2007 Diamond Season Preview

February 4, 2007

After posting its best season in over a decade, the University of Virginia’s College at Wise seeks to build upon last year’s success in 2007.

The Highland Cavaliers have progressed in the win column each of the past three years under 11th-year head coach Hank Banner. The squad improved by nine wins from 13 to 22 in 2005 and then increased the victories by six more to 28 last season. UVA-Wise also moved up to fifth place (10-8) last season in the Appalachian Athletic Conference after being picked seventh in the preseason.

With a young team overall, coach Banner will have some quality building blocks to keep the acsension rolling with two All-AAC juniors in short stop Jorge Laboy and pitcher David Jones.

Laboy and Jones highlight a team that returns 11 letter-winners along with the whole starting infield that is picked fifth in the AAC presason coaches poll.

“Our team chemistry is great like it was last year,” admits Banner. “Our top priority is to play hard and get better every day.”

“We have worked hard and made a lot of improvements but need to get consistent play from our offense and our pitching staff will dictate how far we go.”

Offensively, UVA-Wise will have to replace the AAC’s batting champion Jon Reed (.443, 66 hits, 6 HRs & 50 rbi) and big hitters Nathan Kiser and Wil Childress (combined 81 hits, 24 doubles, eight homers and 63 rbi).

“We lost some good bats. We will have to see who is going to step up and be the three, four and five hitters in the lineup to give us consistency in the offense,” explains Banner. “We need consistent at bats and will be a line drive gap-to-gap hitting team for the most part.”

Senior Andrew Anderson, Laboy, sophomore Edwin Narvaez and junior Brock Funk will not only combine to make up the formidable starting infield but look to replace the fire power the Cavs lost.

THIRD BASE
Solid, third-year starter Anderson will man the ‘hot corner’ again in 2007. The third baseman is set for a true breakout season and have a big offensive year.

Anderson had a hot middle of the season including a four-hit outing and five-game hit streak. The senior had 34 hits, nine doubles, two homers and 31 runs batted in while walking 21 times.

Junior Matt Begley will make third one of the more experienced positions on the team. Begley came on strong as 2006 progressed with three-straight games with home runs and batted 10 of 14 with 10 rbi in four games. He finished with a .386 average and 13 rbi in 44 at bats.

Newcomer Logan Limburg will work on his offensive game while providing a good pinch runner in his first year with the team.

SHORT STOP
The ‘Best Defensive short stop in the AAC’ will look to built upon his first two top notch seasons. Laboy has great hands and quick release and will be penciled into the lineup every day.

The The All-AAC second teamer raised his average from .315 to .340 his second year. He also increased his hits (52), doubles (9), home runs (6) and doubled his rbi (31).

SECOND BASE
At second base, Narvaez looks to follow in Laboy’s footsteps and build upon a promising first season. The Puerto Rico native moves back to his natural position after playing right field to get into the daily lineup last season.

Narvaez will hit in the middle of the lineup after leading off in 2006. He hit .304 with 48 hits, 10 doubles, 3 HRs and 31 rbi.

A good defensive and two-time all-district performer, freshman Seth Radcliff will backup at second base.

FIRST BASE
Big 6-4 Brock Funk returns at first base. He is still learning first but carries a quality bat. Funk drove in 23 runs with five home runs and .302 average.

When Funk moves to the mound, sophomore Josh Verts or newcomer Adam Skoranski move into the lineup. Also a pitcher, Verts swings the bat well and had a good showing in the fall. Skoranski from Wyoming is a younger player but recorded a good fall and will challenge for time.

Freshman first baseman Billy Fox will bring a bat off the Cavs’ bench.

OUTFIELD
The Cavs have three returners, senior Jeremy Wright, sophomore Mike Lang and junior Matt Hall, set to man the three outfield positions but none started at the spots last year.

Veteran Wright, who has worked hard to improve after catching much of his career, will move into the regular left field position for 2007. Wright, holds his own at the plate, lined eight hits, scored six times and drove in three runs last season.

Lang will be set to roam center field after improving as the season progressed a year ago. He drove in 21 runs in only 80 at bats with 24 hits and 19 scores.

Two-year starting catcher Hall will move to right field to keep his emerging bat in the daily lineup. He played some outfield in high school and is a good athlete who should be able to hand it well. Hall hit 200 points better than his first year in 2006 at .398 and hit safely in 22 of 29 games.

Utility players, freshman Brad Austin, who also plays the middle infield, and junior transfer Clay Christian, who can play third, will be the backup outfielders.

CATCHER
Freshman Alan Stoupa, who throws well and does a good job handling pitchers, is set to start at catcher. He was G.C. Marshall High’s team MVP as a senior.

Hall and freshman Jay Osborne will be the backup catchers.

PITCHERS
“We will be able to run good cominations out on the mound. The pitching staff keeping us in games is key to our season,” said Banner.

The team will have to find replacements for 13 wins and 127.1 innings of work by departed seniors Brandon Bates, Clay Salyer and Keith Davis.

Funk will be the top starter. He has good movement on his ball and is very tough when he’s on. He led UVA-Wise with a 7-1 record with a 3.58 in 50.1 innings.

John Bigley returns after a year away and transfer Matt Sinnes are the next two set to start. Bigley was 1-1 with 16 strikeouts in 22 frames in 2005 while lefty Sinnes was 1-0 with a save in 18 innings in two years at Surry Community College.

Jones leads the rest of the pitching staff whose roles will be determined as time goes along. The All-AAC hurler led the league with 10 saves.

Verts, Begley and sophomore transfer Brad Robbins are the other experienced pitchers dotting the staff. Verts went 4-3 with 40 strikeouts in 52.2 frames while Begley was 0-2 in 21 innings. At Western Carolina, Robbins pitched one inning in two appearances last season.

The Cavs will lose innings eater Brandon Horton to arm surgery for 2007. The trio of freshman, Preston Landes, Seth Frisby and Albert Moseley, will try to add quality depth to the bullpen.

-Go Cavs-