Mississippian to assist Medley in 2010

David "Davo" Gilbert will join Manager Kyle Medley in the clubhouse as a first-year coach for the Bobcats. The two have a history together, both having played at Belhaven University in Gilbert's native Mississippi.

Gilbert will be only 26 when the 2011 season starts, but he already has a few years of coaching under his belt. He is in his second year as an assistant coach at Brookhaven Academy in Mississippi, coming off a state championship in 2010. Prior to that, he served as first base coach for two years at his colloge alma mater.

As a player, Gilbert has played for two independent league franchises—the Macon (Ga.) Music and Texas Heat in Dallas. He has also had three workout invitations from the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Fla. and Atlantic City, N.J.

With the Bobcats in 2011, he will serve primarily as a hitting coach.

Honors collected by Bobcats' 2011 coaching staff

Manager Kyle Medley

• All 19th District, 2005
• American Legion (Post 87) baseball Kentucky state champion, 2007 
• Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Relief Pitcher of the Year, 2008
• Fifth in NAIA Division I saves, 2008
• KIT League All-Star for Marion Bobcats, 2008
• Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Relief Pitcher of the Year, 2009
• Fourth in NAIA Division I saves, 2009
• NAIA All-American relief pitcher, 2009
• All-time leader in Career saves at Belhaven College/University, 23
• All-time leader in career and season saves for Marion Bobcats, 8
• Second in single Season saves at Belhaven College/University, 13

Career statistics

• 2008 Marion Bobcats
• Belhaven College/University
• Shreveport-Bossier (La.) Captains

Assistant Coach David Gilbert 

• Two-time All-District (Lawrence County High School, Miss.), 2002, 2003
• Two time All-Area (Lawrence County High School), 2002, 2003
• Player of the Year (Lawrence County High School), 2003
• Two-time Defensive Player of the Year (Lawrence County High School), 2002, 2003
• Tied Mississippi fielding percentage record (1.000) (Lawrence County High School), 2002 
• Two-time All-Conference (Belhaven University), 2006, 2007
• All-Conference Gold Glove (Belhaven University), 2007 
• All-Region Gold Glove (Belhaven University), 2007 
• Rated a Top 12 shortstops of NAIA baseball (Belhaven University), 2007 

Belhaven career records and rank 

• First in runs scored, 185
• First in triples, 13
• First in walks, 99
• Second in hits, 231
• Second in doubles, 56
• Second in at-bats, 775 
• Third in stolen bases, 66

Belhaven single-season record and rank

• Second in triples, 7
• Fourth in stolen bases, 25
• Sixth in doubles, 20
• Seventh in hits, 75

16 players commit to 2011 season

Under the Bobcats' Christmas tree this year will be 16 players who have committed to the team for the coming season. Though the first pitch of the 2011 season is still six months away, the roster is two-thirds complete. There are still many holes to fill, but Manager Kyle Medley said more players will be signed in the coming weeks.
The players who have committed represent nine schools in five states—Illinois, Tennessee, Kansas, Mississippi and Alabama. Thus far, no players from last season's Bobcats squad have committed to return.

Guess to head Ohio Valley League

Guess

Gordon Guess of Marion has been selected as president of the newly formed Ohio Valley Summer Collegiate Baseball League.

The league was formed by former members of the KIT League. Guess is also general manager of the Marion Bobcats which was formerly affiliated with the KIT League, but will begin competing in the new Ohio Valley League in 2011.

The Fulton Railroaders, Owensboro Oilers and Tradewater Pirates have also joined the new league. Guess said another team may eventually join the circuit. The Bobcats had participated in the KIT League for the first three years of the club's existence.

All four charter members will be represented in management of the league:

• Gordon Guess, Marion.............................President
• Charlie Pierce, Owensboro......................Vice president
• Mike Smith, Fulton..................................Treasurer
• Dwight Seymour, Tradewater..................Secretary