Palmer Pleased With Start of Fall Baseball Practice
10/9/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Palmer Pleased With Start of Fall Baseball Practice
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -
The Southern Miss baseball team, defending Conference USA regular-season and tournament champions, is in its second week of fall practice, and Head Coach Corky Palmer is pleased with the progress the team has made at this point.
"The veteran players worked hard this past summer and came back better players than they were when they left," Palmer, the Keith LeClair Conference USA Coach of the Year said. "It?s good as a coach to see that your veteran players are staying hungry and working hard in the summer to get better as individual players.
"The entire infield, Jason Lowery and Cliff Russum, some of our returning starters from last season, have come back and are doing well. Marc Maddox, Matt Shepherd, Jarrett Hoffpauir and Brad Willcutt have all improved over the summer and look to take their games to a higher level this season. Jason continues to hit the ball well, and Cliff continues to pitch well.
"Ryan Frith, a senior outfielder and Eddie Burger, a redshirt freshman catcher, both have made improvements in their hitting. Ryan is making better contact, and Eddie is swinging the bat well. Beau Griffin has become a lot stronger and is hitting the ball in the gaps, and Carlos has really worked hard during summer, and it has shown not only in his hitting but also in his fielding and with his arm strength.
"The new pitchers also are doing well. Patrick Ezell and Josh Grant have been throwing the ball well. Josh is locating his pitches well and continues to work on his breaking pitches. Both have a chance to help us this season."
The Golden Eagles continue fall workouts every day from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and will hold a scrimmage on Sundays at 1:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend free of charge. The Annual Black-Gold Game will be held on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 1:30 p.m., at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.