The defending postseason champion has had a difficult time surviving the first half of the 2012 campaign.
Fulton is off to 5-11 start to the Ohio Valley League collegiate wood bat season, currently 61⁄2 games behind Hopkinsville in the standings.
The Railroaders will try to cut into that gap — and end a four-game losing streak — tonight by hosting the Hoppers at Lohaus Field, game time set for 7:05.
Fulton, which opened the season with four straight losses, came into the season fresh off the postseason championship in the inaugural season of the Ohio Valley League. The Railroaders finished second to Owensboro in the regular season.
This season, the team is coached by former UT Martin player and Florida prep baseball coach Albert Destrade.
The nephew of former Major Leaguer Orestes Destrade, he is probably best known for finishing as second runner-up on the CBS reality show Survivor: South Pacific, which aired in the fall of 2011.
Destrade transferred to UTM for his senior year from Lynn College, appearing in 29 games for the Skyhawks..
Fulton’s roster includes four players from Murray State University and two other players from nearby high schools. Joe Mike, currently at Freed Hardeman, prepped at Graves County, while Roman Kelly played at Murray. Kelly, who plays collegiately at Southeastern Illinois, is the son of Lee Ann (Babb) Kelly, a Union City High School graduate.

Published in The Messenger 6.22.12