Men’s Baseball preview

By Cody Dalton

With football season over, basketball season cranking into the final gear and winter leaving us, baseball is getting ready to kick off another exiting season here on campus.

After a turnaround season last year that saw the Cavaliers go from 12-13 in 2005 to 28-19 in 2006, the team is ready to surprise, yet again, in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC).

“This year’s team has been working hard to become a whole,” said shortstop Jorge LaBoy. “I think this upcoming season the team has been working hard to improve from last year’s performance”.

“I expect us to perform well this season,” said junior pitcher Brock Funk. “We are a little young but, we also have a lot of experience from last year.”

The Cavaliers lost six seniors on the team last season, including Nathan Kiser and Wil Childress, who both hit .325. Childress had 41 hits, 4 home runs and 24 RBI for the Cavs, while Kiser had 40 hits, 5 home runs and 32 RBI.

The team also lost Jon Ryan Reed, the Appalachian Athletic Conference batting champion.

“Anytime you lose three hitters like Jon, Nathan, and Wil, it leaves some big holes to fill,” Funk said. “As a whole this year we are better conditioned and I believe we will perform better offensively.”

While the team will be hurting from the losses of Reed, Kiser and Childress, they have many great returning starters.

Seniors Jeremy Wright, John Bigley and Andrew Anderson lead the team with experience. Wright will be a solid bat and play outfield, while Anderson contributes as a third basemen. Bigley will serve as a pitcher and a designated hitter.

“I think the losses of veteran players effects the team,” LaBoy said. “I think we have covered these areas and have a great threat in the middle of our order.”

A majority of the team’s offense will come from junior shortstop LaBoy and sophomore second basemen Edwin Narvaez. LaBoy hit .340 for the team last season and added 52 hits and a team high 5 homeruns. Narvaez also contributed 48 hits and three home runs, while hitting .304. Both men also gave the Cavaliers 31 RBI each.

“Edwin and Jorge give us a lot of hits and runs,” Funk said. “Having two guys like that definitely helps our lineup.”

As far as pitching goes, the Cavaliers will have junior Brock Funk returning. Funk pitched with a 3.58 ERA and held a 7-1 record in 11 total appearances. He also had 2 complete games and led the team in all, but a few pitching categories. Other returning pitchers will include junior David Jones and sophomore Josh Verts.

“We have good pitchers this year,” said Edwin Narvaez. “I think we have done a good job filling in our roster holes too. If all of these things work well together, I think we are going to win a lot of games.”

The team was voted to finish in 5th place in the Pre-Season poll with 42 votes. The Cavs only trailed Tennessee Wesleyan, who had 70 votes, Union with 63, Montreat with 59, and Bluefield College with 45.

The Cavaliers season is already off to a good start, with two victories at Emmanuel College, 14-4 and 14-1, and a loss, 10-8. The Cavaliers have two remaining road contests at Toccoa Falls and one individual contest at Virginia Intermont before they return home for the first time.

The Cavaliers play their first home game – against West Virginia Tech – on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 1:00 p.m. at Stallard Field.

(February 12, 2007)