University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
2010 Baseball Preview
2/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2010
The Southern Miss baseball team took a historic step in 2009, taking both the program and the university to the unprecedented height of competing for the national championship. The Golden Eagles magical run through the postseason to the mecca of college baseball captured the hearts of Golden Eagle fans, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Southern Miss toppled one heavy favorite after another to reach the pinnacle of college baseball. As veteran radio broadcaster John Cox said over the airwaves as the Golden Eagles defeated the Florida Gators to punch their ticket to Omaha, "Southern Miss has dreamed the impossible dream."
Before the 2009 season, reaching the College World Series did seem like an impossible dream to many people. As the 2010 season begins this Golden Eagle team is armed with a brand new weapon; first-hand knowledge of what it takes to compete at baseball's highest level and the experience they gained from that magical run in 2009.
Gone are some of the best players to ever don the black and gold in Brian Dozier, Bo Davis and James Ewing. And gone is legendary head coach Corky Palmer.
This year's team has a new direction as long-time Associate Head Coach Scott Berry has taken over the reigns of one of the nation's most consistent programs. Berry looks to bring a more aggressive style of baseball to Pete Taylor Park in his first year at the helm of the Golden Eagles.
"I think we will try and apply more pressure to teams," Berry said. "I am not a guy who sits back and waits on three-run home runs. Those are nice, but I like to take a gamble here and there and make things happen."
Joining Berry's coaching staff this season is new pitching coach Michael Federico, who led Conference USA rival Memphis' pitching staff the previous five seasons. Federico, along with hitting coach Chad Caillet, is a former Southern Miss player.
"Having two coaches who have been a part of this program and understand it is huge. For something to be successful, you have to want to be a part of it and see it excel. That is what we have here with this coaching staff. These guys have truly understand what it means to be a Southern Miss baseball player."
Position Players
This season will see a lot of familiar faces in unfamiliar places.
The Golden Eagles return five starters from the 2009 season with catcher Travis Graves, infielders Joey Archer and Taylor Walker along with outfielders Kameron Brunty and Tyler Koelling.
Archer has moved from first base, where he started 65 games in 2009, across the diamond to the third base. Taylor Walker makes the switch from third base to second.
"Along with those new positions comes a new responsibility of leadership. We are looking for both of those guys to add some leadership qualities on the field for us this season," Berry said.
Those two moves open up the first base position for either junior college transfer Mark Ellis or redshirt junior Adam Doleac. With Ellis a right-handed hitter, and Doleac, swinging from the left-side, Berry has more options on his line up card to match up with pitchers.
"Ellis is a good defensive player who should continue to develop more power as the season goes along, and Doleac is a guy who has been very patient his first three years in the program and is ready to be a major contributor this season."
Also returning is sophomore BA Vollmuth, who started the final 24 games of the season at shortstop last season and displayed his raw power skills in the postseason where he hit six of his eight home runs.
Vollmuth continued his hot streak into the summer while playing in the prestigious Cape Cod Summer League, where he was named both a mid-season and post-season all-star.
Southern Miss will lean on that core group as some young guys prepare to step in when their opportunity arises.
Infielder Isaac Rodriguez has really opened some eyes this fall with his bat and should get an opportunity to contribute this season.
Travis Creel and Marc Buchanan will add depth to the infield, as well.
In the outfield, freshman All-American Kameron Brunty returns to patrol left field while Tyler Koelling makes the move from right field to center this season.
Junior college transfer Marc Bourgeois had a great fall and will take over in right field this season.
"Marc will be an impact guy for us this season not only in the outfield, but also at the plate as well. He brings a very hard-nosed approach to the game," Berry said.
Junior college transfer Justin Diliberto adds another element with his speed, giving Berry another component that Southern Miss has not had in a while.
A shoulder injury sidelined Anthony Doss last season but he has returned this year and will add power to the lineup as a DH or in the outfield.
Freshman Tyler Brant will add depth to the outfield.
Senior Travis Graves returns behind the plate to handle the majority of the catching duties this season.
"Graves arm has really improved over the summer. He does an outstanding job defensively and pitchers have a lot of confidence throwing to him, which is ultimately the most important thing," Berry added
Battling for the second catching spot are two talented freshmen Jared Bales and Chase Fowler. Both are gifted catchers that will have a great future at Southern Miss. Entering the season they are in a dead heat for playing time.
Pitchers
The pitching staff for 2010 will start and end will pre-season All-Americans. Todd McInnis is the unquestioned ace and the preseason C-USA Pitcher of the Year and closer Collin Cargill will look to better his 13 saves from a season ago.
The weekend rotation will start with McInnis who has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the program over the last few years. Scott Copeland came on strong at the end of 2009 and should get the nod on Saturday's.
Both the Sunday and the midweek spots are still in question headed into the season.
Returnees Jeff Stanley and Seth Hester are competing with newcomers Ryan MacNamara, Dillon Day, Geoffrey Thomas and Mandella Mingo for the last two starting positions.
"We are going to use these early non-conference series and midweek games to find out who will give us the best chance to win when it comes time for C-USA play in late March," Berry said.
One thing Southern Miss has done is stock the cupboard with some talented young arms in freshman Dillon Day, Geoffrey Thomas and Jay Myrick.
"Hopefully these young guys will get a taste of things this year and get to watch these veteran pitchers work and learn some things about how to pitch at this level," Berry said.
In the bullpen, Cody Schlagel will return as the top setup man and Cargill will anchor the closer spot once again.
"I really feel good about our bullpen this year. The key is going to be throwing strikes in middle relief to get the ball to Schlagel and Cargill at the end."
Also looking to contribute on the mound this season will be Matt Warren, Paxton King and newcomer Josh Jones.
Schedule
The 2010 season and the Scott Berry era at Southern Miss will begin on February 19 with an eight-game homestand, including a three-game weekend series with both Northwestern State (Feb. 19-21) and LeMoyne College (Feb. 26-28). Along with the weekend series' will be home mid-week games with Mississippi Valley (Feb. 24) and Louisiana Monroe (March 3).
The Golden Eagles hit the road for the first time for a weekend series at Louisiana Lafayette (March 5-7) before returning to Pete Taylor Park for a midweek contest with Troy (March 10) and a weekend series with Missouri State (March 12-14).
Over spring break, the black and gold will host UNO on March 16 before traveling to Louisiana Monroe on March 17. That is the only time this season that Southern Miss has to play five games in a week, which had became the norm over the last two seasons with the new NCAA condensed schedule and unified start date. The NCAA added an extra week to the season this year to help schools from having to play so many midweek games.
Southern Miss will stay in Louisiana for the end of spring break as they travel to Louisiana Tech (March 19-21) for a weekend series.
On Tuesday, March 23, Southern Miss will go to Pearl, Miss. to play Ole Miss at Trustmark Park before opening Conference USA play at UAB (March 23-26) and traveling to South Alabama for a midweek game (March 30).
Over Easter weekend, the Golden Eagles will welcome in St. Mary's College for a Thursday through Saturday three game set (April 1-3), their last non-conference weekend series.
On April 7, Southern Miss will travel to New Orleans to play the defending national champion LSU Tigers at Zephyr Stadium in the Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic. The game annually features over 12,000 fans at the New Orleans stadium.
C-USA play continues as UCF visits Hattiesburg (April 9-11) before the Golden Eagles hit the road for five games beginning with a single game at UNO (April 13) that is followed by a three game C-USA series at Marshall (April 16-18) and a single game at Ole Miss (April 20).
Houston visits for a weekend series (April 23-25) and South Alabama comes in for a midweek contest (April 28) before the black and gold travels to New Orleans to take on Tulane in a three game C-USA series.
Southern Miss returns to Trustmark Park to play Mississippi State on Wednesday May 5 and will host East Carolina May 7-9.
The trip to Houston will become a familiar route for the team as they travel to Rice (May 14-16) only to return two weeks later as the University of Houston will host the 2009 C-USA Baseball Tournament.
Southern Miss will close out the regular season with Mississippi State at home on May 18 and the final C-USA series beginning Thursday, May 20 against Memphis.
The C-USA Tournament will begin on May 26 at The University of Houston with a new format this year, featuring only six teams in pool play.
The NCAA post-season will start on June 4 with the Regional Tournaments and the Super Regionals will start on June 11. The final College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium will begin on June 19.
