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Excerpts below:
Pitching
The 2010 pitching staff returns 12 pitchers from the 2009 staff that posted a 4.26 ERA, which was 19th-best in the nation. WSU returns 90 percent of its wins from the 2009 pitching staff and 10 pitchers that earned a decision a year ago.
The 2010 pitching staff returns 12 pitchers from the 2009 staff that posted a 4.26 ERA, which was 19th-best in the nation. WSU returns 90 percent of its wins from the 2009 pitching staff and 10 pitchers that earned a decision a year ago.
WSU needs a shut down closer
Catching
The Shockers return two players with experience at the catcher position in senior Cody Lassley and sophomore Chris O’Brien. Lassley started 50 games at catcher a year ago and hit .270 with 16 doubles, four home runs, 25 RBI and nine stolen bases. O’Brien started 56 games overall, but just seven as the catcher as he mostly played third base in 2009. He hit .261 with 11 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 35 RBI.
The Shockers return two players with experience at the catcher position in senior Cody Lassley and sophomore Chris O’Brien. Lassley started 50 games at catcher a year ago and hit .270 with 16 doubles, four home runs, 25 RBI and nine stolen bases. O’Brien started 56 games overall, but just seven as the catcher as he mostly played third base in 2009. He hit .261 with 11 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 35 RBI.
First Base
First team all-Valley selection senior Clint McKeever returns to the Shockers at first base. In 2009, he started all 57 games there and hit .333 with 18 doubles, one triple, six home runs, 43 RBI and six stolen bases.
First team all-Valley selection senior Clint McKeever returns to the Shockers at first base. In 2009, he started all 57 games there and hit .333 with 18 doubles, one triple, six home runs, 43 RBI and six stolen bases.
Second Base
Senior Will Baez returns after starting 51 games at second base a year ago. He hit .275 with nine doubles, one triple, two home runs, 30 RBI and 17 stolen bases.
Senior Will Baez returns after starting 51 games at second base a year ago. He hit .275 with nine doubles, one triple, two home runs, 30 RBI and 17 stolen bases.
Third Base
Sophomore Chris O’Brien started 42 games at third base last season, but will mostly play catcher in 2010. Battling for playing time at third are freshmen Nate Goro and Johnny Coy.
Sophomore Chris O’Brien started 42 games at third base last season, but will mostly play catcher in 2010. Battling for playing time at third are freshmen Nate Goro and Johnny Coy.
Shortstop
Sophomore Tyler Grimes, an honorable mention all-Valley selection in 2009, returns after starting 45 games at shortstop a year ago. He hit .294 with 12 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 26 RBI and 13 stolen bases.
Sophomore Tyler Grimes, an honorable mention all-Valley selection in 2009, returns after starting 45 games at shortstop a year ago. He hit .294 with 12 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 26 RBI and 13 stolen bases.
Outfield
The Shockers return two starters to the outfield in 2010 in senior Ryan Jones and junior Mitch Caster. Jones started 32 games in centerfield and 25 in right field, while Caster started 17 in right field, 12 in left field and one in centerfield. Jones hit .277 with 12 doubles, seven home runs, 36 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Caster hit .231 with four doubles, 10 RBI and five stolen bases.
Sophomore Kevin Hall also returns after starting 12 games in centerfield before stress fractures in his back ended his 2009 season. Before the injury, he hit .256 with two doubles, four RBI and 12 stolen bases.
The Shockers return two starters to the outfield in 2010 in senior Ryan Jones and junior Mitch Caster. Jones started 32 games in centerfield and 25 in right field, while Caster started 17 in right field, 12 in left field and one in centerfield. Jones hit .277 with 12 doubles, seven home runs, 36 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Caster hit .231 with four doubles, 10 RBI and five stolen bases.
Sophomore Kevin Hall also returns after starting 12 games in centerfield before stress fractures in his back ended his 2009 season. Before the injury, he hit .256 with two doubles, four RBI and 12 stolen bases.
Designated Hitter
Former Shocker Josh Rosecrans started 29 games as the designated hitter in 2009. He hit .259 with four doubles and 10 RBI.
There will be a lot of competition for the role, but leading candidates include junior Preston Springer, senior Travis Bennett and sophomore Chris O’Brien.
"There is a lot of competition for the designated hitter position between Preston Springer and Travis Bennett and maybe Chris O’Brien and others," Stephenson said. "It’s a good feeling that we have so much more talent available than we did a year ago.
Former Shocker Josh Rosecrans started 29 games as the designated hitter in 2009. He hit .259 with four doubles and 10 RBI.
There will be a lot of competition for the role, but leading candidates include junior Preston Springer, senior Travis Bennett and sophomore Chris O’Brien.
"There is a lot of competition for the designated hitter position between Preston Springer and Travis Bennett and maybe Chris O’Brien and others," Stephenson said. "It’s a good feeling that we have so much more talent available than we did a year ago.
This has been usually a position to get younger players in the mix who have hitting talent but also had upperclassmen ahead of them. Here is a reminder of past DH's.
1999 - Andy Schreiber 8 HR, 0.607 slugging
2000 - Brad Wright 0.340, Justin McCarty 0.347
2001 - Bryan Erstad 0.325/Brad Wright 0.318
2002 - Drew Moffitt 16 HR, 0.312/0.457/0.623
2003 - Mark Johnson 0.301/Bryan Erstad 0.300
2004 - Mark Johnson 0.333, 5 HR
2005 - Danny Jackson 0.299, 4 HR
2006 - Josh Workman 0.317, 4 HR, 35 SB
2007 - Josh Workman 0.289, 4 HR/Danny Jackson 0.283 4 HR
2008 - Bascue 0.231, Lassley 0.209, Hall 0.320, Caster 0.267
2009 - Engrav 0.281, Rosecrans 0.259, Bascue 0.247
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