Williams steals the spotlight for DCC

By Drew Wilson

Published: April 3, 2008

Whether it’s with his personality or his play, Herbie Williams gives his Danville Community College coach a reason to smile.
“He has been a great positive for me,” DCC coach John Bailey said. “I never anticipated in January that I was going to get that out of Herbie.”
What he’s gotten is a speedster who can get on base from the leadoff spot. Williams, a George Washington High School product, is hitting .440 with 29 walks. He also has 38 steals — already a school record — in 33 games and DCC (19-14, 4-2 VCCS) has more than 20 left to play.
“Herbie has absolutely turned (180) degrees from when I saw him play his senior year in high school at GW and what he did for me last year at DCC,” Bailey said. “That kid has really, really improved and worked his butt off. I moved him to that leadoff spot and he has single-handedly won me a handful of those 19 games based on his speed.”
Against Greensboro College’s junior varsity squad on Wednesday, Williams had five stolen bases during the doubleheader.
“They pitched out twice trying to get him and weren’t even close,” Bailey said.
Williams said the difference between this year and last year is that he’s a smarter baserunner. It’s one of the many areas he worked on over the winter.
“In the offseason, I spent a lot of time hitting at a batting cage and working on my defense and my jumps on the basepath,” Williams said.
Williams is one of the bright spots for DCC this season. The Knights’ success has come as somewhat of a surprise, considering the circumstances.
“We’re doing the best we can,” Bailey said. “My problem is numbers.”
DCC had 19 players in the fall, but six were academically ineligible by the start of the season. Bailey took in two walk-ons, but lost two more players who were unhappy with playing time. Now he’s down to 12 because starting pitcher Tyler Clark is out with tendonitis in his right shoulder. It’s caused Bailey to be creative while juggling his lineups, especially since most dates with opponents are doubleheaders.
“Right now we’re in a position where everybody on my team pitching-wise has to play a position,” he said. “And if you go out there and play a position like shortstop in the first game of a doubleheader and then have to go to the mound and pitch the second game, you’re not 100 percent fresh. And it’s telling, too.”
There have been plenty of mental mistakes made, but Bailey has learned to shake them off.
“I’m just tickled to death with what the guys that I do have have done,” he said. “To be 19-14 with the injuries we’ve had and academic losses that we’ve had, I’m ecstatic and overwhelmed that we’re doing that well.”
DCC is coming off back-to-back VCCS state championships. The Knights went 33-11 in 2006 and 39-13 last season. But this year’s roster lacks the depth and offensive power that those teams possessed. And the only two returning everyday starters are shortstop Chris Martin and center fielder Wesley Francis.
“Last year our offense was really explosive,” Williams said. “Our offense this year is not where it needs to be.”
Through 33 games of their 57-game schedule, the Knights are hitting .290 as a team and have a staff earned run average of 6.39.
DCC has an important stretch of games on the horizon. On Saturday, the Knights play Rappahannock Community College in a doubleheader and face New River Community College on Sunday, weather permitting. Then they play front-runner Patrick Henry Community College on Wednesday.
“The next few games are really important to us,” Williams said. “We’ve got Rappahannock on Saturday. We need to win those two games so we can get a good spot in our conference tournament.”
And Bailey expects Williams to continue to be a crucial part of their success if the Knights wish to fare well in the conference tournament, which is held at Dan Daniel Park this year.
“He now knows that he’s a vital part of this team and he recognizes it and has taken it on his shoulders and accepted some responsibility,” Bailey said. “That’s made him a better person for it.”
That’s definitely enough to make Bailey smile.