‘Cats look to regain their bite

New Head Coach Chris Calciano and pitching duo of Matt Goyen and Brandon Durden give the Georgia College & State University baseball program high hopes of being national contenders this upcoming season.

“The toughest challenge this season is to just win ball games day to day,” senior Johnny Caruso said. “It is hit or miss.”

The team’s goals this year are to be competitive within the Peach Belt Conference and to return to the College World Series for the first time since 2002. Last season, the Bobcats finished the season with a record of 32-22 (13-14 Peach Belt Conference). This season, the team is picked to finish fifth out of twelve teams in the PBC.

“This team is unified and headed in the right direction. The guys have come together and reestablished national competitiveness,” Head Coach Chris Calciano said.

The strongest asset of the team is its pitching. Goyen and Durden lead the pack. Last season, Goyen went 4-1 with a 2.41 ERA in 67.3 innings and had 76 strikeouts while Durden went 7-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 94.2 innings. Durden led the team with three complete games, three shutouts, a team high 15 starts and was an All-Peach Belt Conference selection. Goyen was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last fall but decided to remain with GC&SU.

“Our greatest strength is our pitching. I look forward to starting the season and seeing how we do,” junior Jimmy Finley said.

The bullpen is also loaded with talent. Senior lefty Travis Spell and juniors Christian Castorri and Matt Marchant provide the Bobcats with outstanding relief pitching. Spell went 5-4 with a 3.72 ERA as a junior. He also tied for the team lead with three saves in 2004. Castorri and Marchant, both transfers to GC&SU from junior colleges, provide the Bobcats with quality right-handed pitching.

“The pitching is solid and has strong depth. The pitchers are wise. They are capable of beating any team in the country,” Calciano said.

The team’s defense also is something to talk about. The infield is especially strong. Caruso is experienced and can control the opponents run game from behind the plate. At first base, Kyle Schisler and newcomer Ron Burkey are competing for the starting position. Both play hard and make significant offensive contributions. Junior Mike DeVeaux moves from second base to shortstop and teams up with sophomore Hans Stancil to make up one of the top double play combos in the nation.

At third base, senior Greg Serafin covers the position well and has improved offensively this season. The outfield has every gap filled with Chris Burrill in left field, Nick Trainer in center, and Giuseppe Rivas in right field.

“The team defense is clean and fundamentally sound,” Calciano said.

The offense is well balanced and will be expected to shine this spring. Names to watch include catcher Johnny Caruso, Nick Trainer, and Mike DeVeaux. Caruso batted .296 with 33 RBI and 38 runs scored last season, DeVeaux hit .350 with five home runs and 24 RBI, and Trainor hit .262 with six homers and 33 RBI last season.

One improvement that needs to be made is the development of younger players so that they can establish more depth in position play.

“We need players pushing each other and backing each other up,” Calciano said.

The team has been preparing and conditioning this winter. The team prepares by doing everything that will happen during a game. The team creates a pressured environment through inter-squad play. These simulated games put pressure on the defense and toughens them physically and mentally.

“I am comfortable with the team’s endurance. We are in the weight room 4 days a week strengthening our agility,” Calciano said. “I am impressed with the community’s enthusiasm. It is a very good athletic scene.”

The first game is scheduled for Feb. 5 in Tampa, Fla. against the University of Tampa. The Bobcats’ first home game is Feb. 12 against Francis Marion University.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 4 2005. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry