University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Baseball Opens Practice for 2011 Season
1/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 28, 2011
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The quest for a ninth-straight postseason appearance for the Southern Miss baseball team began here Friday afternoon at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field with the start of preseason practice.
The Golden Eagles, which finished 36-24 a year ago on its way to winning the 2010 Conference USA Tournament crown, return 18 letterwinners from a season ago including six position-player starters.
"Now we can get out here and practice like we want to in preparation for the Feb. 18 opener (against Eastern Illinois) as we have everybody out as a team," said second-year coach Scott Berry on the official start of practice, whose team has been doing individuals workouts since the start of the spring semester.
The Golden Eagles have been picked to finish second in Conference USA in 2011 according to the league's nine coaches. The team also had three players named to the league's preseason team including senior right-handed pitcher Todd McInnis (Brandon, Miss.), who was tabbed a starting pitcher as well the Pitcher of the Year.
The relief pitcher on the C-USA team was senior righthander Collin Cargill (Hattiesburg, Miss.) and junior shortstop B.A. Vollmuth in the infield. The trio also has garnered preseason All-American recognition by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association , while Vollmuth also recorded first-team honors by Collegiate Baseball at shortstop.
Season tickets are still available by going online at SouthernMiss.com, or calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or visiting the Pat Ferlise Athletic Ticket Center from 8 a.m., until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
