Sports Home • Today at BU • BU Home • Alumni • Admissions • Academics

In a league filled with strong, competitive teams, the Bloomsburg University baseball team will head into the 2004 season as underdogs. The team is young, but has a solid pitching staff and is strong up the middle. It is all the ingredients that coach Matt Haney feels can help the Huskies compete for a PSAC playoff berth this season.

“I am excited about our team this year,” said Haney. “We have a solid group of arms on the pitching staff with a good lefty-righty mix. There are also a few experienced pitchers who know how to throw the ball.”

“In addition, we are strong up the middle and have improved our team speed,”Haney added. “The big key for us this season will be on offense. We don't have a lot of power in the lineup so we will need to spray the ball around to be effective.”

CATCHERS

Senior Aaron Wheeler takes over behind the plate for the Huskies after spending three seasons as a backup. Wheeler is solid defensively and is getting better with the bat. He will be backed up by freshman Vinny James.

FIRST BASE

Junior Joe Pesci will get the nod at first for the Huskies. A great defensive first baseman, Pesci is vastly improved with the bat after a strong fall season. He will be backed up up by freshman Phil Guinto.

SECOND BASE

Andy Howard is the returning starter at this position and will be pushed by senior Larry Piccini. Howard is vastly improved after a solid fall campaign, while Piccini is back with the team after taking a year off.

SHORTSTOP

Chris Husted returns as the starter for the third straight year. Husted missed the fall season due to an injury, but was one of the team's top performers the past two season. Husted will be backedup by freshman Ryan Wyland.

THIRD BASE

Brian Zorger

Brian Zorger is the returning starter at this spot, but will be pushed by a pair of freshmen, Jason Giordano and Phil Guinto. Zorger, who hit .347 a year ago, will also see time as the designated hitter allowing more playing time for Giordano and Guinto.

OUTFIELD

The Huskies are set at two of the three outfield positions heading into the new season. In left field, Dan Adamo will get the start. Adamo has a great arm, gets a good jump on the ball and is coming on offensively.

In centerfield, senior Mark Reiter will once again roam for the Huskies. In addition to being a solid fielder, Reiter also sets the table offensively for the team as its leadoff hitter. Backing up Reiter will be junior Andre' Andrews and freshman Andy Bucher.

Going into the new season there will be a battle for playing time in right field. Among those looking to grab the starting nod are sophomore Troy Smith or freshman Ryan Wyland.

PITCHING

Mike Kelchak

The key to any team in division II is its pitching staff. The Huskies feel like they have a staff that could be very good. Leading the way will be senior Jim Danforth and junior Matt Funk. Danforth showed flashes of brilliance a year ago, while Funk is back after sitting out the 2003 season due to an injury. Joining those two in the starting rotation will be sophomore Mike Kelchak and freshman Jeff Withelder. Kelchak had a tremendous freshman season and is ready to be a dominant pitcher, while Withelder had an ERA of 2.38 as a high school pitcher.

Also look for Corey Helfrich, Chase Phillips and Casey Markey to see time in the starting rotation.

In the role of setup pitchers this season for Bloomsburg will be three freshmen Ryan Wyland and Josh Unger. The role of closer will go to either Andy Gideon, who is back after missing the last two years or Withelder if he is not in the starting rotation.

OVERALL

“The PSAC will once again be tough with West Chester appearing to be the class of the division,” said Haney. “Also, look for Kutztown, Millersville and Mansfield to be tough along with East Stroudsburg. There will be no blowouts this year.”

The Huskies will start the season at the Apprentice College Tournament with some familiar foes.

“We open at the Apprentice tournament with Lock Haven, Kutztown and East Stroudsburg,” Haney said. “I think it is good we see some of the teams in person instead of relying on scouting reporters.”

After the Apprentice Tournament, the Huskies head to Florida and will play a tough schedule with the likes of Slippery Rock, Truman State and Stonehill.