2008 Baseball Preseason Newsletter 2008 SEASON PREVIEW

2008 SCHEDULE

2008 SEASON PREVIEW

The Clark University baseball team takes to the field blending a solid core of veterans with strong freshman talent to start off the 2008 campaign.

Finishing fifth in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) last year with a 5-7 record (13-19 overall), the team will look to earn their tenth consecutive trip to the NEWMAC Tournament this season.

With the first pitch slated for March 1st in Florida, the Cougars are anxious to find out how they stack up against the competition. The Clark squad will face off against a few new opponents during the training trip, including Thomas Moore College and St. Joseph’s College, a regionally-ranked team with 30 wins.

“The Florida trip helps with team unity and allows us to build chemistry,” says head coach Jason Falcon, entering his 9th season with the team. “We’re looking to come back with a winning record to get off on the right foot and really have a good sense of who we are and where we can improve.”

The team lost several players to graduation, including first-baseman Nick Tapper, the school record in single-season put-outs (241). “Our senior class last year wasn’t just about great numbers,” says Falcon, “they were invaluable in terms of their leadership.”

Leading the list of returnees is senior Joseph Silva. The All-Conference catcher boasts a .336 career average with 91 hits and 56 RBI’s. The team will also look for good things from the fleet-footed senior outfielder Eric Dufour, who hit .317 in 28 games last season, and graduate student Gunnar Hagstrom, who hopes to return to form after an off-year with a .242 average. Skilled defensively in the outfield and behind the plate, Hagstrom hit .333 and .337 in the two seasons prior to his 2007 campaign.

Seniors Miles Whitlock and Daniel Simokonis will anchor the Clark pitching staff. “They’ll provide us with not only a lot of innings, but quality innings,” says Falcon. The two right-handers hold 3.82 and 3.83 ERA’s, respectively. Juniors Matthew Tillo and Gregory Long and sophomore Jonathan Merritt will battle for starting spots to round out the rotation.

The Cougar squad will also feature several newcomers expected to make an immediate impact. Rookie Scott Hollingsworth looks to get the nod at second base, while sophomore transfer student Ronald Bathrick will take over at first base. Left-hander Phillip Bertocci will vie for a spot in the starting rotation and Dan Vladimir will provide valuable innings out of the bullpen. “We’re lucky to have a really strong freshman class,” says Falcon, “we’ve got a lot of young guys who can help to fill in a number of roles.”

The team’s schedule this season is highlighted by a trip to Salem State College, another new foe for the Cougars, and a home game against Wheaton College, the 2007 NEWMAC champions. With tough conference rivals and a host of challenging non-conference opponents, Falcon hopes the team’s schedule will provide balance from the opening game in Florida to the last game of the conference tournament.

“We treat every game like it’s a conference game,” he concluded.

By Bill Cobb, Sports Information Intern

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2008 SCHEDULE

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Baseball Office
Jason Falcon, Head Coach, 508-421-3832
Email: jfalcon@clarku.edu