The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB BASEBALL PREVIEW -- RELIEF PITCHERS
2/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 14, 2006
The following is the fifth in a series of bi-weekly stories on UABSports.com examining the 2006 Blazers, position by position. Each Tuesday and Thursday until the first game of the season February 17, we'll preview a different position. Today: Relief Pitchers.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Whether its a 10-9 slugfest, or a 2-1 pitcher's duel, a game is often decided when the coach walks out to the mound and makes the signal to his bullpen to shut the door. From a good closer to reliable setup men, this group of arms can be directly responsible for a team's ability to finish out games, or for leads to disappear.
The Blazers have the tough task of breaking in new talent in this year's new look Conference USA, as UAB graduated 24 wins and 14 saves from the 2005 staff. An infusion of arms from the junior college and prep ranks and experienced returnees hope to lead the Blazers back to the conference tournament for a third straight season.
"We're really excited about our pitching staff," said head coach Larry Giangrosso. "We've got several guys who have pitched and have some experience within the league. We feel like we've got some good, young arms that can help us and give us a lot of depth. That was the whole theme throughout our recruiting process last year, to build depth. One of the places we knew we were losing a lot of guys was on the pitching staff. We wanted to make sure we had enough guys who would allow us to go through a 56-game schedule. We are confident that we have four or five quality starters and good arms in the bullpen to close the game out."
One of the best stories coming out of the UAB camp in 2006 has been the resiliency of senior Allen West. West returns in 2006 after battling arm injuries early is his Blazer career. He started off strong as a freshman, making eight appearances in relief, allowing only a .107 opposing batting average, three hits and had 10 strikeouts in 8.2 innings of work. The injury bug bit him in 2004, sidelining him for the entire season. Determined to bounce back from adversity, West reappeared in 2005 working in relief for UAB. Two years removed from the arm trouble that plagued him, look for West's arm strength to be better than ever and have him hold down a spot in the Blazer bullpen. "We are proud of the progress that Allen has made. Everything about his game is better. He has a good arm and will provide solid depth for us," said Giangrosso.
Brandon Flaherty returns to the hill for Giangrosso's squad this season, posting solid numbers and gaining experience during his freshman campaign. Flaherty's bulldog attitude and willingness to take the ball have the coaching staff excited about the progress he has made in his short time at UAB. "We expect the experience he gained last season to pay off this year. He is an aggressive pitcher who thinks he can get every hitter out," commented Giangrosso.
A durable arm for the Blazers in 2005, Flaherty posted a 3.60 ERA in 12 appearances. He struck out 18 batters in 20 innings while holding opponents to a .257 batting average. The native of Clay, Ala. has shown the ability to be take the ball on a day-to-day basis, as he put together back-to-back one inning, scoreless relief appearances against Tennessee Tech and at Birmingham-Southern. Look for Flaherty to be a reliable contributor out of the pen in 2006, and for Giangrosso to call on the sophomore to contribute quality innings for the Blazers.
Kasey Croft comes to UAB from nearby Gadsden State Community College, where the right hander played two years for coach Bill Lockridge. A relief specialist, Croft was a vital piece of his team's success during his tenure at Gadsden. The native of Albertville, Ala. recorded 26 strikeouts in 20.1 innings pitched as a freshman in 2004. Moved to the closer spot as a sophomore, he led the Cardinals with 10 saves in 26.2 innings.
Croft brings pinpoint command and good makeup to the UAB staff, and could see action as the primary setup man or in the closer's role for the Blazers in 2006. "He has great command and is precise on the mound. He's going to log some big innings and will be one the first pitchers out of the bullpen," said Giangrosso. Look for Croft to establish himself as a quality arm that can preserve leads and shut down the opposition for the Blazers in 2006.
Drew Murray comes to the Blazers after a great career at LaGrange High School, where he pitched for coach Donnie Branch. Murray's career will start quickly for UAB, as the freshman has shown the coaching staff that he is ready for prime time. "He is a very talented young pitcher. He has great makeup and he will be a key arm out of the bullpen for us this year," said Giangrosso. A winning pitcher with a strong mentality, he helped lead his high school squad to three region championships and the 2004 state championship. He was twice named all-area by the LaGrange Daily News, and is poised for a great start in his Blazer career.
