2008 Woodie Awards
Pitching to lead baseball team this season
Pat Pickens
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
So we've passed the Pro Bowl, both NBA and NHL all-star games are over, and the meat of the college basketball season is behind us. That only means the four greatest words in the English language hold true right now.
Spring Training is here.
And at Sacred Heart, it is no exception. The defending Northeast Conference champions have begun practice and make their season debut Saturday in Norfolk versus Norfolk St.
It's been a long time since the Pioneer baseball team ended their season after losing in the NCAA Regionals in Athens, Ga. to Jacksonville, and there are many bright spots and fresh faces to look towards this coming season.
The Pioneers return 16 players to their roster. This includes reigning Northeast Conference tournament MVP, Bobby McKee, the winning pitcher in the Northeast Conference tournament clincher, Chris Howard, and stud pitcher Jay Monti.
SHU will also welcome back junior shortstop Ryan Nemcek. Nemcek had a hellacious 2006, and had bouts with eligibility and a torn labrum.
Nemcek batted .302 in 47 games in 2005. He also led the team with 60 total bases as was pesky as a leadoff hitter.
But despite the familiarity, the Pioneers will be reliant on some young talent, and will have a new look in the 2007 season.
Sacred Heart will enjoy junior Jovan Rodriguez into the outfield, along with Justin Mulrain. Rodriguez played a season ago at Monroe College where he was a two-time all-region outfielder. Rodriguez batted .429 a season ago at Monroe, had 11 doubles, and 20 RBI.
Mulrain is just a freshman from Ontario, but his speed and prowess at the top of the lineup have the hierarchy of Sacred Heart baseball drooling in anticipation.
Catcher will also be an interesting spot to watch, with incumbent Jamie Morales still on the squad, but SHU also has brought in Frank Bainer, from St. Thomas Aquinas College to the roster, to help anchor an already stellar pitching staff.
Besides Monti and Howard the Pioneers return pitcher/first baseman Jeff Hanson, who also led the team in homeruns with five, and also had three wins pitching a season ago, and setup man George Lamar, who led the team in appearances with 24 a season ago.
Throw in freshmen Jared Balbach and Eric Romanchuk and Sacred Heart has a pitching staff worthy of repeating.
Add to the equation new pitching coach, Wayne Mazzoni and the Pioneer pitching staff will be formidable.
Having depth in pitching is essential this season especially because the format of series has changed.
Because St Francis of N.Y. dropped baseball, there are just eight teams in the Northeast Conference. Each conference series is now four games instead of the three games like last year.
Depth in pitching will have to carry the Pioneers, especially with perennial threats Quinnipiac, Monmouth, and Central Connecticut St. lurking with the potential to throw the Pioneers off the throne as Northeast Conference champions.
The Pioneers start with Norfolk St. and then play eight games in Florida in Clearwater.
The season is here and hope springs eternal.
Spring Training is here.
And at Sacred Heart, it is no exception. The defending Northeast Conference champions have begun practice and make their season debut Saturday in Norfolk versus Norfolk St.
It's been a long time since the Pioneer baseball team ended their season after losing in the NCAA Regionals in Athens, Ga. to Jacksonville, and there are many bright spots and fresh faces to look towards this coming season.
The Pioneers return 16 players to their roster. This includes reigning Northeast Conference tournament MVP, Bobby McKee, the winning pitcher in the Northeast Conference tournament clincher, Chris Howard, and stud pitcher Jay Monti.
SHU will also welcome back junior shortstop Ryan Nemcek. Nemcek had a hellacious 2006, and had bouts with eligibility and a torn labrum.
Nemcek batted .302 in 47 games in 2005. He also led the team with 60 total bases as was pesky as a leadoff hitter.
But despite the familiarity, the Pioneers will be reliant on some young talent, and will have a new look in the 2007 season.
Sacred Heart will enjoy junior Jovan Rodriguez into the outfield, along with Justin Mulrain. Rodriguez played a season ago at Monroe College where he was a two-time all-region outfielder. Rodriguez batted .429 a season ago at Monroe, had 11 doubles, and 20 RBI.
Mulrain is just a freshman from Ontario, but his speed and prowess at the top of the lineup have the hierarchy of Sacred Heart baseball drooling in anticipation.
Catcher will also be an interesting spot to watch, with incumbent Jamie Morales still on the squad, but SHU also has brought in Frank Bainer, from St. Thomas Aquinas College to the roster, to help anchor an already stellar pitching staff.
Besides Monti and Howard the Pioneers return pitcher/first baseman Jeff Hanson, who also led the team in homeruns with five, and also had three wins pitching a season ago, and setup man George Lamar, who led the team in appearances with 24 a season ago.
Throw in freshmen Jared Balbach and Eric Romanchuk and Sacred Heart has a pitching staff worthy of repeating.
Add to the equation new pitching coach, Wayne Mazzoni and the Pioneer pitching staff will be formidable.
Having depth in pitching is essential this season especially because the format of series has changed.
Because St Francis of N.Y. dropped baseball, there are just eight teams in the Northeast Conference. Each conference series is now four games instead of the three games like last year.
Depth in pitching will have to carry the Pioneers, especially with perennial threats Quinnipiac, Monmouth, and Central Connecticut St. lurking with the potential to throw the Pioneers off the throne as Northeast Conference champions.
The Pioneers start with Norfolk St. and then play eight games in Florida in Clearwater.
The season is here and hope springs eternal.
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