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RICHMOND, Ky. – Saturday is opening day at Turkey Hughes Field as the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team gets its 2009 campaign underway by hosting Oakland University in a three-game series. Saturday’s doubleheader begins at noon while first pitch for Sunday’s game is set for 1:00 p.m.

EKU leads the all-time series with Oakland, 5-1. The Colonels won the last meeting between the two schools, 10-5, in 2007.

First-year head coach Jason Stein has inherited an EKU team full of experienced hitters and not-so-experienced pitchers in 2009. This is a change of pace in Colonel Country, as the Eastern Kentucky University baseball program has, over the past few seasons, depended on a deep, veteran stable of arms to accompany an opportunistic lineup. This season, however, the Colonels return only five pitchers with Division I experience and only two who recorded a win last year. Of the five returning pitchers, none recorded more than 30 innings of work in 2008.

Christian Friedrich, last year’s OVC Pitcher of the Year and a second-team All-American according to most national publications, was taken in the first round of the 2008 draft by the Colorado Rockies. McKenzie Willoughby (4-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 2008) and Michael Mulholland (3-2 with a 5.87 ERA) graduated. Chris Grider, a 2004 Freshman All-American, hung up his spikes after 2008. Two promising freshmen, Patrick Cooper and Michael Martinez, transferred during the offseason.

“If there is a glaring issue, it’s our pitching,” Stein said. “The incoming freshmen pitchers are dealing with experience issues and need time to develop.”

As inexperienced as the pitching staff is, however, the Colonel offense will be just as experienced.

“We have many of our top hitters back from last year’s team, and we have a couple of surprising additions that will add to that offensive punch,” Stein said.

EKU’s top five hitters from a year ago, in terms of batting average, return to a lineup that ranked fourth in the OVC in overall hitting in 2008. Six of the Colonels’ eight starting position players from last year are back as well. EKU’s veteran lineup will be looked upon to provide enough run support for its inexperienced pitching staff.

Hitting and pitching aside, Stein is convinced the team can win ball games with good defense and aggressive base running.

“Defensively, I was a little concerned with our execution in the fall, but it is a high priority to improve upon that in the spring,” Stein said. “If we can play defense, we’ll be in ball games. A bright spot in the fall was our ability to run the bases aggressively. Our success running the bases will, in turn, put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses.”

Base running should indeed be a strong suit for EKU in 2009. The Colonels led the OVC and were 12th nationally in steals per game last year, and five of their top seven runners are back. 

Despite a thin and unproven pitching staff, Stein expects a great deal out of his 2009 club.

“I expect our players to be consistent in executing the fundamentals of the game,” Stein said. “I expect them to be confident baseball players. And I expect us to play with enthusiasm and an aggressive style in all facets of the game. Our players will be excited, they’ll bring energy to the ballpark and they’ll play with supreme effort at all times. It should be a fun style for fans to watch.”

PITCHING

The Colonels’ top four returning arms are junior Jim Clancy, junior Chris Hord, sophomore Paul Duncan and sophomore Matt Fyffe.

“Those four guys are our probable starters to begin the year,” Stein said. “They earned it in the fall with their ability and execution.”

Clancy spent most of 2008 as the Colonels’ closer. He led the Colonels with 22 appearances, but rarely worked more than an inning. The hard-throwing junior from Lemont, Ill. has solid stuff, but will have to prove he can throw over the length of an entire game in 2009. Hord pitched 30.2 innings last season, the most of any returning pitcher. The Lexington native did not allow a run through his first five outings of 2008. He also possesses excellent control, allowing just nine walks in nearly 31 innings of work last year. Like Clancy, however, he has pitched most of his EKU career out of the bullpen.

Duncan pitched well in the fall and the coaches hope 2009 will be the year he shows why he was a perfect 20-0 in high school. The lanky sophomore from Northfield, Ill. did not allow a hit or a run in his first four outings of 2008 and was one of only three pitchers on staff not to allow a home run. He also recorded his first career save against Miami (Ohio) University on April 29. Fyffe showed potential in 2008, starting two games and picking up the win in both of them. The underclassman from Paintsville, Ky., however, pitched only 15 innings and will undoubtedly be asked to shoulder more of a workload in 2009.

