Feb. 26, 2010

Preseason Baseball Photo Gallery

The 2010 UMass Lowell baseball season opens on Saturday, Feb. 27, as the River Hawks travel to Morehead City, NC for a double-header with East Stroudsburg and Southern Connecticut State. Looking to build off of last year's 25-21 campaign (15-15 NE-10), head coach Ken Harring feels the team is poised for post-season success.

"I see a team that has worked extremely hard to overcome some of the challenges we've faced in the past couple of years," said Harring. "We're a team that expects to make the NCAA Regional Tournament every year and put ourselves in the position to get to a College World Series."

A Work of Art

Three-time Cy Young winner and Los Angeles Dodger great, Sandy Koufax once said, "Pitching is the art of instilling fear." The UMass Lowell pitching staff will look to perfect that art as they bring a frightening arsenal of power and prestige to the mound this season.

The River Hawk trophy case is stuffed with honors after last season's performance on the mound, due in large part to junior Ted Haley (Cranston, RI) and sophomore Jack Leathersich (Beverly, MA).

Haley was a Northeast-10 Second-Team All-Star and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-East Region First-Team selection in 2009. He also earned recognition this year as an East Region Pre-Season All-American in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

Leathersich received a bevy of accolades as well, being named the NE-10 Freshman Pitcher of the Year, a conference First-Team All-Star and a member of the All-Rookie Team. The talented lefty then took part in the 2009 New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) All-Star game and was named the number one prospect in the Valley Baseball League this summer by PG Cross Checker.

The dynamic duo was not alone as sophomore closer Dallas Nunes (Easton, MA) was a NE-10 Third-Team All-Star and an All-Rookie Team selection. Nunes posted a 2-2 record with a 2.27 ERA and eight saves in 20 games. He capped the year third in the NE-10 in saves and tied for fifth in appearances.

"The bread and butter of our team is the depth and strength of our pitching staff," Harring says.

"I've got eight guys I feel can beat anybody on any given day. It's going to pay dividends in the long run. Guys are going to get dinged up, some guys are going to need rest and having another quality arm to throw right out there is the difference between this year and the last couple of years."

A hidden bonus for the River Hawks will be the return of oft-maligned senior right-hander Dan White (Southboro, MA). White has submitted a 9-6 record and a 3.56 earned run average (ERA) over the past three seasons, but has been limited to 21 appearances and 16 starts. The Southboro native's best season came as a freshman, registering a 3-1 record with a 2.96 ERA and two shutouts.

"When Dan White is healthy he is as good as any pitcher in this conference," Harring said. "He is 6'6" and throws on that high plane with probably the best command of our pitchers."

Going on the Offensive

The biggest challenge for UMass Lowell in 2010 will be offense, a difficulty exacerbated by the season-ending injury to NE-10 All-Rookie selection Pat Devlin (Tewksbury, MA).

"To see one of your top guns go down during the second practice of the year was a blow to the team, both mentally and physically, but it is something we have to overcome," Harring said. "Injuries happen to every team and that's why it is called a team."

Devlin was the lead-off hitter for the 2009 squad and senior second baseman JT Leary (Newburyport, MA) will look to seize the opportunity.

"JT Leary can really run, he works counts and is getting better jumps at first base," said Harring. "We tinkered with it in inter squad scrimmages last weekend and it came out to our advantage. I think he'll do great at the top of the order."

The team will also benefit from the influx of talented freshman and experienced transfers from the now defunct Vermont program like James Katsiroubas (Milton, MA).

"Katsirousbas at shortstop has brought athleticism up the middle with a tremendous arm," said Harring of his new player. "He brings a presence in the middle of our order that is going to make other hitters better in our lineup."

The Real Season is the Post-Season

The River Hawks have set several goals for the 2010, eyeing a trip to the NCAA Tournament and beyond.

"If things go the way we expect, we think this team can go to the World Series," Harring said. "If that's not your ultimate goal every time you start a new season, you should get out of the business."

"Our first goal this weekend is to go down and win our first game, first series and get of to a good start."

As any coach will tell you, mixing pitching, defense and offense together to form a winning combination is art all of its own.