Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
2010 Wildcat Baseball Outlook
2/18/2010 1:33:59 PM | Baseball
Preseason All-Southern Conference Second Team selection Danny Weiss and sophomore Drew Gadaire, All-SoCon Freshman in 2009, must help the diamond 'Cats overcome the loss of six starters in the field, as play opens on the 2010 baseball season this weekend.
The 2009 Davidson Wildcats finished in seventh place in the Southern Conference, collecting double-digit wins in the league to earn a coveted spot in the tournament field. That team showed marked improvement from a season ago in nearly every category, but graduated seven players, including six starters.
Thus, one of the major challenges for the 2010 Wildcats will be replacing the contributions of that class, including Zach Kayne, who was drafted in the 22nd round by the Chicago White Sox, shortstop/closer Matt Webb and power hitter Chase FitzPatrick, both defensively and offensively. Conversely, Davidson returns 14 pitchers and should assume some depth heading into the season.
The Infield
One of the greatest challenges for the 2010 Wildcats will be replacing the loss of three starting infielders.
“There's a chance that second, third and shortstop could all be freshmen,”head coach Dick Cooke said. “It's automatic that two of the positions will be, so we obviously have some challenges there.”
Senior Tommy Piacenza will once again be behind the plate for the Wildcats, and with 97 career starts, will be one of the most experienced Davidson players on the field this season. Piacenza missed almost half of the season a year ago due to injury, but was ably backed up by Seth Freeman, who will fill the role once more. Juniors Will General and #J.P. Craven# are also able backup options who could also contribute in the designated hitter spot.
Junior Danny Weiss, named to the preseason All-Southern Conference Second Team, will start the season for the Wildcats at first base, after earning All-Southern Conference honors as the designated hitter a season ago. Classmate Matt Ray, sophomore Calvin Sigelbaum and senior Steve Blomberg could also see time at the position.
Sophomore James Cerbie will likely start at second base, after earning significant playing time at the position in his rookie campaign when an injury to shortstop Matt Webb shifted Zach Kayne over. Freshmen Jack McLindon and Michael Goldberg will back up Cerbie. Freshman Michael Zeblo is slated to start at shortstop for the Wildcats, with classmate Andrew Barna likely to start at third.
“I think we have a chance to be pretty good defensively,” Cooke said. “The x-factor for us is going to be experience. We're going to have freshmen and sophomores in the infield, but we're pretty solid in center field and at the catcher position so we should be OK up the middle.”
The Outfield
After starting a majority of games at first base and earning a spot on the All-Southern Conference freshman team, sophomore Drew Gadiare will start for the Wildcats in center field, replacing the speedy Brett Shore. And though the lineup is far from set, Gadaire's 11 home runs in his rookie season should assure him a spot in the middle of the batting order.
Sophomore Jake Berman will start for Davidson in left field, despite appearing in just three games last season, after having a very good fall. Junior Sam Payne, who appeared in 29 games and started 13 a season ago, will start in right field. Senior Jay Honeycutt, freshman Bryan DaCanal and freshman Coleman Barron will also get a chance in the outfield, and Freeman's defensive prowess makes him a possibility as well.
“At times, we'll certainly be weighing our defensive needs against our offensive needs,” Cooke said. “There's not a lot of 1-0 games in college baseball.”
The Pitching Staff
While the Wildcats are young in the field, they return 14 pitchers from last year's squad, so experience should not be a huge factor on the mound.
“All of those guys are back, and that's how you keep your sanity,” Cooke said. “Numbers wise we have some experience, and theoretically, some depth. We have a number of guys that we're comfortable with trying to stop somebody and enough arms that we have some options.”
Senior Thomas Middour and sophomore Chris Lamb will once again be critical pieces of the Wildcats' starting rotation, as the only Davidson players to start double-digit games in 2009. Sophomore Ryan Overcash, who made six starts in his freshman season, could also be a major factor in the 'Cats' starting rotation.
Senior Chris Kennedy and junior Mike Frongello, who set the single-season appearance record last year, will lead a bullpen that showed marked improvement from a disappointing 2008 season. Coming off a tremendous fall, Matt Sliwiak could make an impact late in tight games, and Andy Bass, Brian Russell, Michael Loeb and Ian Horkley have both the potential to fill in as spot starters and make an impact out of the bullpen. Mac Read, Mac Hunter and John Edwards are crafty lefties that could see plenty of action as well.
The Schedule
Davidson will play 13 of its first 16 games at Wilson Field, including a three-game series with Georgetown to kick off the 2010 season. After a quick trip to Durham for a game at N.C. Central, the 'Cats face Mt. Saint Mary's, Presbyterian, Bryant and UNC Asheville at home with a two-game set at Auburn in between.
Southern Conference play kicks off March 12 when the Wofford Terriers come to town, and Davidson will play all but eight of its remaining contests against league foes.
