Baseball Black-Gold Game Slated For Saturday Morning
10/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Baseball Black-Gold Game Slated For Saturday Morning
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ?
The coaching staff is pleased with the productivity of the team during the fall campaign. They have been trying to find a consistent lineup to fill the needs both offensively and defensively lost by graduation and the draft.
"The player's effort and concentration, especially the last couple of weeks, have been good," 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.
"We've also had to deal with injuries in the fall as well. Jason Lowery (Sr./OF) hurt his back in the early part of fall practice and has missed a lot of time. He will be back for the spring. Cliff Russum (Sr./RHP) has been out the entire fall period with his shoulder. We have several other pitchers that have been suffering from injuries as well. We need to get everyone back healthy and in shape before the spring starts."
Palmer, who has led the Golden Eagles to back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths, said that redshirt sophomore Eddie Burger (r-So./C) has shown vast improvement and should come on and be a big help in the spring, showing signs of hitting both for power and average during the fall. He also praised Jody Blount (So./OF) for his improved play in the outfield and with his bat as well.
Marc Maddox (Jr./INF) showed a lot of versatility playing first base, second base and third base, while the staff was trying to fill the vacant infield positions. Newcomer Trey Sutton (Fr./INF) also has impressed the coaching staff with his ability to handle the glove and the bat.
The pitching staff has shown improvement during the fall. Palmer said that Mike Cashion (So./RHP) has been the best pitcher on the staff, really showing good control and displaying improvement with his pitching. Junior college transfer pitchers Cole Basinger (Jr./LHP), Matt Caire (Jr./LHP) and Rob Burns (Jr./LHP) have thrown well and look to give the staff help from the left side.
Southern Miss returns 15 letterwinners and seven redshirts, including four starting position players, two starting pitchers, and five bullpen pitchers from last year?s squad that finished 45-19 overall and was runner-up in the regular-season and in the tournament. Southern Miss traveled to LSU to participate in the Baton Rouge Regional.
The Golden Eagles open their season on Friday, Feb. 18, at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field against Marshall, who will become a member of Conference USA in 2005-06, at 3 p.m.