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Jan. 23, 2001
The University of Virginia baseball program competes in one of the most competitive conferences in the nation – the Atlantic Coast Conference. With ACC foes and strong non-conference opponents lining the Cavaliers schedule again this season, Virginia knows it will face quality teams week-in and week-out.
However, UVa head baseball coach Dennis Womack feels his Virginia squad is on the verge of a breakthrough season. With the mixture of an experienced core of returning players, a deeper pitching rotation and another talented recruiting class, Womack feels his UVa baseball club is on pace for a bright season in 2001.
Pitchers
If there’s one area of the UVa baseball team that stood out most during the preseason, it could very well have been the pitching staff. The Cavaliers have a very balanced rotation that could be the edge UVa needs to fight its way through another competitive season.
“From top to bottom, we’ve got a good balance of left and right handed pitchers. I feel we have more ability and depth in all phases of our pitching rotation,” says Womack.
“The talent is there, but now we’ve got to have two or three guys who can step up and be exceptional for us, that’s what we are looking for. We have several players who have had some success in the past, but now we need guys who are going to be consistently good for us.”
Two players who come to mind for Womack are returning pitchers Brandon Creswell (5.36, 5-8) and Dan Street (0.69, 4-0). Creswell was also one of Virginia’s top three pitchers last season and was often who UVa threw in the first game of an ACC series. Street finished the season with a perfect 4-0 mark as a pitcher and led Virginia to an 8-3 upset over Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament after throwing a complete game.
“We need Creswell to go to the next level for us, where he consistently throws the ball well at everybody he pitches against,” says Womack. “He has the tools needed to do that. Street only had about 40 innings of work last year, but they were very good innings. We expect the same from him again this season.”
One area the pitching staff will not be lacking is depth. The Cavaliers have a large pitching staff that is able to provide UVa with the arms needed on the mound during the season.
“In terms of depth, we may be able to go eight, nine or ten players deep in our pitching rotation,” says Womack. “We’ve got a lot of quality pitchers, now it’s a matter of developing them into pitchers who can beat the teams we will face this season on our schedule. We’ve got a lot of guys to chose from and there may be some experimentation early on. We’re going to train at least seven or eight guys to be starters. Out of that seven or eight, we’re going to need four or five guys to be consistent for us.”
A few names that stand out of the group who Womack expects to challenge for playing time are returning players, Greg Hansard (7.20, 0-0), Mark Hurrie (12.19, 0-1),Will Parker (5.74, 4-2) and Alexander “Shooter” Starr (8.70, 1-4).
Hurrie and Starr are each right-handed pitchers, Hansard and Parker are both strong left-handed hurlers.
Hurrie has what Womack calls, “as good of an arm as we have on our club.” He expects Hurrie to improve upon his numbers from last season. Starr recorded his first collegiate victory against Princeton last season and was used in a lot of different roles where he was very effective. Parker had an outstanding start to his season last year after jumping out to a 4-0 record and was tabbed the ACC Pitcher of the Week (March 13). Hansard showed improvement in the fall after a successful first-year campaign.
Three first-year pitchers that Womack feels could contribute immediately are Christopher Gale, Canon Hickman and Joe Koshansky.
“Gale had some bull pens in the fall where he threw the ball very, very well. He’s a big, strong kid,” says Womack. “Hickman threw the ball really well in the fall as well, and Koshansky is a left-handed guy who just has a really good idea of how to pitch.”
Virginia will miss the services of last year’s closer Tim LaVigne, but Womack doesn’t expect to see a drop off in the closing rotation of his staff. Instead of focusing on one individual, Virginia may resort to a committee of closers to finish a game in 2001.
“We may use a few different players to close out a game,” says Womack. “We expect a good deal out of returning right-handed pitcher Chris Marinak (5.85, 0-3), who we used a lot last year. Jeff Kamrath, a first-year pitcher, has impressed everyone with his ability to throw. He can pitch a lot, he can go three or four days in a row. He’s kind of got a rubber arm. Hansard could also get a look as a closer.”
Catchers
Virginia will rely on the services of Mark Rueffert (.320, 54 hits) and Andrew Riesenfeld (.143, two hits) to handle the primary catching duties. Rueffert, a senior, will look to nail down the starting spot after starting 33 games behind the plate last season.
“Rueffert is going to be our starting catcher,” says Womack. “We expect him to catch a lot of games for us, and when he doesn’t catch, he’ll probably be our designated hitter. We need him in the lineup as much as possible.”
