The Wabash baseball team will once again be traveling south to start their 2009 season. The Little Giants’ opening game at Birmingham Southern will mark the beginning of a daunting 14-game game road trip that starts this Saturday at Alabama and ends March 18 at Rose-Hulman. The Little Giants will not play their first home game until March 21 against Ohio Wesleyan.
"Even though it’s a grind, we’d much rather travel south and play where it’s 70 degrees than up here where it’s cold," said Head Coach Cory Stevens.
In addition to the obvious climate advantages, Stevens said this trip will be an excellent test for his team.
"I think we’re going to be playing great competition which has already been playing and practicing outside, and that’s what we want," Stevens said.
The team will be playing two games at Birmingham-Southern and one game against Huntingdon College before going to Texas next weekend for games against DeSales, Huston-Tillotson, Texas Lutheran, Schreiner, Howard Payne, Trinity and Paul Quinn College.
Stevens said he has a hard time identifying one specific strength or weakness to this year’s squad.
"It’s tough to say. In past year’s we’ve been able to pinpoint one thing we do really well. Last year it was our pitching and a couple years ago it was our offense. This year, we’re very balanced. We have almost our entire pitching staff back as well as most of our main contributors on offense."
Some of these returning contributors include senior shortstop Matt Dodaro, who led last year’s team in runs scored (30), slugging percentage (.548), stolen bases (13) and home runs (7); sophomore infielder Tanner Coggins, who led the team in batting average (.344), on base percentage (.420), doubles (8), triples (2) and walks (16); and senior outfielder Jake Thomas, who led the team with 46 hits last season.
On the mound, the Little Giants return junior reliever Keegan Leckrone, who led last year’s team in earned run average (1.50), opposing batting average (.158), fewest hits allowed (22), fewest runs allowed (12), wins (5), and saves (4); senior Andy Weeks, who led last year’s starters with a 3.66 era, and senior Mike Korfagen, who led the team in games started (11) and strikeouts (67).
In addition to this cast of veterans, this year’s team also welcomes group of freshmen that Stevens expects to contribute immediately.
"We’ve got a great group of young guys to throw in the mix," Stevens said. "They’re very talented and hard-working."
Some of these freshmen include infielders John Holm and Sam Starbuck, outfielders Chris Deig and Brian Lares, and pitcher Andrew Swart.
Of all the potential benefits of the team’s season opening trip, perhaps the most crucial is the game experience these young players will gain.
"With the young guys, although they’re talented, we want to get them game tested, and take our game plan to the field," Stevens said. "There’s only so much we can do in the fieldhouse."
Stevens said the goal for this year’s team is to break the single-season win record of 25, set by the 1997 and 1998 teams. With the combination of talented youngsters and returning talent, it certainly looks as if that goal is in reach for this year’s Little Giants.
Photos - (top left) Matt Dodaro led the Little Giants last season with seven home runs and 13 stolen bases.
(Bottom right) Keegan Leckrone set a Wabash single season record with a 1.50 earned run average last year.