The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
2009 Preview: UAB On The Mound
2/15/2009 12:00:00β―AM | Baseball
Feb. 15, 2009
With the college baseball season less than one week away, uabsports.com offers a three-day look at the 2009 Blazer baseball team. This is the third in the installment of previews and focuses on the UAB pitching. Friday's preview examined the UAB hitters, while Saturday's looked at the Blazer defense.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The 2009 UAB pitching staff could be the strongest and deepest group third-year head coach Brian Shoop has had in his tenure with the Blazers.
The staff returns five pitchers with significant starting experience in addition to a number of returning relievers. UAB also welcomes the addition of seven new hurlers, having made pitching a top priority in recruiting.
"Our first two years here, we often were not able to announce a complete weekend rotation," Shoop said. "This year, we'll announce a weekend rotation, and it'll be a very competitive one. We think our pitching depth is better. With the combination of who we return and who we've brought in, there's no question our pitching staff is improved."
The starting rotation is likely to feature right-handed seniors Kyle Roberson and Mitch Kloskowski along with sophomore left-hander Shay Crawford. The trio has combined for 62 starts at UAB with Kloskowski leading the way at 29.
Roberson and Kloskowski posted identical 6-6 records in 2008, and Roberson led the staff with a 4.64 ERA. Kloskowski, who struck out a team-best 61 batters, spent much of the season as the Blazers' Friday starter, while Roberson moved into the rotation for the final six weeks of the season. He was named to the C-USA All-Tournament Team after defeating Rice in the opening round.
Crawford was limited by injury in 2008 but returns after receiving a medical redshirt. He was a starter for UAB in 2007 and was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team after going 4-4 in 13 starts.
"Kyle Roberson will start Friday; Shay Crawford is back off a medical hardship will start Saturday; and Mitch Kloskowski will start Sunday," Shoop said at Thursday's Alabama Sportswriters Baseball Media Day. "We've got a competitive rotation, and our frontline guys will match up well."
Senior James Oliver also returns for UAB after starting eight games a season ago. He could see some action in a starting role, or he could come out of the bullpen in 2009, but he will play a major role either way.
Additionally, the pitching staff returns experienced players in seniors Johnny Volk -- who started seven games last season -- and Benji Waite, juniors Robert Brewster, Beau Pender and Mikael Saway, and sophomores Blake Huddleston, Trey Vice and Jeff Younger.
The seven new additions to the pitching staff include four transfers in junior right-handers Nick Graffeo, Tristan Farrell, Mark McKinley and Ryan Woolley.
Graffeo finished the 2008 season with a 0.98 ERA, the second-lowest at the junior college level, at Olney Central College. McKinley, a transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, led the junior college ranks with 13 saves, while Farrell was 11-4 over his two seasons at Chattahoochee Valley Community College.
The Blazers' three additional new pitchers are freshmen right-handers Payton Gardner and Jacob Nix and freshman left-hander Colin McMurry.
