The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Baseball Concludes Fall Practice Season
11/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 9, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-- The 2005 UAB baseball team finished the season with 31 victories, its most since the 1997 season. The Blazers also qualified for their second consecutive Conference USA Tournament after winning 14 league games, the team's most since Larry Giangrosso took over as head coach in 2000. UAB will return 18 letterwinners in 2006, while welcoming 18 newcomers as well.
With the Blazers recently wrapping up their fall season, Giangrosso is looking forward to another exciting and successful campaign in 2006.
"This year, we had a new challenge in the fall because we have so many new players," said Giangrosso. "We had to spend a good bit of time introducing the new players to our system. Once that was done, we got down to some very competitive intra-squad games. We're very pleased with the progress these guys have made. This year, we have a lot more depth at every position and that is definitely an advantage. Overall, our fall was very productive. By the end of October we knew a lot about our guys."
UAB opens the 2006 season on Feb. 17 against Ball State at Young Memorial Field.
Catchers
Most of the catching duties in 2005 were split by seniors Rush Knight and Ben McCullars. This year, the Blazers return redshirt-sophomore Donny Muth and welcome a trio of newcomers.
"Donny Muth (R-So.- Mandeville, La.) has really improved his game," said Giangrosso. "Torrey Croft (Jr.- Albertville, Ala.) is an excellent receiver and thrower and Danny Sawyer (Jr.- Suwanee, Ga.) is the complete package. We feel like he's really going to hit. The good thing about Danny is that he can play some first base too. Then, Kevin Cope (Fr.- Birmingham, Ala.), who we think is eventually going to be a very good hitter has really made some progress."
First Base
Gone from last year's squad is first baseman Nathan McCorkle who started all 58 of UAB's contests and was the team's co-home run leader with eight. This year, the Blazers have a pair of lefties to choose from, including one returner and one junior college transfer.
"Billy Lichtner (So.- Huntsville, Ala.) is returning and has improved from last year," said Giangrosso. "He's made some adjustments offensively which will help him in the long run. And his defense has improved too."
"Ryan Keedy (Jr.- Gardendale, Ala.) is a transfer from Wallace State who just tore it up offensively this fall. He really swung the bat well from beginning to end. He also made some outstanding defensive plays and got better in the field over the course of the fall. That gives us two left-handed sticks at first base who are both very solid players."
Third Base
Zac Ward has started every game for the Blazers over the past two seasons and returns for his junior year in 2006. He is joined by two newcomers who can make an immediate impact at the hot corner for the Blazers.
"Zac Ward's (Jr.- Hartselle, Ala.) fall was cut short by a minor, non-threatening injury," said Giangrosso. "He's swinging the bat much better than he did last year. And as always, his defense is outstanding. Zac gives us great experience since he has played as a freshman and a sophomore."
"Ryne Lovdahl (Jr.- Purvis, Miss.) has really come on and played well at third base. He's very talented in a lot of areas where he can help us. That's going to be a good race at third base. His presence is felt both offensively and defensively."
"Robert Brewster (Fr.- Altoona, Ala.) has made a lot of progress also. He got better and better at fielding the ball as the fall went on. And we think eventually he'll be a really good hitter for us."
Shortstop
Ryan Metcalf started all but one game at shortstop in 2005 and returns for his senior season this year. He will battle for playing time with junior transfer Jorge Gutierrez.
"We're real excited about our middle infield," said Giangrosso. "Ryan Metcalf (Sr.- Pelham, Ala.) played very solid for us, especially during the second half of last season. He has continued that this fall. He's made several outstanding plays throughout the fall and he's excellent at making the routine plays. His offense has gotten better as well. Ryan's a very solid player."
"With Jorge Gutierrez (Jr.- Miami, Fla.) there too, we've got two really good older shortstops. Both can play second base also, which gives us a chance to interchange them. Jorge has some gap power and is very solid at fielding the ball."
Second Base
The Blazers lost second baseman Seth Rollin who started every game last year and was a major contributor for UAB over the past four seasons. This year, the Blazers have some young talent to choose from.
"Brett Hall (So.- Prattville, Ala.) was injured and very limited this fall, but we know enough about him from what he did for us last year," said Giangrosso. "He's a solid, hard-nosed player."
"Phillip Bell (So.- Gulf Breeze, Fla.) is much better than he was last year, which is saying something because he got a lot of playing time last season."
"The other guy who can play in the middle and had a good fall is Zac Kennedy (Fr.- Charlotte, N.C.). He's capable of playing shortstop, second base and outfield. He runs well, has a great arm and swung the bat really well in the fall."
