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CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Thurs., March 16, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Baseball

Devils look for taste of SUNYAC success

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- After tying for sixth in the conference last season, the Fredonia State baseball team has focused on finishing in the top half of the SUNYAC and earning a post-season berth that has been absent since the 1990 season.

To do so, the Devils will rely on a core of experienced players.

“Over the past two seasons, we have had young squads,” head coach Matt Palisin said. “We have had occasional success, but have not played consistently enough from game to game to be successful in a very competitive conference. However, we have played some of the top teams in the country over that time, and as a group, if we prepare ourselves properly, we know we can compete with anyone.”

The Blue Devils are scheduled to open their season Saturday with a doubleheader at LaRoche College, followed by a single game Monday at Gannon, before heading to Florida for 11 games. Following a trip to Oswego to open the SUNYAC season April 1, the Blue Devils play their first home games April 2 -- a SUNYAC twinbill vs. Brockport.

The Blue Devils return last year’s starting infield and outfield intact, and will count on those veterans to produce. Seniors Shawn Ridgway (Wayne/Ontario) and Craig Heath (Watkins Glen/Watkins Glen) will be counted on to pick up the slack. They will be throwing to a pair of sophomore catchers -- Dan Murphy (Eden/Eden) and Brandon Phillips (Rochester/Gates Chili).

Junior transfer Jim Kunkemoeller (West Seneca/St. Francis) showed solid power in the fall and will open the season at first base. A pair of seniors -- Matt Baudo (Buffalo/St. Joe's) and Dave Ickowski (Buffalo/St. Mary's) -- provide left-handed bats at first base. They will figure in the mix at DH, as well.

Across the diamond is Mike Austin (Buffalo/City Honors). The junior captain put together a solid season last year, batting .310. Returning up the middle is the sophomore tandem of Tom Butler (Verona/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) and Dan Mullen (Port Ewen/Kingston). Junior Bryan Recchia (Webster/Webster Schroeder) and senior Shane Morrison (Elmira/Notre Dame) provide experience off the bench in the middle infield.

Murphy and Phillips, both solid defensive catchers, each hit over .300 ain 2005 in reserve roles. Murphy, a left-handed batter, hit .304. Phillips batted .364.

A trio of experienced juniors anchor the outfield. Leftfielder Phil Gavin (Rochester/Greece Olympia) was consistent throughout last season, batting .303 and earning second team all-SUNYAC. For his career, he has posted a .301 average. Junior Trey Johnson (Gerry/Cassadaga Valley) will again anchor centerfield. He led the team with nine extra-base hits last year. Kyle Adams (Naples/Naples) returns to his slot in right field. He is already among the school’s all-time leader in doubles, ranking 10th with 16 over two seasons.

If the Devils are to contend this season, they will have to get more mileage out of the pitching staff. Seniors Ridgway and Heath are expected to eat up their share of innings.

Sophomores Jeremy Clark (Newfield/Newfield) and Matt Bauman (Alden/St. Francis) were the team’s most consistent pitchers a year ago. Clark led the team with a 3.82 ERA and had three quality starts in four tries. He also came on in relief 11 times. Left-handed Bauman saw his action out of the pen, winning two games in relief.

Johnson and Joe Webster (East Aurora/Iroquois) have gained experience the past two seasons, and will be counted on to start this season. Johnson has shown flashes of potential -- a three-hitter vs. Medaille as a freshman and 4 2/3 innings of no-hit ball against Penn State Behrend last year. More depth in the outfield this year will allow Johnson to get a regular turn in the rotation. Webster has been consistent the past two seasons, appearing in a team high 21 games and posting a 5.27 ERA. He has two starts to his credit, and will look to stick in the rotation in 2006. Sophomore Noah Huard (Buffalo/City Honors) also returns to the pitching staff for a second season.

“Last season, we had such a young staff that was often overmatched, especially early in the season,” Palisin said. “However, during the course of the season, we made great strides and our pitchers really put together a solid second half of the season.”

Palisin said shortening the staff might also pay off.

“We used 14 different pitchers last year," he said. "This season, with each pitcher having more experience, we will go with an eight-man staff in order to get our best pitchers on the mound more often. With only one freshman in the rotation, expectations are much higher.”

The freshman starter is right-hander Tom Hausler (Williamsville/Williamsville East). He and Kunkemoeller are part of a group of nine newcomers. The others are sophomore outfielder Ryan Sweda (South Dayton/Pine Valley) and six other freshmen: third baseman Dan Taurisani (Utica/Proctor), shortstop Sam Tuzzeo (Irondequoit/Irondequoit), pitcher-first baseman Reuben Kamp (Ithaca/Ithaca), pitcher-outfielder Doug Cap (Niagara Falls/Niagara Catholic), and outfielders Pete Lusk (Albion/Albion) and Jordan Basile (Jamestown/Jamestown).

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