Can't
get to the game? Don't worry, we've got ya covered.
Tiger baseball opens season Saturday
2/12/2010
By RANDY GONZALES
rgonzales@dailynews.net
Last year, the Fort Hays State University baseball team started out the season with a six-game road trip to Alabama and Texas.
The Tigers went 0-6.
This year, Fort Hays hopes to have better luck at home. The Tigers open the season with a 17-game homestead -- weather permitting. Fort Hays will play 1 p.m. doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday at Larks Park against Arkansas-Fort Smith.
"We had a lot of new guys, thought we would change it up," Fort Hays coach Rick Sabath said. "Instead of a 15-hour road trip, switch it up.
"I'm excited to be at home," Sabath added.
The Tigers return four position players who saw extended playing time last year, when Fort Hays went 30-26 overall and 20-20 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Last year, the Tigers were 24-8 at home and 6-18 away from Larks Park.
"You like to have as many home games as possible," said Sabath, who has 32 of the 56 regular-season games on the schedule this year at Larks Park. "Looking forward to a long homestead."
Sabath will go with junior right-hander Andy Lewton -- a former standout at Hays High School -- in Saturday's opener. Lewton has battled arm trouble in recent seasons, but is finally healthy.
"Lewton is as healthy as he has been the last couple years, consistently 87, 89 (miles per hour)," Sabath said. "When healthy, he's been effective on all levels."
In Game 2 Saturday, Sabath's probable starter is senior left-hander Sean Bartholomew, who was 3-1 with a 6.03 earned-run average in 11 appearances last season, including five starts.
On Sunday, the Game 1 probable starter is freshman right-hander Chase Newman, while senior left-hander Matt Augustine will go in the second game. Augustine finished 4-5 with a 5.32 ERA in 15 games last year, with 13 starts.
The Tigers return two senior right-handers who could serve as closers in Mat Atkinson and Garrett Morgan. Atkinson was 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA and nine saves in 2009, while Morgan was 3-3 with a 4.40 ERA and four saves.
Sabath said with four-game series almost every weekend, both pitchers will likely get a chance to close games, but Atkinson will start out the season in that role, while Morgan will be the setup man. Senior right-hander Taylor Hall also returns in the bullpen.
"When you play four games, there are going to be situations ... (where) having two closers is a real plus," Sabath said.
The key will be the starters getting to the closers.
"Pitching, we're returning a lot of quality-inning guys," Sabath said. "That's exciting."
With a lineup dotted with newcomers, Sabath is counting on solid pitching early in the season.
"We're young, position-wise," Sabath said. "Returners on the mound. Open the season at home, need pitchers to carry us."
The Tigers do return senior catcher Ryan Majercik, who batted .305 with one homer and 14 RBIs last season.
"He's like a coach on the field," Sabath said.
The Tigers also brought in a transfer to work behind the plate, junior Sloan Soulia, and signed former Hays High catcher Jay Sanders. Sabath said he plans to play Sanders this spring.
"We're going to work him into the equation, somehow," Sabath said.
Junior Kyle Stacken, a left-handed hitter who led the Tigers with a .398 batting average last season, with four homers and 23 RBIs, will be at first base after serving primarily as the designated hitter in 2009. When Stacken is at DH this spring, junior newcomer Ben Briesacher will play first base.
Two more newcomers-- sophomore Jacob Lopez and freshman Chris Santoscoy -- will battle for playing time at second base.
Sabath said he had multiple options at third base, but one of them, junior returner Chase Schippers, might not be ready for the opener. Schippers, a Thomas More Prep-Marian graduate, played both infield and outfield last season, batting .291 with three homers and 19 RBIs. But he tweaked his triceps muscle in his arm during practice this week, and Sabath listed him as day-to-day. If Schippers can't go, Sabath could move Santoscoy to third and start Lopez at second.
At shortstop will be freshman Kelton Rule, another former Hays High standout.
"No. 1 priority for Kelton, just want him to play good defense, try not to do too much," Sabath said. "Stay even-keeled as a freshman.
"He's a great athlete ... my expectation is he will have a great career at Fort Hays," Sabath added.
In the outfield, Sabath could start junior Clint Bieberle in left, with junior switch-hitter Jordan Payne in center. Sophomore returner Nash Smith, who batted .261 with six homers and 23 RBIs last year for the Tigers, will be in right.
Also in the mix in the outfield will be freshman Conner Martin and senior Brennan Peterson.
Last year's club relied on power, hitting 69 home runs in 56 games. That is expected to change this season, Sabath said.
"We have guys that are kind of athletic, can steal bases," Sabath said. "Last two years have been three-run homers, Boston Red Sox team. This year, it's small ball.
"I thought we needed to get more athletic, improve overall team speed," Sabath added.
Sabath said the Tigers' newcomers will contribute -- and not just this season.
"I'm pleased with our overall talent level," he said. "Not just this year, but the next couple years."
But Sabath said it could take time for the newcomers to mesh with the returning players.
"I'm thinking right now we're a team that's a work in progress," Sabath said. "We'll get better as we go along."
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |