Baseball ready for action
By: Owen Mercer
Issue date: 2/26/10 Section: Sports
After finishing last season with a disappointing 24-31 overall record (including 10-20 in Southern Conference play), the Furman Paladin baseball squad looks to improve on that mark as they head into the 2010 season. This year's team returns 20 lettermen and adds 12 new freshmen to the squad.
After a successful spring practice season, the Paladins are ready to hit the diamond and compete.
"We were very encouraged with our squad in the fall," Head Coach Ron Smith said. "Now it's time to start putting it together. We're glad to get out on the field and get underway."
The 2010 squad will be paced by, among others, 12 returning pitchers and nine returning position players. One of the leaders of the pitching staff will be senior right-hander Ian Parry.
Parry went 3-6 last season with a 4.15 ERA and finished fourth in the Southern Conference in strikeouts with 86. Providing depth to the starting rotation will be junior Brian Dudzinski, senior Barry Benton and senior Kevin Gaid.
The Paladin bullpen is perhaps the strongest unit on the team, however. Leading the relievers will be senior closer Nick Karow, who needs just five saves to become Furman's all-time leader.
Other Paladin relievers expected to see action are junior Jay Friedman, sophomore Stephen Gary, sophomore Bobby Lyne and senior Marc DeDecker.
Apart from the pitching staff, the Paladins return nine position players from last season. Leading the Paladin offense will be junior third baseman/outfielder Brian Harrison, who led the team with 12 HR and 43 RBI while batting .303. Adding pop to the Furman lineup will be junior shortstop J.B. Jenkins, who batted .255; sophomore outfielder Will Miller, who tallied 6 HR and 27 RBI; junior DH Reese Wade, who batted .315 with 34 RBI; and junior DH Aaron Thompkins, who batted .279 with 14 RBI.
Despite high expectations heading into the season, the start has been a rough one, as the Paladins lost to Michigan State 8-6, Miami of Ohio 23-5 and Clemson 8-5.
"These early season losses hurt, but they are not going to break our morale," Jenkins said. "We have already showed our resiliency and ability to bounce back, which should allow us to become a very good baseball team."
The Paladins look to enter the win column as they travel to face Charleston Southern on Tuesday.
After a successful spring practice season, the Paladins are ready to hit the diamond and compete.
"We were very encouraged with our squad in the fall," Head Coach Ron Smith said. "Now it's time to start putting it together. We're glad to get out on the field and get underway."
The 2010 squad will be paced by, among others, 12 returning pitchers and nine returning position players. One of the leaders of the pitching staff will be senior right-hander Ian Parry.
Parry went 3-6 last season with a 4.15 ERA and finished fourth in the Southern Conference in strikeouts with 86. Providing depth to the starting rotation will be junior Brian Dudzinski, senior Barry Benton and senior Kevin Gaid.
The Paladin bullpen is perhaps the strongest unit on the team, however. Leading the relievers will be senior closer Nick Karow, who needs just five saves to become Furman's all-time leader.
Other Paladin relievers expected to see action are junior Jay Friedman, sophomore Stephen Gary, sophomore Bobby Lyne and senior Marc DeDecker.
Apart from the pitching staff, the Paladins return nine position players from last season. Leading the Paladin offense will be junior third baseman/outfielder Brian Harrison, who led the team with 12 HR and 43 RBI while batting .303. Adding pop to the Furman lineup will be junior shortstop J.B. Jenkins, who batted .255; sophomore outfielder Will Miller, who tallied 6 HR and 27 RBI; junior DH Reese Wade, who batted .315 with 34 RBI; and junior DH Aaron Thompkins, who batted .279 with 14 RBI.
Despite high expectations heading into the season, the start has been a rough one, as the Paladins lost to Michigan State 8-6, Miami of Ohio 23-5 and Clemson 8-5.
"These early season losses hurt, but they are not going to break our morale," Jenkins said. "We have already showed our resiliency and ability to bounce back, which should allow us to become a very good baseball team."
The Paladins look to enter the win column as they travel to face Charleston Southern on Tuesday.