2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball ready for '06 season
By Travis Pickens
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: Sports Extra
|
SRU swept Salem International University, while getting acquainted with a new-look outfield in the process. The Rock won game one, 9-4, in eight innings, and closed the Tigers out, 4-0, for the sweep.
Three players are vying for two starting spots. Tyler Wilson, Don Ehrenberg and Steve Shaffer are competing for the left and right field positions and saw playing time on Friday. Former leftfielder J.D. Lowry is now at center.
"We saw some things from our new guys," coach Jeff Messer said. "It helped us to get the nervousness out of the way for the new guys."
Third baseman Todd Schickling led SRU (2-0), going 4-for-8 from the plate with a run and an RBI for the day.
"We sucked it up," Schickling said of the team's extra-inning win. "We came back and proved we can work out of a tough situation."
Catcher Brad Wilson said Salem International (0-6) isn't as bad as its record indicates.
"They weren't terrible," Wilson said.
But Wilson said the team wouldn't stack up as well if it was part of the PSAC.
"If they were in the PSAC, I don't think they would do too well," he said.
For the Tigers, that statement is not disrespectful. Last season the PSAC Western Division saw a four-way tie for the championship. Clarion, California, Shippensburg and SRU all finished 12-8. That was a disappointment for the Rock, which started the season 22-2. SRU went 9-11 down the stretch, missed the conference tournament, but got a bid to regionals. The Rock was eliminated after two losses.
"We just need to keep our focus," Wilson said. "(Last year) we had a handful of pitchers get injured, too. But we just need to stay focused."
Messer said a big problem last season was injuries. SRU lost pitchers Derek Blyzwick, John Katich and Jeremy Becker early in the season. Combined, the pitchers started only 10 games.
"That's not the sole reason we got beat," Messer said. "But it didn't help."
With Katich and Blyzwick back from injury, Messer said this year's pitching staff could turn some heads.
"This could be as good of a pitching staff as we've ever had," Messer said.
Joining Katich and Blyzwick as starters will be Colin Scott, Troy Wilson, Dan Herisko and Shaun Valenly.
