Baseball Black/Gold Game Set For Sunday
10/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Baseball Black/Gold Game Set For Sunday
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss Head Baseball Coach Corky Palmer is happy with his team's progress this fall as the defending Conference USA head into the Black-Gold Game Sunday at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field at 1:30 p.m.
The hitting and pitching continue to improve, and the defense has been steady, "The player's effort and concentration, especially the last couple of weeks, have been outstanding" Palmer said. "Everyone has worked hard this fall, improving their skills. It's been exciting to see how much improvement has been made over the fall season. I'm looking forward to the spring season starting." Palmer, the 2003 Keith LeClair Conference USA Coach of the Year said that senior outfielder Ryan Frith has shown vast improvement and should come on and be a big help in the lineup, showing signs of hitting both for power and average during the fall. Frith hit four home runs and batted over .500 during the team's fall intrasquad games. Palmer also said junior third baseman Beau Griffin has been steadily improving his hitting, showing the ability to hit with more strength and the ability to find the gaps. His defense has also been steady, which is what fans have found to be consistent with him. The pitching staff has shown improvement during the fall. Palmer said junior Cliff Russum has had a good fall and that Daniel Best, Patrick Ezell, Noah Tritz and Josh Grant will compete for the No. 3 weekend and the mid-week starter positions. Palmer also said that pitcher Anthony DeWitt has worked twice in the bullpen without feeling any pain and is progressing according to plan. Austin Tubb has been throwing as well and has been doing well. Southern Miss returns 17 letterwinners and two redshirts, including six starting position players, two starting pitchers, and five bullpen pitchers from last year?s squad that finished 47-16 overall and won the Conference USA regular season and tournament championships. Southern Miss hosted the Hattiesburg Regional, finishing as the runner-up. The Golden Eagles set a record for the most wins in a season and the most wins in conference action as well. The Golden Eagles open their Conference USA title defense on Friday, Feb. 20 at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field against Northwestern State, La., at 3 p.m.