ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK (2-2,0-0)
2010 RPI: 140
Starters Returning: 5
Weekend Starters: 1
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 4
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All Conference Candidates:
2B Jason Houston (.297-14-53, 11SBs, .983 defense)
1B Jake Rowell (.308-8-48, .990 defense)
3B Casey McCollum (.310)
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The Good News:
Year two of the Scott Norwood era got off to a flying start with last year’s 10-2 early season mark. Let’s hope his Trojans can do that again… and then build off it. One thing is for sure, improvement is showing, as witnessed by the teams’ jump from No. 233 in the RPI in 2009 to 140 last season. The all-senior infield of 1B Rowell, 2B Houston, SS Brock Feldmann (.293, 10SBs) and 3B McCollum (.310) will be a huge building block for this team. J.C. transfers OF Cameron Bentley and LHP Dillon Wilson had huge falls and could push for All Conference consideration. Also, two players worth watching will be Catcher Niko Navarro, a 2007 22nd round draftee of the Pirates, and 1B/3B Cody Gilles, a J.C. All American in ‘09, both players sat out last season and will make big contributions this time around.
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The Bad News:
Despite the early season success, UALR lost it confidence quickly when it came to conference play, slogging out to a 4-14 start in the SBC and eventually not making the conference tournament as the 9th place team. Do not repeat that, obviously. There are six returning senior hurlers that got a lot of use last season, but none of them had an ERA below 6.00, so there will be a lot of depth, but it needs to be quality depth. Some new pitchers will have to make the adjustment to D-1 level baseball in a hurry, which is never a great circumstance to count on. Finding a new bullpen ace to replace J.R. Boling, who had eight saves and a 4.31 ERA last season. (http://blogs.eastonbaseball.com/coll...lt-conference/)
The Trajoans split a four game series in Nacogdoches, Tx against Stephen F. Austin over the weekend. The following is a link to their stats from the opening weekend.
Player avg gp-gs ab r h 2b 3b hr rbi tb slg% bb hbp so gdp ob% sf sh sb-att po a e fld%