending state champion Hillcrest Christian.

And doing so involves throwing a myriad of pitches to put more and more doubts in a batter’s head. And, as Morris notes, a good way to do that is by dropping down every now and then and throwing sidearm &045; something Davis and Williams have added to their repertoire.

&uot;It’s been a good one for both of them, and it’s not hard to throw,&uot; Morris said. &uot;The kids like that pitch. It’s one of the things that got me through college. It can be a tough pitch. You’ve got to be in front, and then you can work your spots, keep them off balance and keep hitters guessing. The sidearm pitch we put in, I have all my pitchers throw it. Glenn has thrown it since he was 8 years old, but Douglas has worked hard on that pitch.&uot;

It’s helped both gain an extra edge on the mound, and the two have really emerged as key starters for a team that may slowly be working itself into playoff contention in the ultra-tough District 2-AAA. Both will play at the next level after this spring &045; Davis at Meridian Community College and Williams likely at Co-Lin &045; but it’s been perhaps Davis who has quietly emerged into a mainstay in the rotation.

The tall right-hander will get the start against Hillcrest tonight in Game 1. Both teams will play a doubleheader in Natchez on Friday, and Williams will likely start Game 2 with sophomore Timmy Foster starting Game 3.

&uot;He looks like he’s got a lot more confidence,&uot; Williams said. &uot;He knows he can get people out now. At the State Games he hit 88, and that was huge. I think signing with Meridian gave him a lot of confidence. He’s got that pitcher’s frame, and that’s what every college wants. They know he can throw 92 or 93 with a good weight program.&uot;

It’s the sidearm and changeup that are starting to work for Davis. He was impressive last week in a win over Parklane in the first game of that series, relying on that changeup along with the occasional sidearm thrown in.

&uot;Every once in a while we go changeup, and the changeup is working real good right now,&uot; Davis said. &uot;I’ve been working sidearm a lot. It tails back into a right-handed hitter. I throw it 20-25 times a game, and I threw it 10-15 times a game last year.&uot;

Both pitches have helped him stay ahead in the count on batters, something Morris said is his biggest key to success. Davis has always thrown the overhand fastball well &045; he hit 89 one game &045; and that leaves the changeup and sidearm pitch that much more tough to hit.

&uot;He worked hard in the weight room in the fall and has a stronger upper body,&uot; Morris said. &uot;He has the ability to throw the fastball by any batter. He’s always had a good overhand fastball since he pitched in the youth leagues. I’m also proud of his changeup. He threw a real good changeup against Parklane. We don’t throw changeups very often.&uot;

Then it’s Williams, the hard-throwing left-hander who has thrown the sidearm pitch for years but is just starting to get the curveball down. Williams, too, spent time in the weight room to build his upper body strength and has hit the mid-80s with the heater this year.

Williams said he’s gone 84 with the sidearm pitch and 87 overhand. Now it’s been the curveball to get down to add to the fastball and sidearm pitch.

&uot;I wasn’t lifting my arm up when my foot came down,&uot; Williams said. &uot;The last couple of games I’ve been doing it, and it’s been a lot better. I feel a lot more comfortable with it. I’ve been throwing a split-finger this season. He doesn’t call it a lot. All of my other pitches have worked so well.&uot;

Said Morris: &uot;Glenn is a real competitor. We’ve really worked hard on his curveball, and it’s really come a long way in the last two weeks. It’s real simple things &045; he just wasn’t getting his arm up in the ‘L’ position when he would snap down. He’s had a good curveball two games in a row.&uot;

The two along with Foster could be a key for AC this week in the crucial series against the Cougars. While the Cougars aren’t the team they were last year &045; they were ranked nationally at one point and took all three from AC &045; they remain ranked in the top 10 in MPSA and will be a formidable opponent.

The team has a new coach as Paul Wyczawski left to become pitching coach at Murray State.

&uot;I don’t think Hillcrest has seen the kind the kind of pitching we’ll throw at them,&uot; Morris said. &uot;We’ll show them different speeds and different pitches. I don’t think they hit the ball 1 through 9 like they did last year, but they’re still an above-average baseball team because of their pitching. We’re looking forward to the challenge.&uot;