University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Team Opens Practice On Monday
1/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 19, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Players, coaches and fans all are excited about the opening of spring practice, as well as the start of the 2006 season itself.
The Golden Eagles open practice on Monday, Jan. 23, at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field, and open the season on Wed., Feb. 15, at home against Nicholls State at 3 p.m. The first week of practice will run from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. each day at "The Pete" and will be open to the public
"We are excited about the start of practice next week," Head Coach Corky Palmer said. "The players worked hard during the conditioning period and now everyone is ready to get started. We have a couple positions to fill in the lineup and with our pitching staff and a lot of work to do before our first game.
"The program has enjoyed a lot of success over the past few years but in order for us to take it to the level we all want, we have to consistently compete for Conference USA championships and earn bids to the NCAA Regionals."
Southern Miss returns 20 letterwinners from last year's team (41-21), including five position starters (Marc Maddox - 1B, Trey Sutton - 2B, Chris Matesich - SS, Jody Blount - RF, Drew Carson - LF) and five starting pitchers (Barry Bowden, Mike Cashion, Patrick Ezell, Brad Owen and Cliff Russum). Seventeen redshirt freshmen and reserves from last year's team will try to break into the lineup and pitching rotation, along with 11 newcomers.
Leading the Golden Eagles into the 2005 season will be a group of four seniors, Daniel Best, Kevin Coker, Marc Maddox and Cliff Russum who have helped Southern Miss post a 133-56 (.704) record over the past three seasons. The Golden Eagles are hoping to build on last year's success which saw them finish its school record third-straight 40+ win season and school-record third-straight trip to the NCAA Regionals.
The seniors, Best (3-0, 11 saves, 0.46 ERA, 39.0 IP, 37K, 7 BB, .229 OPP BA), Coker (.318 BA, 15 2B, 5 HR, 38 RBI, 26 BB), Maddox (.359 BA, 17 2B, 14 HR, 59 RBIs, 42 BB, 15 SB) and Russum (2004 Stats - 6-4, 3.93 ERA, 71.0 IP, 67K, 37BB, .228 OPP BA) will be counted on for production and leadership to this year's squad.
Other top returning players from last season include position players Trey Sutton (2B, So., .346 BA, 15 2B, 4 3B, 6 HR, 41 RBIs, 31 BB, 11 SB), David Steele (OF, So., .316 BA, 11 2B, 19 RBIs, 16 BB), Chris Matesich (SS, So., .272 BA, 14 2B, 2 HR, 24 RBIs, 21 BB, 12 SB), Trey Cuevas (DH/C, So., .316 BA, 6 2B, 1 HR, 13 RBIs, 11 BB), Jody Blount (OF, So., .268 BA, 6 2B, 4 HR, 23 RBIs), Drew Carson (So., OF, .250 BA, 5 2B, 4 HR, 14 RBIs) and pitchers Mike Cashion (RHP, Jr., 4-1, 3.62 ERA, 54.2 IP, 60K, 19 BB, .223 OPP BA), Barry Bowden (RHP, Fr., 4-4, 4.40 ERA, 73.2 IP, 71K, 34BB, .251 OPP BA), Matt Caire (LHP, Sr., 6-3, 6.44 ERA, 65.2 IP, 59K, 22 BB), Patrick Ezell (RHP, Jr., 7-3, 6.62 ERA, 84.1 IP, 59K, 22 BB) and Brad Owen (LHP, Sr., 4-2, 5.13 ERA, 52.2 IP, 36K, 14 BB).
For season ticket information for Golden Eagle baseball, call the Southern Miss Ticket Office at 1-800-844-TICK.
