By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
March 8, 2004
STARKVILLE Former Meridian Community College standouts Todd Doolittle and Tyler Scarbrough are adjusting to new roles on Mississippi State University's baseball team this season.
Doolittle, a right-handed pitcher, has been moved into the Bulldogs' bullpen. He was Meridian Community College's No. 1 starter the last two seasons.
Scarbrough, who joined MSU last season, has been relocated from his spot at second base to the corners of the infield. The former Meridian High School standout has been tabbed to play third base and first base for the Bulldogs.
Doolittle, who transferred to MSU this season, made his first appearance in a Bulldog uniform on March 2 against Jackson State University. The 5-foot-9 pitcher made a strong showing in his one inning of work against the Tigers.
Doolittle, who appeared in the sixth inning, struck out the first two batters he face and induced a flyout to center field to retire Jackson State's batters in order. The former Eagle needed just three pitches to strike out the second batter he faced.
Doolittle closed out the Bulldogs' 8-0 win over Tennessee Tech on Saturday, striking out one batter in the ninth inning.
Doolittle said the smoothness of his relocation to a reliever role is in large part due to the attention each pitcher on MSU's staff receives from the coaches.
For Scarbrough, the new role on the team has led to learning a new way of doing things on the infield.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder said taking on the first base role can be harder than it looks.
While he may have to learn some new techniques at first base, Scarbrough said there is an advantage to moving to the right corner of the infield hitting.
The two former Eagles may becoming to terms with plenty of new things on the diamond, but they are also finding the more things change, the more they stay same.
Scarbrough and Doolittle were teammates on the 2002 Eagles baseball team.
And both are happy to share the field with each other one more time.