University of Massachusetts Dartmouth baseball coach Bruce Wheeler begins the 1996 season with a starting lineup filled with experienced players from last years' 15-21 team. The key question facing the Corsairs is can they find enough starting pitchers to make up for four key losses on the mound.

At times last season, UMass Dartmouth had six freshman on the field. One year later, Wheeler hopes his Corsairs will benefit from the experience. All four starters in the infield are returning, led by senior captain and four-year starter Ed Morais (Gloucester, MA) (.248, 18 RBI). His double-play partner, sophomore John Connole (Auburn, MA), is coming off an outstanding rookie season. Connole led the team in hitting with a .408 average (3 home runs, 18 RBI) and was named Second Team Division III All-New England. Both sophomore Eric Alberto (Fall River, MA) (.230, 11 RBI) and junior Frank Sniezek (Fairhaven, MA) (.316, 20 RBI) saw plenty of action at third base last season and at first base, junior Derek Handler (Harwich, MA) (.276, 16 RBI) played the entire season last year as a sophomore. Freshman Neil Dankievitch (Fall River, MA) may also find his way into the starting lineup at first base or designated hitter. Backing up the returning starters in the infield will be freshman Matt Lane (Holden, MA).

Three familiar names return in the outfield, including Mike O'Leary (West Roxbury, MA) (.320, 22 RBI), sophomore Trevor Florent (New Bedford, MA) (.235, 13 RBI) and sophomore Sean Walsh (Laconia, NH) (.226, 2 RBI). They may also be joined by junior Peter Clark (New Bedford, MA) (.239, 9 RBI), who also saw action in the outfield and as the DH. Sophomore Steve Pereira (New Bedford, MA) (.294, 20 RBI), the Corsairs' DH last season, will probably return to that slot in the batting order, and is also expected to see more action on the mound as well.

The Corsairs are solid behind the plate with returning sophomore starter Eli Munkholm (Salem, MA) (.259, 13 RBI) and sophomore Andre Gabryjelski (Methuen, MA), who will be pushing Munkholm hard for playing time. UMass Dartmouth also added sophomore catcher Brian Sullivan (Wareham, MA), a transfer student from Suffolk University for this season.

"We've got plenty of depth and experience in the starting lineup," said Wheeler, who is entering his 25th season with the Corsairs (557-369-2). "If we can hit the ball better than we did last year (.276) and knock in some runs, we will be very competitive this season. But we have to make plays in the field and get the big hit when we need it."

UMass Dartmouth's biggest losses from last season are the departure of three starters and the closer in the bullpen. The starting rotation will be made up of returning veterans, including sophomore Ryan Pinto (New Bedford, MA) (2-1, 5.52), senior John Alves (Fairhaven, MA) (1-1, 4.98) and Pereira (2-1, 14.10). These three starters will be called on to carry the team through the early season as sophomore Dean Macedo (Fall River, MA), freshman Jason Cook (Bellingham, MA), junior Alex Tikonoff (Middleboro, MA) (0-0, 3.93) and junior Sean Donovan (Quincy, MA) (2-1, 3.94) try to work their way into the rotation.

Without an experienced closer in the bullpen, UMass Dartmouth relievers will form a committee to share the duties with senior Derek Hast (Oxford, MA) (0-0, 3.64) as the set up man. Junior Joe Trottier (Wareham, MA) and sophomore Brandt Wajda (Milford, MA) will vie for the closer's role, although all three may be called in in tight situations. Freshman Jeff Davis (Upton, MA) and junior Tom Smith (Fall River, MA) may also get in some appearances.

"The important thing will be for our veteran starters to give us some quality outings so we can develop our bullpen," said Wheeler, who is the National Chairman of the NCAA's Division III Baseball Committee. "I know the three returning starters can get the job done and we're looking for Macedo and Cook to step right in and make an impact."

UMass Dartmouth will open its 37-game schedule with 10 games in California against some of the top Division III teams in the country, including Laverne College, the defending NCAA Division III baseball champions.The Corsairs return home to open the New England portion of their schedule on Thursday, March 21 by hosting Babson College.

Included on the Corsairs' schedule are games against all four teams selected for last season's NCAA Division III New England Regionals, including Eastern Connecticut, Southern Maine, North Adams State College and Tufts University. UMass Dartmouth also added Springfield College, playing in its first season in Division III, to the schedule.

"We continue to play a competitive schedule against the top Division III programs in New England," said Wheeler. "With the experience this team has, I hope we can get back into the NCAA tournament this season and compete with the top programs from around the country."