Seniors David Owens and Alex Napier will bring experience out of the bullpen. Owens recorded a perfect 2-0 record last year and, like Hord, possesses great control as he only allowed four walks through 17 innings and did not throw a wild pitch or give up a home run all season. Napier returns to the Colonel staff after sitting out 2008.

Some of the young freshmen who have showed promise on the mound are Greg Terry, Matt Harris and Eric Sanders. “Their roles will either expand or contract based on performance,” Stein said.

Macon Smith, a transfer from the University of the Cumberlands, will also see some work out of the bullpen, as will freshman Jacob Daniel, the Colonels’ only two-way player.

Stein said EKU will close games by committee, at least at the beginning of the season.

INFIELD

EKU returns three of its four starting infielders from a year ago. Tyler Barnett, the Colonels’ shortstop in 2008, was picked up by the Atlanta Braves in the 22nd round of the MLB Draft. However, there is still plenty of firepower around the diamond.

Junior first baseman Anthony Ottrando is back. Ottrando led the Colonels with a .354 batting average a year ago. He was also tops on the team with 47 RBI and a .436 on-base percentage, all while playing solid defense at first base throughout the season. At the other corner will be sophomore third baseman Jayson Langfels. Langfels ended a fantastic freshman campaign with a .304 batting average, a team-leading .511 slugging percentage and an OVC-leading eight triples. His eight triples were a school record and the second most in the nation. Langfels was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American for his efforts.

EKU returns one half of its middle infield in the form of senior second baseman Tyler Rehmel. Rehmel played a variety of positions last year but will most likely find a more permanent home at second base this season. The versatile and durable senior was the only Colonel to play in all 54 games of 2008. He hit .306 with a team-leading five home runs. The task of replacing Barnett at shortstop will most likely fall to freshman Richie Rodriguez. Stein said Rodriguez, a Miami, Fla. native, “looks very promising at shortstop.” Stein also noted that Rehmel and senior Matt Davis will help out at shortstop if the circumstances call for it.

Freshmen Alan Abreu and Dustin Dunlop will also compete for playing time in the infield. “Their performance will dictate how much time they get,” Stein said.

CATCHERS

Following the loss of three-year starter Joe Oliver, the Colonels will depend on brand new faces at the catcher position in 2009.

Junior college transfer Joey Stevens had a productive fall and will most likely be the opening-day starter. Stevens hit .315 with 12 doubles and two home runs during his second year at Pensacola Junior College. A 32nd round draft pick of the Diamondbacks in 2007, Stevens also threw out 81 percent of runners who tried to steal on him at PJC.

Freshman #A.J. Jamison# will also see time at catcher. The Boonsboro, Md. native batted a school-record .596 as a senior at Williamsport High School and was named All-Area Hitter of the Year.

“Stevens will be counted on to do most of the work behind the plate, although Jamison performed very well offensively in the fall,” Stein said.

OUTFIELD

Like the infield, the Colonel outfield is well-stocked with veterans, including seniors Matt Davis and Aaron Barrows. Davis will patrol center field and, “brings speed and aggressiveness to that position,” Stein said. Davis, who has been a consistent .300 hitter during his career at EKU, batted .302 last year with three home runs, five triples and a team-best 49 runs scored. Barrows, according to Stein, “is an experienced outfielder who runs well and will probably have left field locked down.” Barrows was second on the team last season with a .339 batting average. He also scored 43 runs and belted 14 doubles.

Sophomore Ryan Faidley will start in right field on opening day. Faidley, who started in left field all of last season, was named to the OVC All-Freshman team in 2008 after batting .248 with 21 runs scored and 27 RBI.

Other players who will compete for jobs in the outfield are freshmen Jacob Daniel, Michael Garcia and Jeff Emerich.

DESIGNATED HITTER

Stein noted that the designated hitter position may likely fall to a freshman.

“Garcia, Abreu, Jamison and Dunlop are all promising young hitters that will compete for the designated hitter position throughout the season,” Stein said.