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CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Fri., March 14, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Baseball

Devils look to rise to the top of the SUNYAC

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State returns all-conference selections at each infield spot, including two at catcher, heading into its season-opening weekend.

The Blue Devils are on the road Saturday against Waynesburg, Pa., followed by a doubleheader Sunday at St. Vincent's College. Games in Fort Myers and Port Charlotte, Fla., comprise the next eight games March 20 through March 26, followed by a SUNYAC doubleheader March 29 at Oswego.

The home opener is March 30, a doubleheader vs. Cortland starting at noon.

Offensively, the Blue Devils posted stellar numbers in 2007. They ranked second to eventual conference champion Cortland in batting average (.315), slugging percentage (.425), and runs (98, 7.0 per game) in SUNYAC-only games. Eleven times the team scored nine or more runs in a game.

"We have continued to get better every season," head coach Matt Palisin said. "Looking at this year’s roster, we return players that have had significant success at this level in every position.”

Here's a capsule look at the 2008 team:

INFIELD

The catching tandem of Rob Herrmann (Trumansburg), a 2007 All SUNYAC, and Dan Murphy, (Eden), a 2006 selection, provide solid bats and defensive play. Herrmann has continued to improve after an impressive freshman season. Murphy is the left-handed part of the duo. He has posted a career average of over .300 in his first three seasons, as well as being named a team captain for the second consecutive season.

Jim Kunkemoeller (West Seneca/St. Francis), a senior, returns to first base. He has a .370 career average, including a school record .467 in 2006. That same year, he led the SUNYAC with a .512 average in conference play. He will combine with senior Kevin Malaney (Amherst) to fill the DH/first base role. Malaney was one of the top bats in the SUNYAC last season, batting .390 and ripping 15 extra base hits. Malaney batted .460 in SUNYAC-only games, ranking fifth in the conference. He led the league in hits, runs, and triples and finished among the leaders in home runs, RBI, and total bases.

A pair of juniors anchor the left side of the infield. Dan Taurisani (Utica/Proctor) hit .333 a year ago, while John Hamilton (Frewsburg) is known for his defense and strong arm. He posted a .312 average out of the nine-hole in 2007. Both players were All SUNYAC choices last season.

Freshman Jarrod Surine (Trumansburg) has won the starting second baseman job, while senior Brandon Miller (Ripley) provides a depth and a power bat. Miller has compiled a .404 career average, but has been slowed by injuries.

Reserves: Freshman INF Joe Kephart (Niagara Falls/Niagara Wheatfield), sophomore INF Josh Greco (Lockport), freshman C Mark Majka (Depew/St. Francis), freshman 2B Tommy Dee (Buffalo/Timon-St. Jude), freshman 1B-P Andy Dlugosz (Lackawanna/Timon-St. Jude), freshman 1B Taylor Gahagen (Amherst/Williamsville North).

“We feel that we are much stronger all the way around with our infield play this year,” Palisin said. “We have six infielders that have been all SUNYAC at some point in their careers. They are a hungry group, and will push each other all season long.”

OUTFIELD

While the outfield lost three starters from a year ago, a great deal of experience returns. Junior Jordan Basile (Jamestown) was the team’s DH and has posted a .354 average as the leadoff hitter in his first two seasons. He has also seen plenty of action in center field, and will move full time into that role.

Basile will be flanked by junior Pete Lusk (Albion) and sophomore Donny Kirsch (Cowlesville/Attica). Lusk has shown tremendous power and a consistent stroke. Kirsch’s bat will find its way into the lineup via right field. A converted shortstop, he is one of the team’s most improved players.

Reserves: sophomore Bryan Bongiovanni (Fredonia), junior Jeremy Borst (Clarendon, Pa./Warren).

“Losing your entire starting outfield can be tough,” Palisin said. “However, we do feel we that we should continue to get the same production this season. Lusk and Basile are a pair of experienced juniors that are impact players and have seen plenty of time the past two seasons. Donny is one of the best all-around athletes on the team in addition to being a hard-nosed individual. I’m excited to see what this group can do.”

PITCHING

The Devils return three senior pitchers: lefthander Matt Bauman (Alden/St. Francis), and righthanders Jeremy Hulbert (Newfield) and Miller.

Bauman has been a workhorse out of the pen, leading the team in appearances over the past three seasons. During that span, he has compiled seven wins, including victories in all three career starts. Hulbert pitched well last fall. He was the winning pitcher in Game 3 of the intersquad Blue-White Series with a 2-1 nine-inning complete game. While Miller, as with his hitting, hopes to bounce back to his sophomore form in which he had one-hit and two-hit complete-game victories and posted a 4-1 record in 52 innings prior to shoulder surgery.

Junior lefty Ricky Carlson (Frewsburg) topped the team with a 3.30 ERA in 12 appearances last season. He finished second in the SUNYAC with a 1.17 ERA in seven conference games. Junior righthander Tom Hausler (Williamsville/Williamsville East) will anchor the staff. In the starting rotation since his freshman year, Hausler was elected as a team captain this season. He has consistently thrown well since opening his career with a shutout in his first start as a Blue Devil.

Sophomore righthander Justin Nowak (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) will return to the bullpen, while junior righthander Matt Saeva (Albion) will battle for a spot in the rotation. Saeva participated in the 2006 JUCO World Series at Erie Community College. Dlugosz, freshman righthander Eric Vohwinkel (West Seneca/Orchard Park), and freshman lefthander Alan Schoeneck (Syracuse/West Genesee) round out the staff.

“Our staff has better depth this year," Palisin said, "and we will pound the strike zone as a team. We lost a pair of quality seniors from last year in Noah Huard and Joe Webster, but we brought in four pitchers that are capable of being top-notch starting pitchers at this level.”

OUTLOOK

The Devils know they can control their own destiny in 2008. Last season saw the team let a ninth-inning lead slip away at Oneonta in a 13-12 loss. A win would have jumped them two spots in the standings put the team in the SUNYAC Tournament.

“Letting one inning slip away still burns in our memory," Palisin said. "Two more outs, and our entire season changes ... We feel top to bottom -- pitching, hitting and defense -- that we are a better team this year. We have a hard-nosed group and the talent to go with it. We’re looking forward to getting back on the field and taking care of business this season.”

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