University of Massachusets Athletics
Baseball Opens Season This Weekend With Three In Florida
February 26, 2009 | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2009
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The UMass baseball team is set to open its season on Friday morning against Northwestern in Winter Haven, Fla. The Minutemen face the Wildcats on Friday and Saturday and then play Fairfield on Sunday. UMass finished 2008 with a 18-27 record, 11-16 in conference play, including its first Beanpot Championship since 2000. Check out this year's season preview, a question and answer with head coach Mike Stone.
How does the infield stack up this season?
"Beginning at catcher, which is a position we are young and inexperienced at, we will be looking to freshman Tom Conely to be our starter. He has shown a lot of potential during the preseason. Behind him will be junior Ben Kessel, sophomore Corey Volpicelli, or freshman Kevin Spatkowski. All of these guys have shown the potential to be able to mature quickly and really become contributors for us.
"As for the remaining infield positions, we will have sophomore Pete Copa at first base. There has been a lot of competition at that position. He has improved a lot and really worked hard to get there; he's worked a lot on his offensive game as well. Playing behind him will be senior Jim Macdonald.
"Next to Copa, at second base, will be senior Adam Tempesta. Tempesta has really been our best player for the past three years he has been here. He was one of three players to hit over .300 last season. Senior Sam Boone is the player that will likely back Tempesta up, though he is one of a few players that has the ability to move around the infield.
"We have brought in a junior college transfer, Austin Weymouth, who came here from Scottsdale Community College and will be our starting shortstop. He has really been improving and working hard, and he really looks like he will be a solid player for us up the middle. Behind him we will see freshman Brent Hopkins.
"The final piece to our infield will be MacDonald at third base. He has been very good in the preseason and has played third before, so he brings a lot of experience to that side of the field as well. Third base will be another position where we can use a player like Boone, or even sophomore Matt Gedman, because they both allow us some flexibility in moving people around the infield, depending on who is pitching."
What can fans expect from the outfield this season?
"Heading into the season we will have sophomore Kyle Multner and senior Jim Cassidy competing for the left field position. Cassidy can also be the designated hitter at times because he is a good lead-off man and he steals bases.
"In center field will be junior Brian Baudinet, who is one of our tri-captains, along with MacDonald and Tempesta. He was also a very good player for us last year (.351, 5 HR, 23 RBI) and it looks like he will have even more of a breakout year for us in 2009. Behind him will mainly be Cassidy, but freshman Alex Fischer may see some action there as well.
"In right field we return our two-year starter, junior Mike Donato. He is a good player, has a great arm, hits in the middle of the line-up, and is a good defensive player as well. Junior Garrett Glashoff will be backing him up."
Take us through the pitchers. Who will be counted on?
"At this point we have six guys that are all likely to be starting and have the potential to be weekend guys as well. Junior Jared Freni, junior Bryan Leigh, and senior Mike Dicato are our three top guys as of right now, and they are followed closely by senior Mitchell Clegg, sophomore Nick Serino, and senior Mitchell Eilenberg.
"In the past we have had Cassidy as a weekend guy before his arm injury, while we have added Glen Misho, who is a freshman and has shown a lot of promise, as well as Mike Gedman, who has been throwing well. Eilenberg may also see more of a starting role this season.
"We are looking to Misho and sophomore Sam McDonough to close-out games as well as Eilenberg. Eilenberg led the team with seven saves last season. The three will be either middle relief, set up, or closing. A lot of times we like to use weekend guys to close out a game during a week game, and a mid-week guy to close out during the weekend. My philosophy is that whoever is well rested and we have the most confidence in will pitch at that point, so that's how we determine the weekend, weekday shuffle."
What are your thoughts on this year's schedule?
"Our schedule this season is definitely challenging. In the beginning we play Northwestern and Northeastern, then Fairfield, and then we go to Arizona for three games. It's going to be a challenge, especially when you add in the Virginia schedule."
What are your overall thoughts about the year to come?
"Over the past few years, we haven't really done as well as we would like to have done overall win wise, but we also feel we have improved from last year. We have everyone back on our pitching staff except for one person. We have also improved from how young the team was last season, so at this point we are encouraged. Defensively and offensively we have some new people in the lineup; we have a new first baseman, a new catcher, and a new shortstop. People have improved and taken charge towards the opportunities they have, so we are really encouraged that we have put together a good ball club."