<< Front page Sports March 12, 2004

Baseball prepares for season

Team aims high for new season

Pinpoint release: Junior Ryan Drews sends a rocket from the outfield while attempting to learn the new position.
 

Spring-like weather followed by snow is a sure sign that baseball is just around the corner. The Yeomen nine will open their season at Thiel College on Monday, March 15.

Having lost only one starter, head coach Eric Lahetta sees this year’s version of the team as “very similar to last year’s… the team has another year under their belt.” Lahetta added that he is looking for a “record-breaking year for Oberlin baseball.”

Here is a position by position breakdown of this year’s Yeomen team:

OF — Senior captain and four-year starter Troy DeWitt will start in right field when he’s not pitching. As one of the squad’s best hitters, sophomore Landon Lerner has the edge for the starting left field position going into the season. Senior Ian Haynes, junior Ryan Drews and sophomore Chad Kutting will compete to replace 2004 graduate Zach Pretzer in center field. Strictly a pitcher until this season, Drews is attempting to add the outfield to his resume. Senior co-captain Joe Crisp and junior Steve Willever expect to be worked into the lineup throughout the season as well.

1B — Sophomore left-hander Joe Sheehan and junior right-hander Kyle Neumeier will split time at first this season. The Oberlin offense will look to Neumeier for big run production this season after his outstanding 2003 campaign. Lahetta has high hopes for the offense this season. He said this team has the potential to have “one of the best offensive years in Oberlin history.” Senior pitcher and third baseman John Damron expressed confidence in Neumeier’s bat: “If the top of our lineup can get on base, I know he’ll be able to drive them in.”

2B — Sophomores Nick Broughton and Noah Streib return to compete for the starting second base position. Broughton is attempting to play despite rotator cuff problems, but should the injury flare up, the Yeomen’s depth will come in handy as first-year Jesse Cullen-Dupont will also be able to step in and hold down the position. Because of his strong throwing arm, Cullen-Dupont will also see some time at third base in the coming year.

SS — Senior Chris Bamat will see the majority of playing time at short, but first-year understudy Seth Binder has been impressive and will be ready to step in if called upon. “He’ll be ready to start, if not this year, next year for sure,” Damron said.

3B — The hot corner will be a revolving door for the Yeomen this year, not because of a lack of choice talent, but because so many of the team’s third basemen can also be of use elsewhere on the diamond. Damron, junior co-captain Andrew Caprariello and Cullen-Dupont will all play the position. When not playing third, Damron and Caprariello will help make up the team’s battery, the former as a right-handed pitcher and the latter behind the plate.

C — Neumeier and Caprariello will split time catching in 2004. Both players will help make up the heart of the batting order and will play alternate positions so that their bats will not be absent from the lineup. Homegrown product first-year Rick Betzel of Elyria and senior Wes Kania provide depth at the position.

DH — One name that Yeomen baseball fans can expect to see day in and day out is senior B.J. Belville, the designated hitter. Damron said that he believes that Belville will supply a balance to the offense. “[Belville has] good power from the left side,” Damron said.

P — The Yeomen’s success this year will hinge largely on the performance of their pitching staff. Lahetta said baseball “centers itself around pitching…[We have] experienced veterans who have to go out there and give us a chance to win every day.” The veteran hurlers that the team is counting on are DeWitt (LHP), senior Peter Wyatt (RHP), Drews (RHP) sophomore Steve Solomon (RHP) and Damron (RHP). All five will start and be expected to eat innings all season long. Out of the bullpen, the team features four right-handers: junior Ryan Squatrito and first-years Jaremy Rich, Jonah Teitelbaum and Olin Bekis, who will be looking to make impacts in their premiere seasons. Caprariello and Sheehan may also toe the Dill Field rubber.

The Yeomen open their season on Monday, March 15, at Thiel College, in Thiel, Pa. The team’s home opener is on April 3, a doubleheader against Kenyon at 1 p.m.


 
 
   

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