Wednesday, March
12, 2003
Written by Elliott Wiley, Jr.
The
Tufts University baseball team departs for Ashland, Virginia on Thursday, March
13 to kick off its 2003 season. It will play 10 games over the next 10 days
against schools from Virginia and North Carolina. Coach John Casey feels his
team will be playing tough competition in the south, but this is done so on
purpose.
"The
only way to elevate your game is by playing good teams," Casey said.
Among
the exemplary squads they face are Methodist (ranked 12th in country) on March
18, North Carolian Wesleyan on March 20, and Virginia Wesleyan who they will be
double-dipping against on March 23.
While
winning is always in the back of the team's mind, the purpose of the trip is not
to come back with all W's. According to Casey, it is to solidify his lineup.
Since these next 10 games are the only contests before NESCAC play starts on
March 28 at home against Bates, the team must play well in preparation.
This
season's squad is without a few key players from last year's successful
campaign. Right fielder Dan Callahan, who finished his career last season with
multiple Tufts records and was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks, first
baseman Tim Ayers, who hit .309 last season, and pitcher Steve Lapham, who
finished with an earned run average of only 3.30, all need to be replaced by
younger players.
Currently
Casey feels he has two number one pitchers in senior Jon
Lee (Manhasset Hills, NY), who went 7-1 last season, as well as senior
tri-captain Dave Martin (Arlington, MA),
who was a First Team All-NESCAC selection last season. Martin was second in the
nation last season with a 0.85 earned run average before a hand injury caused
him to miss the final third of the season. Lee was the NESCAC Pitcher of the
Year in 2001 who overcame an elbow injury last year to post a strong season. The
two aces will each pitch once in the important NESCAC East three-game series.
Casey
believes his seniors must set the tone, but junior Randy
Newsom (Cincinnati, OH) is currently the third starter, while sophomore Jeff
Volinski (Andover, MA) battles for the fourth slot. Casey assures this is a
tentative order depending on how players pitch in the upcoming games. Newsom
went 7-1 last year, including a stellar 7-1 win over Suffolk in the NCAA
Tournament as Tufts faced elimination.
The
team will rely on experience for the middle-relievers. Last season senior Mike
Byron (Hanover, MA) and junior Dave
Frew (Worcester, MA) combined for 53 innings pitched and a 4-2 record. This
season they will head the duties.
Senior
tri-captain Brian Shapiro (Swampscott,
MA) enters the year tied for the team's all-time lead with 11 saves. His
first of 2003 will be a new record. Also the shortstop, he will be one of New
England's top closers
"It's
tough to relieve until you have done it," Casey said.
While
the pitching rotation is not much in question, the infield is an entirely
different story. Casey said he has about 10 different scenarios playing in his
head and that only each individual performance over Spring Break will finalize
his infield. Shapiro has been a constant, starting at third base his freshman
year and moving to shortstop ever since. He was an All-NESCAC Second Team
selection last season after batting .343 and stroking seven homeruns.
Currently
sophomore John McBride (Billerica, MA)
has the edge at first base as Casey feels he is good defensively. Freshman Matt
Clement (Norwood, MA) is also making the trip down south and might get some
time at first. He's looked sharp at bat in pre-season workouts. Sophomore Frank
Dinucci (Wilton, CT) started at second base in 32 games last season, making
just five errors for an excelling .966 fielding percentage. Junior Adam
Kacamburas (North Reading, MA) started at third base and
batted .306 last season. The junior also was fourth on last season's team with
62 total bases.
Sophomore
catcher Bob Kenny (Milford, MA/Milford) started
29 of 31 games he played in. In the field, he hosed eight attempted stealers.
From the plate, he batted .269 with 12 RBI. Competing for the starting job with
Kenny will be junior Greg Hickey (Medway,
MA). He started 26 of the 28 games he played in at various positions,
which included outfield, designated hitter, and catcher. He hit .337, driving in
24 runs.
According
to Casey, one player who is pushing the middle-infielders is junior Nick
Palange (Hudson, MA). A starter in 22 games as a freshman, he was
a utility player last season, starting nine games and playing in 20 total. He
has proved himself capable of stepping into the lineup at any time after
finishing last season with a .379 batting average, in 29 plate appearances.
Also, Martin may play some at first base in order to get his bat in the lineup
on days he is not pitching.
The
outfield is similar to the pitching staff with its senior leadership and
primarily set lineup. Senior tri-captain Evan
Zupancic (Lake Oswego, OR) is returning to center field after belting a
Tufts single-season record 11 home runs last season. He also was a First Team
All-NESCAC selection. Senior Jon Herbert
(Davidsonville, MD) has nailed down one of the other outfield
positions, leaving juniors Drew Blewett
(Great Falls, MT) and Frank
Giliberti (Medford, MA) fighting for the final spot. Hickey
and Martin may also get time in the outfield, depending on the situation.
This
season's team has many expectations to live up to after last year's team
finished 27-10-1 overall, and 10-1 in NESCAC play. They earned the NESCAC crown
and an NCAA Tournament berth, losing in the Eastern Regionals to eventual
Division III NCAA champion Eastern Connecticut. Casey feels the team has the
tools for another successful season, leaving it up to them to produce.
"We
are going to play ever game and see what happens," Casey said. "[The
coaching staff] will do everything to get the guys where they want to be, but
it's up to them."
#