Look for Riesenfeld, second-year catcher, to earn his share of playing time as well. “We need to give Riesenfeld some playing time,” says Womack. “He needs to be prepared to catch at least once or twice a week not only to relieve Rueffert, but to be a solid back-up in case of an injury to Rueffert and to develope his skills for the future.”
First-year newcomers Kallen McCoy and Joe Novick also provide depth behind the plate for the Cavaliers.
First Base
After turning in a solid fall performance on the heals of a good first-year campaign, Robert Word (.147, five hits) will be counted on to secure the first base duties.
“Word has really improved his defense,” says Womack. “I think he’s going to be the player to beat out of the first base position. I feel Word is the guy who needs to step up and hold on to that position for us. We are counting on him to go out there and play first base for us this season on a consistent basis. I expect good things out of Word this year.”
Second Base
When he’s not starting on the mound for Virginia as a pitcher,look for Dan Street (.222, eight hits) to record the majority of starts at second base. Street, a third-year, made six starts at second base last season. When Street is on the mound, expect Eric Christensen (.143, two hits) to slide into the starting spot at second base.
“Right now, Street is our starting second baseman. However, when Street is pitching, the guy most likely to go in and play will be Christensen,” says Womack. “Christensen needs to be a guy who can back us up at second base or shortstop, and if needed, maybe at third base. But we are counting on Street to handle most of the day-in and day-out duties at second base.”
Shortstop
Hunter Wyant (.342, 55 hits) is Virginia’s top returning batter from last season, and with his return, he is slated to be the starting shortstop after handling various infield duties last year.
“It’s Wyant’s time to play, and I feel he will play well,” says Womack. “Shortstop is always a vital part of our club, and Wyant needs to be our primary shortstop and an everyday player. I’m confident in his abilities.”
Third Base
After logging time as both a first baseman (32 starts) and as a catcher (25 starts) last season, Jon Benick (.286, 66 hits) will move across the infield and handle the third base position. Benick, a fourth-year utility player, was named First Team All-ACC and to the ACC All-Tournament team in 2000. He looks to bolster an already solid infield for Virginia.
“Benick played both catcher and first base for us last year, but he has another purpose on our club this year,” says Womack. “If needed, he can play those two positions, but right now were looking for him to be our starting third baseman. He did a real nice job for us at third base in the fall.”
Left Field
After starting 31 of Virginia’s 58 games in left field last season, David Stone (.289, 61 hits) will once again be counted upon as the starting left fielder.
“Stone has split some playing time at both left field and first base, but right now we need him to play left field for us,” says Womack.
Center Field
After gathering playing time in six games as a pitcher before being hampered by an injury last season, Doug Vroman will step in and play center field.
“We are hoping and trying to get Vroman’s arm back to where it’s strong enough to not only play the outfield for us, but to getting his arm back ready to pitch,” says Womack. “Right now he’s an outfielder/pitcher, and we’ll see how his arm responds to consistently throwing the ball from the outfield.”
Right Field
After posting four starts last season in the outfield (two in right field) Chris Sweet (.222, four hits) will look to round out the Cavaliers’ outfield by securing the right field position.
“Sweet is a young but talented player that we expect to do a good job for us in right field,” says Womack.
Like Christensen in the infield, Shawn McCleary will be a back up in the outfield. When he isn’t gathering time in the outfield, Womack expects McCleary to get in involved elsewhere.
“McCleary will gather some playing time, there’s no doubt about that,” says Womack. “Whether it’s as the designated hitter or as one of the outfielders, he’ll certainly be an important aspect of our club.”
Look for first-year newcomers Paul Gillispie to earn some playing time as well.
“Gillispie may get some time in the outfield,” says Womack. “We may use him some after the showing he gave us in the fall which helped him. He swung the bat well and has a pretty good arm.”
Designated Hitter
The designated hitter spot will most likely be handled on a per-game basis. “We have three or four guys who could see some time at DH,” says Womack. “Most likely, Rueffert or Riesenfeld when they’re not catching and either Christensen or McCleary when they’re not playing in the field.”
Final Thought by Womack
“We are a little inexperienced in the outfield, but I feel everywhere else we are going to be pretty solid. Some guys are going to have to step up and play well for us consistantly to have the type of year I think we can have. We have several positions that our second-year class is going to need to fill for us, the second-years’ hold the key to our success.”