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Feb. 9, 2007 PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - It may be a little chilly outside but that doesn't stop the college baseball season from getting underway and for the Hawks of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) that season starts today. UMES takes on the Monarchs of Old Dominion University (ODU) today at 3:00 pm at Bud Metheny Complex in Norfolk, Va. The game is the first of a three game series against ODU with first pitch coming at 1:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. It is the season opener for ODU as well. The Hawks lost 14 players from last season, seven to graduation and three coaches. Gone is skipper Bobby Rodriguez and assistants Bob Janeski and Ed Erisman, in is new head man William Gardner. Garnder takes over after serving as the assistant coach the past two seasons at Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Delaware State University (DSU). Prior to his stint at DSU Gardner was the head coach at Bowie State University and holds a career record of 51-70. "I am really excited," said Gardner of his new post. "I am ready for the season to start. We have a building year in front of us, but that doesn't mean we won't play hard. I expect to compete and win every game we play. I am not conceding this season by any means, it is a building year, one where we build for the future but we have some talent here, I certainly don't expect a regression." The building Gardner refers to is the loss of a lot of Hawk players. He first had to rebuild his coaching staff bringing back former Hawk standout Brandon McCabe from last year's Coaching staff and bringing in pitching coach Victor Hillaert who had been coaching at a junior college in Michigan and pitched in the minor leagues. "These two young men can really lead our team, I am leaning on them a lot and know they can impart a lot of knowledge to our team." The team includes nine newcomers and 12 returnees. Gone are seven Hawk seniors, all starters and a top player on offense and on the mound in Brad Powell who did return to school. "I know were thin," said Gardner. "We are going to have to do things I normally don't like to do, have pitchers play the field and rotate positions. However, that doesn't mean we don't have quality people at each position, we do. I think inexperience may play a factor early on for our newcomers but after a few weeks no one is a freshman anymore and we should be playing good ball by the time we see conference opponents." What is back though is the team's top hitter, Justin Hoban who saw action at first base, catcher and designated hitter last season. While Gardner expects Hoban to mostly work behind the plate he knows a strong bat returns with the senior who hit .354 last season as was predicted as an All-Conference player by Baseball America. He was also named to the MEAC All-Tournament Team at last year's conference championships. Also on that team was Eric Gaines who will return for his senior year at shortstop. Gaines hit .300 last year and led the team in RBI, runs and stolen bases with 14. Those two players are captains along with hard thrower Dustin Longchamps who was also predicted as a preseason All-Conference player by Baseball America. Longchamps and Gaines were All-MEAC performers last season and expect nothing less this season. On the mound Longchamps finished the season with a .440 ERA and a 7-6 record with 14 starts, seven of which were complete games. He tallied 86 innings pitched with a team leading 60 strikeouts. In the infield it looks like a solid group of returnees will man the bases. Gaines will start at shortstop and Hoban at catcher. They are supported at the corners by Ken Richardson at third base. Richardson saw action there last year and will be called upon to pitch in the Hawks' starting rotation. At first, another pitcher Kevin Hillenburg will get the nod and be backed up by Jamar Cadejuste. While neither had an at bat last season the two starting pitchers can swing it. "They both had some pop and good contact," said Gardner. "They wouldn't be in the line-up if they didn't." Second base will most likely see James Walls get the nod. The senior who has been used mostly as a reliever during his career possess a good glove and played second base some last season. His back-up to start the season will be transfer Tyler Love who came from MEAC rival Coppin State University. Love is recovering from an injury as the season begins but should return to make a significant impact. The outfield is made up of all newcomers as Garner looks to junior college transfer Joel Gonzalez to start in left. His speed and range will have an immediate impact as he can also serve as the back-up at third base and at catcher. "Gonzalez is a utility man," added Gardner. "He can play just about anywhere and