Outfield
The UAB outfield returns some quality experience in 2006 despite losing C-USA All-Freshman team selection Clint Toomey and team co-home run leader Cole Helms. A selection of upperclassmen will patrol the outfield for the Blazers this year.
"Levi Patmon (Jr.- Clay, Ala.) played as a freshman and sophomore and has a lot of experience," said Giangrosso. "Every facet of Levi's game improved from last year. He's throwing better, tracking balls better in the outfield and showing that he can go the other way with pitches. He's just improved his game and that's what you hope for out of a third-year player."
"J.R. Bond (Jr.- Titus, Ala.) is the same way. J. R. can be an impact player, not only on our team, but in this league. He looks like a different player as well this year."
"Steven Turner (R-Jr.- Birmingham, Ala.) has such great speed that if the infielder doesn't field his ground ball cleanly, he'll be safe at first base. He's worked hard on his short game and works everyday on his throwing. He's improved a lot."
"John Wayne Donahue (Jr.- Quinlan, Texas) is a left-handed hitter who can really swing the bat. He can be a solid player in the outfield. We predict him to be a middle of the order type guy."
Pitchers
The 2005 UAB squad had some outstanding pitchers who contributed greatly to the Blazers' success. With the loss of seniors Jeff Brown, Adam Price, Cole Helms, Ryan Huffman and Eric Roberts, gone also are 24 victories and 14 saves. This year's Blazer pitching staff will consist of 18 hurlers, including nine new faces.
"Randy Mills (Sr.- Theodore, Ala.) had a good fall. He won some big games for us last year, but faltered some in conference play. It looks like he's addressed those problems and had a very productive fall."
"Jacob Legg (Sr.- Hartselle, Ala.) had a good fall and increased his velocity. He's come back with a renewed attitude about getting hitters out."
"Allen West (Sr.- Saraland, Ala.) is one of those guys who came back this fall with some really good outings. His control is better, his changeup is better, everything about him is better."
"Chandler Miller (Sr.- Dawson, Ga.) is getting his velocity back. There's no question about his competitiveness. Once Chandler gets fully healed from Tommy John surgery, he'll make big contributions."
"Lyle Northington (Sr.- Detroit, Ala.) is a typical lefthander who can just get people out. He'll give up some base hits, but he'll get us a lot of ground balls too. His fall was very productive because he had great command of his stuff."
"Grant Addison (Jr.- Winfield, Ala.) had a couple of good outings in the fall where he showed some good velocity. We need for him to stay healthy and be consistent."
"Stephen Barnett (Jr.- Tuscaloosa, Ala.) has a lot of ways to get hitters out. His breaking ball and changeup are outstanding. We'll be counting on him to be a starter for us this year."
"Mitch Thorn (Jr.- Wetumpka, Ala.) can chew up a lot of innings for us as a starter or in a relief role. He has an excellent slider and the velocity to go with it. He'll attack hitters and get after them."
"Kasey Croft (Jr.- Albertville, Ala.) has got great command of his breaking pitches and can throw those at any time in the count. He's one of those guys who can work some late innings for us. He knows how to attack the hitters."
"Heath Tapscott (So.- Hartselle, Ala.) had an outstanding fall in a lot of areas," said Giangrosso. "He's matured. Some of the things that bothered him last year, he's overcome. In the stats, he topped out as one of our better pitchers in the fall, which we thought he would."
"Jim Crew (So.- Birmingham, Ala.) has always had a great breaking ball, but we made him work on a third pitch this fall and that really helped him. His changeup really looks good. His mound presence has gotten better as well and that helps him get through jams."
"Ben Styes (So.- Clay, Ala.) is a new guy who will really help us. Ben has got a chance to be a force here. We're not real sure how we'll use him as a starter or reliever, but we think he can do either."
"Brandon Flaherty (So.- Clay, Ala) pitched in some very big ballgames for us last year and we're expecting him to do the same this year. The potential is there with Brandon and we have a lot of confidence in him."
"Mikael Saway (Fr.- Birmingham, Ala.) was injured some in the fall, but when he's healthy he threw well."
"Derek Hanks (Fr.- Saraland, Ala.) will be a solid pitcher for us. He's got command and control of his pitches with good velocity."
"We're really pleased with Drew Murray (Fr.- LaGrange, Ga.) who can throw from the top and from the side. He had a very productive fall. Our hitters had trouble with Drew. He's got extraordinary velocity from the side. If he continues with that, he can be a closer for us."
"Kyle Roberson (Fr.- Clay, Ala.) was very impressive in the fall. He's got good arm strength and velocity and he knows how to compete and get hitters out."
"Mitch Kloskowski (Fr.- Rainbow City, Ala.) is another young guy who can impact this program."
