University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Golden Eagles Baseball Opens 2006 Season With Two-Hour Practice
1/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 23, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss baseball team officially opened its 2006 season with a two-hour practice at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field, today. Due to the weather, the team worked in the batting cages, in the bullpen and in the weight room, while also conditioning.
"We are excited about the start of practice," said Southern Miss Ninth-Year Head Baseball Coach Corky Palmer. "Things went well for us today considering that the playing conditions weren't very good, and we weren't able to get on the field. We had everyone at practice today, and I feel like it went well for the first day out."
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.