he has a quick bat, we will relay on his experience as well having played two years at JUCO." The center fielder looks to be freshman Josh Dean. The local standout from Indian River High School was recruited by former skipper Rodriguez and Gardner at Delaware State. He decided to stay with UMES, getting the school and the coach he was recruited by. "He has a lot of range and speed," said Gardner. "He will cover a lot of ground for us." Right field may be a platoon of players but freshman Tyler Winch should get the starting nod. "Tyler has all the tools," said Gardner. "He is just a freshman though so there will be a lot of learning to do. That is true with all our freshman but I know after a few games he will make a home out there in right." Also returning to the team in the field is Edward Blamo, who played two seasons ago for Rodriguez. Blamo took time off to work on his schooling but returns to provide depth to the outfield. Also providing depth will be Derrick Baker, a freshman out of Clinton, Md. who posses great instincts for the game. Fellow freshmen Will Prather and Cameron Proctor will provide depth in the infield. "Both of these guys have great gloves," said Gardner. "They have a lot to learn about the college game, but once they get it they will really contribute." The pitching may be the steadiest for the Hawks this season, something they haven't been able to say for sometime in Princess Anne. While Longchamps will serve as the staff ace, last season's freshman closer Mike Roberts looks to fill the number two starter's role. "He is one of the strongest and steadiest arms we have" said Gardner. "He has three god pitches he throws for strikes and he is just a sophomore, he can be great." The lefty had two wins and six saves last season. Keeping the batters off a little will be Cadejuste who in another lefty that will anchor the #3 spot in the rotation. As a freshman Cadejuste struggled with location a little but has a fastball that sits at or above 90 mph. That speed along with the coaches instructions should help `juice' find the plate a little more consistently. He record 27 strikeouts in just 22.2 innings of work last year. Richardson will most likely take the #4 spot in the rotation. He picked up two wins in 42.2 innings last season. While the fifth spot remains open Gardner think Michael Willey could take that spot. The sophomore started a game in last season's MEAC Tournament and picked up win in 40 inning of work. Hillenburg may also take that spot. An injury held up his work last season as he only threw 33 innings as a starter. Fellow returnee Daniel Sterling will provide long and middle relief this season. Sterling had the fifth lowest ERA on the team last season and can expect to see more work than his 27 innings last season. Sterling will be aided in the bullpen by Walls, Brian White and newcomer Jervonta' Wright. Wright is a local hurler from Salisbury, Md. but went to school last season at Virginia Union, a school without a baseball program. White is an extremely accurate reliever. While his velocity lacks, White is the perfect pitcher to throw after a hard-throwing pitcher. His ability to paint the corners earned him 14 appearances last season as a freshman and will be relied upon even more this season. With Roberts leaving the closer role for a starter, newcomer Carl Huber will be asked to fill that roll. Huber, transferred from Montgomery County Community College but never took the field there and came mid-year to the Hawk program. His pitch selection and velocity should help the Hawks hold on to close games this season. "We have set realistic goals this season, for the team and personally," Gardner said. "They are goals that will challenge us but goals that are attainable. I believe that if we don't try to do too much good things will happen. We have to play within ourselves," he added. While the Hawks' schedule features the usual MEAC opponents and regional powers such as Navy, George Washington, Maryland and Fairleigh Dickinson, the schedule also features some new opponents for the Hawks. UMES ends the regular season with a trip to Boston College and visits Charleston Southern and make a return trip to Long Island. The Hawks also see Savannah State twice this season in Savannah and for their home opener next weekend. The Tigers come to Hawks Stadium on Saturday and Sunday , February 17 and 18 for a three game series. UMES, was seeded fourth in last season's MEAC Tournament but came home second, falling to perennial power Bethune-Cookman College in the championship game. Their 17 wins were the most by a Hawk team since the 1995 season and things are on the right track to keep the Hawks at or near the top of the MEAC for some time to come.
Read the 2007 Season Preview Packet here.
Read ODU's Season preview here.
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