RELEASE DATE: 3/02/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mounties Open 2005 Season in Florida on Thursday

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University Baseball team will open its 2005 season this Thursday, March 3rd, against Gannon University. The Mountaineers will take on the Golden Knights at Terry Park in Fort Myers, FL.

2005 Outlook

As he enters his 19^th season as the head coach of the Mansfield University baseball program, Harry Hillson has the same expectations as he has had for the first 19 seasons – he expects his Mountaineers to be very good.

Hillson, who is approaching his 600^th win, knows a lot about fielding a very good baseball team. In his first 18 years, he has produced 16 winning season including the last 15 straight. His teams have won nine PSAC East titles, five PSAC Championships, earned seven regional bids and won three regional championships.

After capturing the PSAC East crown and posting a 31-19 overall record in 2004, the 2005 edition of the Mountaineer baseball features a little of the old – five returning position players including three All-PSAC East selections – and a lot new – 10 transfers including two from top ranked NCAA Division I schools.

With so many new faces, there are still some things Hillson doesn’t know about this team, but there is one thing he is sure of – he has as many outstanding players as he has ever had.

No where will the new faces be as noticeable as with the pitching staff. The Mountaineers lost four pitchers from last season – three to graduation and one, Dan Yoder, to injury – that accounted for 75% of their wins in 2004. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that Hillson will have deeper staff than he has had in awhile.

“We are a much deeper staff than last year with a number of guys who can step into the starting lineup,” said Hillson. “That’s one thing we didn’t have last year and it ended up costing us some games we should have won.”

Senior Kane Stein (North Huntington/Norwin) is the top returning starter after posting an 8-4 mark in 16 starts over the past two seasons. The righty was 4-2 as the number four starter last season and has shown steady improvement over the course of his career.  

Joining Stein at the top of the rotation is sophomore transfer Nick Grove (Williamsport/Williamsport). A hard thrower from the right side, Grove was a standout pitcher for Williamsport HS and is back to top form after struggling with nagging injures at Spartenburg-Methodist Junior College last season.

Another local transfer is projected as the number three starter in lefty Adam Lorson (Montoursville/Montoursville). A standout at Montoursville High School, Lorson was a starter for Hagerstown Community College the past two seasons. Junior Justin Ferguson (Danville/Danville) is another lefty who is projected for the number four spot. He went 2-1 as the number five starter last season with a 5.13 era.

“Stein, Grove, Lorson and Ferguson are our top four guys going into the season,” said Hillson. “But we have a number of people who could move into the rotation.”

Leading that list is sophomore Matt Allegretto (Bellefonte/Bellefonte) who is coming off a medical redshirt season and is expected to return to the form that earned him seven starts in 2003. Sophomore Nate Jones (Horseheads,NY/Horseheads in another local standout who transferred to Mansfield from Hudson Valley Community College this season and will vie as a starter. He had an outstanding career at Horseheads High School. Junior Ryan Mantua (Mt. Airey,MD/South Carroll) is a righty transfer from Allegany Junior College and could earn a starter berth or come out of the pen. Colby Rickabaugh (Newville/Big Springs) transfers in from the University of Pittsburgh and could be breaking into the starting rotation when not playing in the outfield. 

Filling in as middle relievers are returning sophomores Josh Haines (Beavertown/West Snyder) and Pat Ross (Danville/Danville). The duo combined to appear in seven games as freshman last season. David Meldrum (Venetia/Peters Towhship), who was 1-2 in three starts last season, could see time as a starter or reliever when not serving as designated hitter. Strong armed  Dan Phillips (Caledonia,NY/Churchville-Chili) a transfer from Monroe Community College could also see time on the mound when not playing in the outfield. Tennessee Tech Transfer J.D. Druckenmiller (Lewistown/Indian Valley) who throws in the low 90s and Matt Baker (Milton/Milton) will serve as the closers.  J.D. Druckenmiller (Lewistown/Indian) will also start leadoff and start in centerfield. Although Hillson knows the pitching to be much improved, the strength of his teams has always been hitting. Don’t expect that to change in 2005.

The Mountaineers finished fourth in the PSAC in hitting last season with a .327 team batting average as well as fourth in home runs (37). Hillson expects to be even better this season. 

Senior’s Eric Baker (Apalachin,NY/Owego) and DJ Hoshauer (Hamburg/Hamburg) are two of the top returning positions in the Mid Atlantic Region. Baker ranked fourth in hitting (.418) in the PSAC last season while finishing second in the conference in home runs (9) and RBI’s (55) and third in runs scored (53) earned him All-PSAC East and All-Regional honors at second base. Also a strong fielder, Baker will anchor the infield and be backed up by sophomore Travis Lepperd Duncannon/Susquentia) who appeared in 14 games as a freshman.

Hoshauer, who will move from behind the plate to first base this season, led the PSAC in home runs (12) with 45 RBI’s and a .349 batting average. He was named to both All-PSAC East and All-Regional honors. Vying for time at first will be junior Brian Frame (Williamsport/Williamsport).

(Montoursville/Montoursville) will be a rare four-year starter at shortstop where the slick fielder earned All-PSAC East honors last season. He hit a career best .295 in 2004. Wurster will be backed up by redshirt freshman Ryan Giblin (Feasterville/Neshaminy), who will also compete for a starting spot at third base.

Junior Stuart Sumner (Milton/Milton) will move into the starting spot at third after serving as a backup the past two seasons. The versatile David Meldrum will back up third and well as serving time at designated hitter and in leftfield where he hit .277 in 40 games last season. 

Sophomore Scott Erickson (Elmira,NY/EFA) will move into the day-to-day starting spot  behind the plate. The strong armed Erickson appeared in 14 games behind the dish as a freshman. Fellow sophomore Philip Anderson (Claysbille/McGuffey) could see action behind the plate or at first base along with Alfred State Junior College transfer Kevin Rollins (Hornell,NY/Hornell)  and true freshman Justin Baer (Williamsport/Williamsport).

The speedy J. D. Druckenmiller (Lewistown/Indian Valley) will start in centerfield. The senior has the whole package of speed, arm strength and power at the plate. Junior Brett Shockloss (Williamsport/Loyalsock) will return to leftfield where he batted .275 in 40 games last season.

Dan Phillips is projected to start in right while Colby Rickabaugh, Oral Roberts transfer J.D. Farina (Langhorne/Neshaminy) and  Allegany Community College transfer Brent Davison (Lilly/Penn Cambria) are all good enough to break into the starting lineup.