Baseball look: Pitchers
February 17, 2008
Troy’s 2007 pitching staff struggled through the fall with practices at a small Hogan’s Hole at Charles Henderson High School. Pop-ups were home runs and confidence was down.
Since the return to the college diamond at Riddle-Pace, production has improved.
“This is the most improved part of our team,“ head coach Bobby Pierce said.
Troy has four games this weekend against Rhode Island. Senior Ryan Ellison (RHP) will start on Opening Day and has the first chance to be the Friday guy this year. Ellison has been brilliant at times, bad at others.
“He certainly has earned the Opening Day start,“ Pierce said. “He’s a very capable pitcher that has experience. It is his turn to step up and carry the load.“
In Saturday’s doubleheader, junior Travis Burge, (LHP) who transferred in from Florida State, will pitch the first game. Returning sophomore Tim Wheeler (RHP) will pitch in game 2 and likely be the Sunday guy during the season. Andrew Dickinson (RHP), a 6-foot-5 JUCO transfer, will start the fourth game.
“He’s really stepped up and thrown the ball very well,“ Pierce said of Dickinson.
With the season starting two weeks later than normal, the pitching load will increase. Pierce is hoping his starters can go 6-7 innings with a 90-pitch count since Sun Belt play will start two weeks later and a trip to No. 1 Arizona State is the week after that.
The first reliever Troy fans could see is freshman A.J. Howard (LHP). The former Houston County standout was a two-time Dothan Eagle Player of the Year in high school.
“He’s improved significantly since he arrived here,“ Pierce said. “We’re going to throw him into the fire very early.“
Also in that first game, senior Neal Jordan (RHP), a 6-foot-6 pitcher with a sidearm delivery, could see action leading into Josh Storm (RHP), a JUCO transfer from Chipola JC. Storm is slated to be the closer this year.
In the second game, the relieving rotation looks like this - freshman Drew Hull (RHP), returning senior JJ Whetsel (RHP) and returning senior Rob Brown. (RHP)
Whetsel missed last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
“All he needs to do is knock off some of the rust,“ Pierce said.
Four other pitchers have put themselves in a position to see action - returning junior Eric Hanssen (RHP), who redshirted last year, returner Pete Van Horn (RHP - I think he got a redshirt last year but I’m not sure, so he’s either a JR or SR), returning junior Steven Morelock (LHP), who redshirted last year and is coming off labrum surgery and Mike Powers (RHP), who transferred from Maine.
In Troy’s first midweek game Feb. 26 against Kennesaw State, Hanssen and Powers are likely candidates to start.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Baseball look: Outfielders
Baseball look: Infielders
Baseball look: Catchers
