The Mountaineer baseball team will embark on the toughest non-conference schedule in school history this weekend as it takes part in the Big East/Big Ten challenge in Florida for the fourth consecutive season.
"I think it is probably the toughest non-conference stretch we’ve had," said WVU coach Greg Van Zant. "We usually play the first three weekends of the season on the road but this year we got the opportunity to get a huge (financial) guarantee from Nike to play in the first Nike Showcase. We talked about what an opportunity it would be for our guys to play in that event so we decided to go on the road for that fourth weekend as well."
The Mountaineers will play Northwestern, Penn State, Iowa and Michigan in St. Petersburg this weekend. The team will face Virginia Tech, North Carolina State, and George Mason next weekend in Conway, South Carolina. Then comes a trip to play Nebraska, Minnesota and New Mexico State at the MetroDome in Minneapolis during the first weekend in March. That Nike event comes up starting March 9th in Oregon against Oregon State, Oklahoma, Oregon and Illinois.
"We’ve got a lot of young guys so it will be interesting to see how they respond to all of this," Van Zant said. "I don’t care what sport you play when you play 14 of your first 16 games on the road you’ve got your work cut out for you. But we are looking forward to the challenge."
The Mountaineers have a pair of experienced sophomores to anchor the starting pitching staff. Lefty Marshall Thompson and righthander Corey Walter from Wheeling are both expecting to get starts this weekend. Thompson won five games last year and as he pitched the most innings of any returning pitcher last year with 66.
"It’s a big opportunity for me as two of our weekend starters from last year (Andy Berry and Josh McCauley) graduated," Walter said. "I got great experience last year (with 55 innings pitched) and I learned at this level you have to pitch smart to every single batter and you have to keep the ball down in the strike zone."
The Mountaineers will return veteran lefthander Eric Hinkle after he missed all of last year after undergoing Tommy John arm surgery. Hinkle is a candidate to pitch in Big East Conference games this year.
WVU returns a wealth of experience in the bullpen. Ryan Tezak led the team with four saves as a freshman. Sophomore righthander Josh Harlow from Shinnston is also a candidate to close games this year. Junior college transfer Dan Dierdorff will also see plenty of action as he finished as the all time leader in innings pitched at Frederick Community College.
The Mountaineers also have experience returning in the outfield. Junior Brady Wilson started all 55 games a year ago as he hit .330 and finished second on the team in runs scored. Wilson will move from right field to center this year.
Nitro High School graduate Matt Frazer is back as a third year junior. An injured leg limited Frazer to just 28 at bats last year but he is expected to be a key middle of the order hitter this season.
Junior Chris Rasky will also start in the outfield. Rasky could develop into a big run producer as he hit .286 with 21 RBI in 36 starts a year ago.
The inexperience will be in the infield this year as newcomers will take over at second, short and third. The only player returning with experience is first baseman Ryan McBroom who hit .246 with eight extra base hits and 24 RBI in 35 starts. McBroom started his college career as a pitcher until he got an opportunity to swing the bat when he came in during the fall 2010.
"I asked for an at bat and I started to hit the ball hard in every at bat," McBroom said. "Coach Van Zant liked what he saw and he quickly asked me what position I played. So he put me at first and it kind of went from there."
"We’ve got a lot of junior college guys and freshman with a lot of talent," McBroom said. "Last year we were all seniors on the infield. But I believe I know how to lead after watching guys like Grant Buckner.
Polonius is a native of the small Caribbean country of Curacao. He was 30th round draft pick of the 2011 MLB draft by the Cleveland Indians. He then spent two seasons at Genesee Community College in New York were he .370 with 16 extra base hits and 21 steals last year.
Antone produced a .426 batting average with 66 hits, 52 runs, 52 RBIs, 27 doubles, three triples and three home runs at Potomac State last year.
Freshman Justin Fox from Magnolia will likely see time this year as well. Fox can play middle infield and also catch. He was the Kennedy Award winner as West Virginia’s top high school football player in 2010.
Redshirt freshman Max Nogay will start the season as WVU’s catcher. Nogay played on state champion baseball and football teams at Madonna High School in Weirton. Nogay, however, has never caught a game at any level.
"He played shortstop in high school," Van Zant said. "He worked as a bullpen catcher and he worked hard in the fall to learn how to call a game and we have great confidence in him."
The Mountaineers have been bitten by injuries before the season even begins. Lefthanded starter Harrison Musgrave will miss the season with an arm injury. Top Hitter Dan DiBartolomeo saw his college baseball career come to an end due to an unfortunate series of shoulder injuries. DiBartolomeo managed to play in 40 games last year as he hit .338. DiBartolomeo hit .439 back in 2009.
"We are excited about the potential of this team," Van Zant said. "We have only three returning starters so we are inexperienced. But it’s not like we have a bunch of freshman. These guys have worked hard and they can play."