UMass Dartmouth returns six starters as Corsairs look to move back into the hunt for LEC title in 2003

(Dartmouth, MA) - With six starters returning for the 2003 season, the UMass Dartmouth baseball team is ready to move back into the hunt for another Little East Conference championship. Coming off a 19-19 season and a fifth place finish in the LEC standings, Coach Bruce Wheeler thinks this year's team has the makings of a very competitive team.

"We look strong in all aspects of baseball," said Wheeler, entering his 32nd season with the Corsair baseball program. "We've got solid hitting, we're going to play good defense and our pitching looks good as well. On offense, we have good speed and plenty of depth at most positions."

One of the main reasons for Wheeler's confidence entering the 2003 season is the return of all five top hitters from last year's team, which had a combined .286 batting average. Leading the returning starters is senior co-captain Brian Pereira (New Bedford, MA), who led the team with a .330 average plus four HRs, 17 RBI plus a team-leading .510 slugging percentage. Right behind Pereira was sophomore Robert Delduca (Methuen, MA), who finished at .329 with 46 hits (2nd on the team) and 17 RBI. Senior Tom Jachimczyk (Marion, MA) moved into the starting lineup last season and hit .316 with three HR and 24 RBI. Senior co-captain Jason Orlando (Gloucester, MA) hit .309 with five HR and tied for the team lead with 30 RBI and a .471 slugging percentage. Junior Geoff Nettleton (Marlboro, MA) hit .297 last season and tied for the team lead in HRs with six and RBI (30), while picking up 46 hits.

"We have a lot of players back throughout the whole lineup," said Wheeler who will be joined by assistants Robert Curran, Jim Sullivan, Randy DeBrosse and Aaron Perron. "We're looking for a year of maturing and improvement from our returning players. We're looking for big things out of these kids. Heading off to California to open the season, we have a pretty good confidence level."

Among the other returnees who saw considerable action last season were junior Kevin Walsh (New Bedford, MA), who hit .281 in 19 games and still tied for the HR lead with six plus 18 RBI. Senior Brett Simarrian (Franklin, MA) hit .241 with a HR and 12 RBI in 32 games, while sophomore catcher John Macone (Stoneham, MA) hit .238 in 11 games. Junior Ryan Sullivan (Chicopee, MA) returns after being hurt in California last year and should move into the left field position, with several players in the running for right field.

In the infield, Wheeler expects Simarrian to start at first with Nettleton seeing action at second or left field, while Delduca will be back at shortstop and Jachimczyk at third. Orlando will return to his spot in centerfield while Pereira could go back to right field or take over as DH.

While UMass Dartmouth has plenty of experience offensive players returning, the key to success this season will be the pitching staff. Senior Pat Reedy (New Bedford, MA) is back along with junior Kyle Darrow (Marlboro, MA), while junior Brandon Perry (So. Carver, MA) returns to the staff after an injury last season. Reedy was 4-5 overall with a 3.60 ERA (fourth in the LEC) in 85 innings with 59 strikeouts (6.24 per nine innings) and 21 walks. Darrow will move into the starting rotation this season after going 3-3 with a team-high three saves out of the bullpen and a 2.78 ERA. Senior Jason Daley (Andover, MA) had a 0.90 ERA in 12 games last season, posting a 1-1 record with a pair of saves. Sophomore Dan DeCosta (Somerset, MA) was 2-1 in his first year with a 6.35 ERA in five games.

"I think our pitching staff is going to be pretty good," Wheeler said. "We have veterans with Darrow, Perry and Ready with Daley coming out of the bullpen. Then the kicker is we grab Perry who missed entire season last year. I think we have good experience plus we have five freshmen with pretty good arms.

Among the newcomers who could see some playing time this season are catcher Tom Rodriques (New Bedford, MA), first baseman Dan Mancini (Marlboro, MA), outfield Rob Lomuscio (West Roxbury, MA), and outfielder Greg Sunderland (Rehoboth, MA) can also pitch. Doug Hittinger (Middleton, MA) and Chris Waymon (Wareham, MA) could also see some action in the outfield as well.

UMass Dartmouth will once again travel to California to open its season, playing a very competitive schedule of 11 games in nine days, including the California Classic Tournament and the California Invitational Tournament. The Corsairs will return to New England and open their home schedule with a March 25 game against Wheaton College. After hosting Springfield College on March 27, the Corsairs open LEC competition by hosting UMass Boston for a doubleheader on March 29.

With an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III national tournament awaiting the LEC Tournament champion, the Corsairs will have their focus set on trying to play their best baseball at the end of the season. With both Eastern Connecticut and Southern Maine winning three of the last six NCAA Division III national championships while playing out of the LEC, the conference has rapidly developed a reputation as one of the best in the nation.

"The LEC is a very good conference, as good as any conference in the country, and, arguably, the top Division III conference in the country overall," said Wheeler. "Last year was the first year we haven't been one of the teams that the top teams had to beat at the end of the season. We want to get back to the top two in the LEC with our immediate goal being to win the LEC and get ourselves in good position for the tournament."

In addition to playing a strong conference schedule, UMass Dartmouth's non-conference games include several potential NCAA tournament teams including Wheaton College, Brandeis University and Bridgewater State College.

 Last Updated On: 9/1/06