2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball hungry for return to play
By Greg Reedy
Rocket Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 3/4/05 Section: Sports
Last season, the playoffs eluded the Slippery Rock baseball team even though they notched 30 wins. This season, the Rock wants back in the playoff picture.
"We are very anxious to get started," coach Jeff Messer said. "We still have a bit of a bad taste in our mouth."
In 2004, the Rock finished with an overall record of 30-21, 18 wins fewer than the 2003 mark when the team went 48-13. That season, the team was the PSAC West champion and NCAA North Regional champion, and also participated in the 2003 Division II World Series. Messer said not making the playoffs has made this team want it that much more.
"Kids come into SRU passing up Division I scholarships to play for a chance at a championship," Messer said. "(2004) makes everybody that much hungrier."
The Rock's most experience will come from the pitching staff with senior starting pitchers: Rocky D'Angelo, John Katich, Nick Armstrong and Jeremy Becker. Messer said pitching will be one of the strengths this season.
"We're not going to win as many games if we don't have
good pitching," Messer said.
Messer said the infield will be stronger defensively this season with some players making position changes. Chase Rowe, who played third base one year ago, will now play second base, while Phil Butch will play shortstop, which Messer said is Butch's natural position. At the corners, Billy Wolfe will split time between first base and the designated hitter role, while at third base look for Todd Schickling, a transfer from Allegheny (Md.) College to take over there.
At catcher, Brad Wilson will assume the duties for his first full season from behind the plate. Wilson was previously the backup to Joe Pascarella, who graduated after last season.
In the outfield, Messer said Matt Kozusko will be the mainstay in the outfield but worries about the inexperience overall.
"If there's one area I'm worried about it's our inexperience in the outfield," he said.
"We are very anxious to get started," coach Jeff Messer said. "We still have a bit of a bad taste in our mouth."
In 2004, the Rock finished with an overall record of 30-21, 18 wins fewer than the 2003 mark when the team went 48-13. That season, the team was the PSAC West champion and NCAA North Regional champion, and also participated in the 2003 Division II World Series. Messer said not making the playoffs has made this team want it that much more.
"Kids come into SRU passing up Division I scholarships to play for a chance at a championship," Messer said. "(2004) makes everybody that much hungrier."
The Rock's most experience will come from the pitching staff with senior starting pitchers: Rocky D'Angelo, John Katich, Nick Armstrong and Jeremy Becker. Messer said pitching will be one of the strengths this season.
"We're not going to win as many games if we don't have
good pitching," Messer said.
Messer said the infield will be stronger defensively this season with some players making position changes. Chase Rowe, who played third base one year ago, will now play second base, while Phil Butch will play shortstop, which Messer said is Butch's natural position. At the corners, Billy Wolfe will split time between first base and the designated hitter role, while at third base look for Todd Schickling, a transfer from Allegheny (Md.) College to take over there.
At catcher, Brad Wilson will assume the duties for his first full season from behind the plate. Wilson was previously the backup to Joe Pascarella, who graduated after last season.
In the outfield, Messer said Matt Kozusko will be the mainstay in the outfield but worries about the inexperience overall.
"If there's one area I'm worried about it's our inexperience in the outfield," he said.