In addition to 30 regular-season SoCon games, the Wildcats will travel to South Carolina and North Carolina and play home-and-away sets with Virginia Tech and Duke.
After a year away, the Southern Conference tournament returns to Charleston May 26-30.
The 2009 Davidson Wildcats finished in seventh place in the Southern Conference, collecting double-digit wins in the league to earn a coveted spot in the tournament field. That team showed marked improvement from a season ago in nearly every category, but graduated seven players, including six starters.
Thus, one of the major challenges for the 2010 Wildcats will be replacing the contributions of that class, including Zach Kayne, who was drafted in the 22nd round by the Chicago White Sox, shortstop/closer Matt Webb and power hitter Chase FitzPatrick, both defensively and offensively. Conversely, Davidson returns 14 pitchers and should assume some depth heading into the season.
The Infield
One of the greatest challenges for the 2010 Wildcats will be replacing the loss of three starting infielders.
“There's a chance that second, third and shortstop could all be freshmen,”head coach Dick Cooke said. “It's automatic that two of the positions will be, so we obviously have some challenges there.”
Senior Tommy Piacenza will once again be behind the plate for the Wildcats, and with 97 career starts, will be one of the most experienced Davidson players on the field this season. Piacenza missed almost half of the season a year ago due to injury, but was ably backed up by Seth Freeman, who will fill the role once more. Juniors Will General and #J.P. Craven# are also able backup options who could also contribute in the designated hitter spot.
Junior Danny Weiss, named to the preseason All-Southern Conference Second Team, will start the season for the Wildcats at first base, after earning All-Southern Conference honors as the designated hitter a season ago. Classmate Matt Ray, sophomore Calvin Sigelbaum and senior Steve Blomberg could also see time at the position.
Sophomore James Cerbie will likely start at second base, after earning significant playing time at the position in his rookie campaign when an injury to shortstop Matt Webb shifted Zach Kayne over. Freshmen Jack McLindon and Michael Goldberg will back up Cerbie. Freshman Michael Zeblo is slated to start at shortstop for the Wildcats, with classmate Andrew Barna likely to start at third.
“I think we have a chance to be pretty good defensively,” Cooke said. “The x-factor for us is going to be experience. We're going to have freshmen and sophomores in the infield, but we're pretty solid in center field and at the catcher position so we should be OK up the middle.”
The Outfield
After starting a majority of games at first base and earning a spot on the All-Southern Conference freshman team, sophomore Drew Gadiare will start for the Wildcats in center field, replacing the speedy Brett Shore. And though the lineup is far from set, Gadaire's 11 home runs in his rookie season should assure him a spot in the middle of the batting order.
Sophomore Jake Berman will start for Davidson in left field, despite appearing in just three games last season, after having a very good fall. Junior Sam Payne, who appeared in 29 games and started 13 a season ago, will start in right field. Senior Jay Honeycutt, freshman Bryan DaCanal and freshman Coleman Barron will also get a chance in the outfield, and Freeman's defensive prowess makes him a possibility as well.
“At times, we'll certainly be weighing our defensive needs against our offensive needs,” Cooke said. “There's not a lot of 1-0 games in college baseball.”
The Pitching Staff
While the Wildcats are young in the field, they return 14 pitchers from last year's squad, so experience should not be a huge factor on the mound.
“All of those guys are back, and that's how you keep your sanity,” Cooke said. “Numbers wise we have some experience, and theoretically, some depth. We have a number of guys that we're comfortable with trying to stop somebody and enough arms that we have some options.”
Senior Thomas Middour and sophomore Chris Lamb will once again be critical pieces of the Wildcats' starting rotation, as the only Davidson players to start double-digit games in 2009. Sophomore Ryan Overcash, who made six starts in his freshman season, could also be a major factor in the 'Cats' starting rotation.
Senior Chris Kennedy and junior Mike Frongello, who set the single-season appearance record last year, will lead a bullpen that showed marked improvement from a disappointing 2008 season. Coming off a tremendous fall, Matt Sliwiak could make an impact late in tight games, and Andy Bass, Brian Russell, Michael Loeb and Ian Horkley have both the potential to fill in as spot starters and make an impact out of the bullpen. Mac Read, Mac Hunter and John Edwards are crafty lefties that could see plenty of action as well.
The Schedule
Davidson will play 13 of its first 16 games at Wilson Field, including a three-game series with Georgetown to kick off the 2010 season. After a quick trip to Durham for a game at N.C. Central, the 'Cats face Mt. Saint Mary's, Presbyterian, Bryant and UNC Asheville at home with a two-game set at Auburn in between.
Southern Conference play kicks off March 12 when the Wofford Terriers come to town, and Davidson will play all but eight of its remaining contests against league foes.
In addition to 30 regular-season SoCon games, the Wildcats will travel to South Carolina and North Carolina and play home-and-away sets with Virginia Tech and Duke.
After a year away, the Southern Conference tournament returns to Charleston May 26-30.
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