Fall Baseball Begins On Monday
9/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Fall Baseball Begins On Monday
Hattiesburg, Miss. - The Southern Miss baseball team will begin its official fall workouts starting on Monday, Sept.29, at 2:30 p.m., at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field. The Golden Eagles will practice Monday through Friday for the next four weeks, and will scrimmage each Sunday at 1:30 p.m. The practices will last throughout the month of October, ending with the annual Black-Gold Game on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 1:30 p.m. The scrimmages are open to the public.
"I?m really anxious and ready for the start of another year of baseball," Southern Miss Head Coach Corky Palmer said. "We have our entire infield returning from last year's team (Brad Willcutt (C), Marc Maddox (1B), Jarrett Hoffpauir (2B), Matt Shepherd (SS), Beau Griffin (3B), and one outfielder (Jason Lowery (LF). We also have two starting pitchers returning (Anthony DeWitt, Cliff Russum) and our entire bullpen (Ray Antonelli, John Nicholas, Noah Tritz, Austin Tubb). We have added a few new faces that I believe will help fill the holes left by graduation and the draft. The coaching staff is ready to get started so we can see the ability of our players.
"Last year's team had an outstanding season, finishing with the best record in the school's history and broke a lot of records. Several players on this year's team were a big part of the success but these guys need to understand this is a new year, and what we did last year is in the past. We have to work hard this fall, if we want to continue to build on last year's success. Nothing will be given to us."
The Golden Eagles return 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 regular season and tournament Conference USA championship. 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.
Southern Miss welcomes 12 newcomers, including Barry Bowden (RHP/Fr.), Jody Blount (OF/Fr.), Drew Carson (OF/Fr.), Mike Cashion (RHP/.Fr.), Trey Cuevas (C/Fr.), Leighton Davis (RHP, Fr.), Patrick Ezell (RHP, Fr.), Brett Hoeflich (INF/Fr.), Chris Matesich (INF/Fr.), Dane Reiter (RHP/r-Fr.), Nathan Sanders (OF/Jr.) and Casey Summerlin (INF/Fr.).
Corey Bass has enrolled at Pearl River Community College, because he didn't meet eligibility requirements. Pitchers Anthony DeWitt and Austin Tubb will not participate in fall baseball due to undergoing rehabilitation. They only will throw lightly during the fall. Former Hattiesburg High School pitcher Josh Grant has enrolled in school for the fall and joined the team after transferring from Ole Miss.
The baseball program hosted its annual golf tournament on Friday, Sept. 26, at Canebrake Golf Course in Hattiesburg, Miss., and a record 32 teams participated in the event.