NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State head baseball coach Claudell Clark is hoping a more seasoned group of upperclassmen and an infusion of 14 newcomers will provide the offensive firepower and pitching depth that the Spartans will need to improve on last year's 22-28 record and second-place finish in the MEAC Northern Division.
According to Clark, a key to the season will be improving on last year's offensive numbers. NSU averaged 4.7 runs per game and hit .268 as a team last year, but did show marked progress later in the year. Clark is encouraged by what he has seen thus far.
“The players have done a good job of incorporating what the coaches are teaching and it's showing in their approach at the plate,” Clark said. “Coming off of what was a down year for us offensively, our guys know they are better than what the statistics showed last year and I think they are eager to prove it from day one.”
While NSU returns several top members of its pitching staff, NSU will also look to several newcomers and two veterans returning from injuries to plug key holes.
Here's a position-by-position breakdown of the Spartans heading into the 2013 season, which begins with a three-game series this Friday-Sunday against the Naval Academy:
OUTFIELD
Leading the way among the returning position players is junior outfielder Cameron Day. Day was a first-team All-MEAC selection as a sophomore last season after leading the team with a .356 average and 24 runs batted in.
“We look for Cameron to have another strong offensive year and continue to make improvements in his outfield play,” Clark said. “He will be back in the middle of our lineup and should be a consistent RBI threat.”
Day is the key cog in an outfield which returns all three starters, including junior Tyon Ore (.336 average last year) and sophomore Mikey Bruno (.240). Ore should man left field, while Bruno will hold down the center field position.
“Tyon will be called upon to carry a significant offensive load again this year. He has worked to sharpen his approach at the plate,” Clark said. “We expect Mikey to be a solid lead-off man and continue to be a dynamic center fielder. He plays with a lot of emotion and energy, which can be contagious for our other players.”
Sophomore James Essex, who played in 23 games last year, is an athletic, promising player who adds depth to the outfield. He will battle for time at the corner outfield spots.
Junior college transfer Corey Patrick is another speedy option in the outfield for the Spartans. Freshman Robert Depp and junior college transfer Ian Horne give NSU two left-handed hitting alternatives and round out the outfield rotation.
INFIELD
The Spartans should be much deeper and more experienced in the infield this season, as youth and injuries hampered this unit a year ago. Senior first baseman Ross Cardwell (.257, 1 HR, 20 RBI) returns, but will be pushed by junior college transfer Zach Markel (Elizabethville, Pa./Potomac State College). Cardwell proved to be a very good defensive first baseman last year and came on offensively as the year progressed. Markel, meanwhile, batted .367 as a sophomore at Potomac State. Whichever player does not start will get a crack at the DH spot.
They are also two of the nine left-handed hitters that dot the Spartans' roster this year, giving Clark the ability to create matchup problems for opposing pitchers.
“Zach hit the ball well in the fall and showed the potential to be a run-producer in the middle of our lineup,” Clark said. “We expect Ross to have a break-out year on offense and continue his excellent defense.”
Coaches are also looking for big things from sophomore Justin Lee, who started 46 times at shortstop as a true freshman last year. He knocked in 20 runs but had his season cut short by an injury prior to the MEAC Tournament.
“Justin will continue to be a mainstay for us at shortstop and is a vocal leader on the field,” Clark said. “We feel that he will be stronger offensively now that he is healthy and has a year at the college level under his belt.”
NSU lost starting second baseman Rafael Colon from last year's team, but welcomes back redshirt junior second baseman Sammy Serafine, who missed all of last year with a hand injury. Serafine started 77 times in his first two seasons, primarily at second base. Another JC transfer, left-handed hitting Cody Ellis, will also be a candidate to start at second.
“Cody has worked hard to improve his defense and should be a consistent left-handed hitter who we look to bat near the middle of our lineup,” Clark said. “Sammy adds experience and depth to an already deep infield and we are glad to have him back.”
Sophomore transfer Killian Strenn (Virginia Beach, Va./College of the Albemarle) is a hard-nosed player who gives the Spartans another option at both second and short.
At third base, the Spartans will look to freshman Kyle Vaas (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca HS) to nail down the starting position. Vaas moves into the slot manned last year by Ryan Montgomery, who moves back to his original position behind the plate.
