Baseball ready for start of 2009 season
ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - The Brock University baseball team will open the 2009 OUA regular season on the road this weekend when they travel to Waterloo on September 5th and McMaster, the defending OUA Champions, on September 6th.
"We are very positive about battling for the OUA Championship in 2009," said head coach Jeff Lounsbury. "We lost a handful of top players from a year ago, but many key returning guys have stepped up their role and worked hard to improve their game. We also have a core group of talented newcomers that will make an immediate impact for us in their first year at Brock."
To the coaching staff the Badgers have added former Major Leaguer and 20-year pro Scott Bullet who will be our hitting instructor and recent graduate and student of the game Adam Cholewka who will be our fielding coach.
"Having Scott's professional playing experience and coaching expertise and Adam's knowledge of the game will help our young players improve their overall performance," explained Lounsbury.
Despite losing three of the top pitchers in the OUA last season, including southpaw Jason Ermers, and righthanders Jordan Prosper and Wes Koch, the Badgers still have a strong nucleus returning as well as a core of talented newcomers. In the Badgers starting rotation in 2009 will be seniors Nathan Penrose (Hamilton, Ont.) and Matt Martinow (Simcoe, Ont.), Mickey Campaneau (Mississauga, Ont.) (who was on the DL in 2008) and transfer Jason Champ (London, Ont.).
Out of the bullpen Brock has seven returnees led by TC Murray (St. Catharines, Ont.) and Kyle Porter (Pickering, Ont.). Newcomers who will play a key role include transfers Dave Gardiner (Ingersoll, Ont.) and Chris Plummer (Niagara Falls, Ont.).
Top returnees in the infield include Casey Burnie (Peterborough, Ont.), Justin Parro (Whitby, Ont.), 2008 Brock Rookie of the Year Matt Kissel (Whitby, Ont.) and fifth year utility players Mike Walker (Guelph, Ont.) and Korie Assivero (Barrie, Ont.). Key newcomers in the infield who will be key contributors this season are Garrett Fisher (Niagara Falls, Ont.) and Mitch Peragine (Hamilton, Ont.) along with freshman Bill Steven (Fonthill, Ont.).
Behind the plate, the sophomore duo of Justin Tamane (Aurora, Ont.) and Cameron Graham (Sarnia, Ont.) will see the majority of playing time.
In the outfield, the Badgers have seniors Ben Sylvester (Brantford, Ont.) and TC Murray returning as well as sophomore Craig Jacques (Delhi, Ont.). Added into the mix will be transfers Brad Vaters (Tillsonburg, Ont.), Ryan Dear (Dunnville, Ont.) and freshman Matt Marinelli (Pickering, Ont.).
