SFA To Open Cardenas Era On Saturday
2/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - With a new head coach, new pitching coach and a new-look stadium as its home, the Lumberjack baseball team has high hopes for a new season, one that it will open up on Saturday with a pair of games against Mississippi Valley State and Louisiana-Monroe at the ULM Warhawk Classic in Monroe, La.
Each of the games can be viewed via Livestats at www.ulmathletics.com. The 'Jacks game against ULM on Saturday will also be available to be viewed via internet streaming by clicking HERE.
The 'Jacks are coming off a 25-29 season a year ago, just missing out on its second straight berth in the SLC Tournament. SFA will be joined in Monroe not only by the Delta Devils and Warhawks, but also by fellow SLC member Northwestern State.
SFA will kick things off on Saturday with a 3:00 p.m. game against Mississippi Valley State, followed almost immediately with a scheduled start of 7:00 p.m. for its game with defending Sun Belt Conference champion Louisiana-Monroe. The 'Jacks will wrap up the tournament with a 4:00 game with the Demons on Sunday.
SFA swept a midweek two-game set from ULM a year ago in Nacogdoches, while falling in its two meetings with Northwetsern State in Nacogdoches. This is the first time SFA has ever met Mississippi Valley State.
The Warhawks are once again one of the favorites to finish atop the Sun Belt, led by the reigning SBC Player of the Year Ben Soignier, who is attempting to become the first ULM player to ever earn All-America honors three times in a career. SFA will also have its hands full with the Demons on Sunday as J.P. Davis will throw one of his right-handed aces, Clayton Cooper, against the 'Jacks. Cooper struck out 50 hitters a year ago while posting a 4.25 ERA in 78.1 innings.
For SFA, first-year head coach Johnny Cardenas welcomes back a number of veterans, starting on the mound with senior pitchers Erik Gregersen, Erich Lehmann, Jared Schrom and Richard Folmer. Gregersen and Lehmann have both seen significant action in their first three seasons and will be expected to anchor the starting rotation throughout the year, while Schrom will likely see time out of the bullpen to start the season after coming back from an elbow injury that limited him to only five appearances in 2008. Folmer has led the team in appearances the last two seasons, and looks to be poised for a solid finish to his Lumberjack career after earning five wins and five saves in 2008.
Offensively Zach Gardner returns for his fourth year of manning center field and will likely finish 2009 holding several career records at SFA, including hits and runs scored. Also, Sean Meyers is back after hitting .333 in 2008 and finishing second on the team in slugging.
But the bulk of the offense will likely come from a slew of players that did not see much action as a Lumberjack a year ago, starting with outfielder Bo Coffman. He helped lead Grayson County CC to the JuCo World Series title a year ago, and will likely be a mainstay in the middle of the Lumberjack order this year. His teammate at Grayson, catcher Joe Staley, also brings plenty of power with his 6-3, 235-pound frame and switch-hitting bat. Add in shortstop Tanner Hines from San Jacinto JC who rarely strikes out and hits to all fields, and designated hitter Justin Long who sat out last year for SFA with an injury, and offense should not be a problem for SFA.
Projected pitching matchups for Warhawk Classic
Saturday vs Mississippi Valley State
SFA: Erik Gregersen (RHP) 2008 stats- 2-4, 7.53 ERA, 69.1 IP, 62K, 39 BB
MVSU: TBA
Saturday vs UL-Monroe
SFA: Erich Lehmann (RHP) 2008 stats - 1-5, 5.43 ERA, 71.1 IP, 56K, 19 BB
ULM: Danial McHenry 2008 stats - 0-2, 10.45 ERA, 20.2 IP, 15K, 9 BB
Sunday vs Northwestern State
SFA: Brett Rogers (RHP) - First career start
NWLA: Clayton Cooper (RHP) 2008 stats - 5-4, 4.25 ERA, 78.1 IP, 50K, 19 BB
-SFA-
