2001Season Preview

March 12, 2001 by Jim Mullins Assistant Director Sports Information Corsairs return veteran lineup to defend Little East Conference championship in 2001 (Dartmouth, MA) - UMass Dartmouth baseball coach Bruce Wheeler has seven starters and four pitchers returning for the 2001 season, one year after the Corsairs put on a late-season charge which resulted in a Little East Conference championship and a third-place finish in the NCAA Division III New York sectionals. The Corsairs finished the 2000 regular season with a 16-20 mark and squeaked by Rhode Island College into the LEC's double-elimination championship tournament. From there, the Corsairs took advantage of the opportunity, capturing UMass Dartmouth's first LEC championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. By the time the season was over, the Corsairs had gone 2-2 in the NCAA's and finished the season with a 22-22 record and plenty of momentum heading into this season. "We really played well down the stretch last season and we've got almost everyone back again," said Wheeler, who is entering his 30th season with the Corsairs. "This is a new season, but we will have a lot of experience in the lineup and a solid pitching rotation." Leading the returning veterans will be senior first-baseman and co-captain Brian Ronayne (Bridgewater, MA), a New England Division III First Team American Baseball Coaches Association All-Star and UMass Dartmouth's career leader in HRs with 37 after three seasons. As a junior last year, Ronayne hit .408, fourth best in the LEC with a team-leading 14 HR and 51 RBI, along with a .783 slugging percentage. Ronayne also led the Corsairs in hits (61), doubles (15) total bases (123) and walks (49). Ronayne won't be the only solid bat in the Corsairs' lineup this season because UMass Dartmouth returns a starter at almost every position. In the infield, senior Guy Furtado (Dartmouth, MA) will be back at shortstop and junior Tim Dwyer (Franklin, MA) at third, while junior Mike Dougan (Marlborough, CT) will play second. Furtado was third in hitting for the Corsairs last year at .353 with 1 HR and 17 RBI to go along with a team-high 46 runs scored and 22 walks. He finished second in the LEC in runs scored with 1.3 per game. Dwyer hit .265, while Dougan hit .311 with 2 HR and 19 RBI. UMass Dartmouth will be solid behind the plate with juniors Eric Rahme (East Providence, RI) and Jon Merrill (Rehoboth, MA) sharing the duties. Rahme hit .284 last year with 9 HR, second most on the team, plus 41 RBI and a .497 slugging percentage. In the outfield, senior Doug Kelsch (Wareham, MA) and sophomore Jason Orlando (Gloucester, MA) return for another season. Kelsch hit .271 last year with 2 HR and 21 RBI, while Orlando had a great rookie season, hitting .344 with 3 HR, 31 RBI, third best on the team along with 62 hits and a team-leading 19 stolen bases (4th in LEC). As designated hitter, senior Eric Taylor (New Bedford, MA) will be back in the lineup when he's not pitching and will be joined by newcomer junior Mark Walmsley (Swansea, MA) and sophomore Jeff Davenport (Hampden, MA). Taylor hit .303 as a DH last year, while Davenport hit .366, second best on the team with 2 HR and 19 RBI. The only spot in the starting lineup vacated through graduation last season was in right field where Manny Santo will be replaced with sophomore Brian Pereira (New Bedford, MA), who returns after missing last season. Wheeler will welcome Pereira back based on his outstanding freshman season when he hit .342 with 5 HR and 42 RBI. After finishing third in team hitting in the LEC last season with a .328 batting average, the Corsairs will be looking to improve on the mound where they finished sixth in earned run average at 6.64. There is no doubting who the Corsairs' number one starter will be this season. Senior co-captain Jason Hinchliffe (New Bedford, MA) has earned that designation after going 7-3 last season with a 3.42 ERA. Hinchliffe led the Corsair pitching staff in games started (11), complete games (3), innings (84.3) and was tied for the strikeout lead with 79. He even added a clutch save for the Corsairs in the LEC Tournament, where he earned All-Tournament honors on the mound. Right behind HInchliffe in the rotation will be two other solid returning veteran lefthanders in Tim Troup (Halifax, MA) and Eric Taylor. Troup posted a 4-4 record with a 3.81 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 66 innings. Taylor was 4-3 overall with a 5.93 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 66 innings. "With Hinchliffe, Taylor and Troup, I think we have a very steady pitching rotation," said Wheeler. "They have all seen lots of innings and have the ability to throw strikes and get people out in key situations." UMass Dartmouth will again open its season with a trip to California where the Corsairs will play several nationally ranked Division III teams before returning to New England for the remainder of the regular season. The Corsairs open their 2001 season with Linfield College and Claremont Colleges in a doubleheader on March 16. After 11 games in California, UMass Dartmouth will travel to Wheaton College on March 27 before playing its season opener on March 29 against Springfield College. Two days later, the Corsairs host UMass Boston to open the Little East Conference regular season on March 31. "This is a strong group of athletes, who could produce an outstanding team," said Wheeler who will be joined on the bench by assistant coaches Jim Sullivan, Randy Debrosse and Mike Frates.

Jim Mullins
Assistant Director, Sports Information and Daily News
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Road
Dartmouth,MA 02747-2300
Phone: News (508) 999-8965 Sports (508) 999-8720
Fax: (508) 999-9200
JMullins@UMassD.edu

 Last Updated On: 9/1/06