University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Season Starts On Friday
2/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Baseball Season Starts On Friday
HATTIESBURG, Miss.
? Southern Miss Head Baseball Coach Corky Palmer is excited about the start of the 2004 season on Friday when his Golden Eagles face Northwestern (La.) State at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field at 3 p.m.
"I'm as excited as I've ever been to start a season," Palmer said. "I'm anxious to get started and to see where we are as a team, and how our chemistry is at this point. The players believe they are ready to play and want to start playing someone other than their teammates.
"The players all worked hard during the preseason and look to come out of the gate strong. The veteran players have been through the wars before and know what to expect. Of the newcomers, outfielder Jody Blount, relief pitcher Mike Cashion and outfielder/designated hitter Nathan Sanders have stood out, but everyone still needs to keep working hard."
Street & Smith's Preseason Baseball Magazine picks the Golden Eagles No. 1 in Conference USA and No. 17 overall. Tulane was picked No. 24 and Houston No. 25. Southern Miss relief pitcher Austin Tubb was named to the Street & Smith's preseason All-American team. He is joined by East Carolina outfielder Darryl Lawhorn as the only two players from Conference USA named to the team.
Excitement about the 2004 season is as high as it has been in a long time. Last season 563 season tickets were sold and at this point, and that mark has been surpassed by the 850 tickets sold. There are fewer than 250 chairback season tickets left to sell as the program is making its final push in hopes of surpassing the 1,000 season tickets sold mark for the season.
The Southern Miss physical plant electrical, building and ground crews, Jefcoat fencing of Jackson and Hattiesburg's Rozier Construction, all have been putting in extra time getting Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field ready for the season opener.
A wrought- iron fence, extending from the right field wall to the baseball center, has been constructed and give the park a totally-new look. Building crews are putting the finishing touches on a new park entrance, located left of the ticket booth, as opposed to last year when fans entered the gate at the right of the ticket office.
Season tickets can be purchased at the Southern Miss Ticket Office in the Ferlise Center in person, by calling 1-800-844-TICK or by logging on the web at www.SouthernMiss.com.
