North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Baseball To Open Friday Vs. Cincinnati
2/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Wolfpack enters the 2001 campaign hoping to return to the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time in 16 years. The Pack returns eight pitchers who have thrown at least 35 innings in a season, and the offense has been bolstered by a strong recruiting class. Head coach Elliott Avent is hopeful that a more potent lineup and a deep, experienced pitching staff will enable NC State to improve on last season's disappointing 30-28 record.
"You always enter a new season with optimism, and we're definitely optimistic about this season," Avent says. "We've worked very hard to improve during the offseason. Our returning players have gotten better, and the newcomers have given us a lift. I believe we're a much better team offensively than we were last year, and I believe that our pitching will be better because they're a year older. Our pitchers have been out there before. They've just been young. Now, they're all sophomores and juniors, and it's time for them to step it up."
Sophomore righthander Daniel Caldwell (2-2, 5.79 ERA a year ago) will pitch the season opener on Friday. He will be opposed by junior lefthander Joey List (2-3, 7.35) for Cincinnati. Junior righthander Ryan Combs (5-5, 4.32) will pitch Saturday for the Wolfpack, and will be opposed by sophomore righthander B.J. Borsa (4-4, 5.75). Senior righthander Corey Mattison (2-0, 2.70) will pitch the finale on Sunday for NC State. The Bearcats' Sunday starter is undecided.
Once the starters have done their jobs, the Wolfpack has three veteran relievers in senior righthander Josh Miller (5-1, 2.35), junior righthander Mike Sollie (4-5, 3.82) and junior lefthander Kyle Stephenson (0-0, 7.11). Starting candidates Dan D'Amato (5-6, 5.19), a junior lefthander, and Derek McKee (0-1. 6.55), a sophomore righthander, also are available out of the pen for this weekend.
NC State's offense is built around All-ACC outfielder Brian Wright (.366, average, 12 home runs, 52 RBIs in 2000), a junior who should be a fixture in left field. Sophomore Mike Prochaska (.350-1-37) will probably be the everyday designated hitter and take a regular turn in the pitching rotation. Up the middle, senior Eric Mosley (.324-0-19 in just 102 at-bats) will start at second base, and sophomore Jeremy Dutton (.260-1-29) moves from third base to shortstop.
The rest of the lineup will be primarily new faces. Senior Sean Walsh, a transfer from Radford, will start at third base. Walsh batted .337 with eight home runs, 40 RBIs and 17 stolen base for the Highlanders a year ago. Freshman David Hicks and junior Matt Butler, a transfer from Louisburg (N.C.) Junior College, probably will platoon at first base.
In the outfield, Prochaska, Caldwell, junior Daniel Pruitt (Lenoir CC), freshman Joe Gaetti and junior Jamey Shearin all have played well in the preseason, with Shearin the probable starter in right field. Gaetti or Pruitt could start in center, or Wright may be asked to move over to center to allow Caldwell, Gaetti or Prochaska to get time in left field.
Behind the plate, the Wolfpack has a pair of veterans in sophomore Justin Riley, a transfer from Arkansas, and junior Sammy Esposito, plus freshman Colt Morton, a highly regarded recruit with outstanding potential.
"As the preseason has gone along, I've felt better and better about the way we've been playing," Avent says. "Now, it's time to tee it up for real and see exactly where we stand. Cincinnati will certainly let us know. They have an excellent team with a lot of experience. They think they have an NCAA regional team this year, and they're probably right."
The Bearcats finished the 2000 season at 35-25 and return 19 of 23 lettermen from that team. A quartet of veteran seniors ¯ third baseman Kevin Youkilis (.352-19-44), left fielder Matt Singer (.347-11-57), first baseman Craig Tewes (.300-7-46) and shortstop Ryan Minges (.256-11-35) ¯ anchor what should be a strong everyday lineup for Cincinnati.