“Kyle is an athletic freshman who showed signs of power potential and a promising defensive approach in the fall,” Clark said. “We feel that as he gets more and more at-bats, he can be one of the most productive players on our roster.”
Junior captain Chase Kyriacou, who can play third base as well as the outfield and pitch, gives NSU a versatile presence off the bench. Kyriacou hit .279 last year and usually held down one of the top spots in the order.
CATCHER
NSU must replace the experience and presence of last year's second-team All-MEAC catcher, Chris Warren. Warren graduated after playing in 144 career games and batting just under .300 as a Spartan. Warren was also adept at throwing out potential base-stealers. He will likely be replaced by senior Ryan Montgomery, who hit .261 in 40 games at third base last season. The 2011 All-MEAC third baseman returns to catcher, where he played as a freshman in 2010.
“Ryan has proven over the course of his career that he can be a legitimate offensive threat regardless of where he is in the lineup,” Clark said. “I expect his transition back to his original position will be a smooth one.”
Two freshmen will back up Montgomery and battle for playing time. Steven Dudley (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge HS) has a large frame and power potential, while fellow rookie Robert Reaume (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam HS) has a strong arm and could also help out on the mound.
PITCHER
The Spartans are very experienced in their pitching rotation as two-thirds of last year's weekend rotation returns in the form of senior right hander Chris Horne (7-5, 2.75 ERA) and junior right hander Justin Bhatti (4-7, 3.94). Horne made 18 appearances, seven of them starts, and logged 78.2 innings en route to second-team all-state honors. Bhatti started 13 times and pitched 77.2 innings.
“Chris will anchor the rotation. He was quite a surprise last year and really stepped up to throw some of the biggest innings of the year for us. He should do the same for us once again,” Clark said. “Justin has shown tremendous growth each year and has battled with the best starters in the MEAC for two years now. He's ready to get back in that mix again among the top arms in the conference.”
Senior Richie Salter, who has made 27 appearances in his first three years, will move into the weekend starting rotation this year. Used exclusively as a reliever last year, Salter was 3-0 with two saves and had a 35:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has started four times in his career.
“Richie is going to step into a full-time starter's role for us for the first time,” Clark said. “He has pitched in the toughest of situations for us over the past three years and has come up big for us the majority of the time. He is ready for this transition.”
The bullpen must replace departed right hander Jordan Egan, a second-team All-MEAC pick last year, and lefty starter Ryan VanAssche. But the return of two other players who missed all of 2012 due to injuries will be key for NSU. Right handers Ryan Shook (shoulder) and Raymond Morton (wrist) redshirted last year but figure to be two prominent arms coming out of the Spartan bullpen, as should junior Jeff Di Fulgo.
The Spartans also welcome in several young arms who will add depth and versatility to the Spartans' pitching corps. Freshman right hander Cooper Jones (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge HS), freshman left handers Jay Dee Johnson (Prince George, Va./Prince George HS) and Andre Moore (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca HS), and sophomore JUCO transfer righty Troy Applin (Chesapeake, Va./Rappahannock CC) give Clark numerous options to match up with opponents.
SCHEDULE
The Spartans play 28 home games in their 49-game regular-season slate this year, including their first six and 16 of their final 20. Among the non-conference teams visiting Marty L. Miller Field for weekend series this season are Navy (Feb. 15-17), Rider (Feb. 22-24) and Wagner (March 9-10). NSU also has home-and-home arrangements with in-state foes VMI, Longwood, ODU and William & Mary.
The Spartans take to the road March 2-3 for a two-day round-robin event in which they play at Savannah State, facing both SSU and Fairleigh Dickinson twice each.
In MEAC Northern Division play, the Spartans face reigning divisional champ Delaware State and Coppin State nine times each, with six of the nine games against DSU taking place in Norfolk. NSU also faces UMES a total of six times.
For the third time in the last four years, the schedule also includes an exhibition game against the Norfolk Tides, Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, at Harbor Park in downtown Norfolk. This year's contest takes placed on Tuesday, April 2.
Marty L. Miller Field will also serve as the home for the MEAC Tournament for the second straight year and fifth time overall. The 2013 tournament takes place from May 15-19.
Added Clark: “We feel like the favorable but challenging schedule will position us well to ultimately contend for our first MEAC title.”
