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SEASON PREVIEW 2005

Cavs' run at conference title depends on consistency
February 4, 2005

• Baseball Schedule 2005
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• Statistics 2004
• Team Photo 2005

For the Cavaliers to improve upon their 2004 season, the team must play more consistently than it did a year ago, coach Hank Banner said.
Once again Banner, now in his ninth year as the skipper of the Highland Cavaliers baseball nine, must work with a squad that has enormous talent and potential, but is relatively young and inexperienced at the collegiate level.
Five seniors and seven juniors will provide veteran leadership to a squad that is rounded out by six sophomores and 10 freshmen.
One area of concern for Banner, in terms of consistency, is the team’s offensive attack. Last year the Cavaliers hit an impressive .321 as a team, but did not drive home enough runs to place notches in the win column.
“Our offensive production is going to be a big key to our season,” Banner said. “We must be more consistent at the plate. Not so much in terms of batting average, but in scoring runs day in and day out. We need to be able to put up five to seven runs a game, even if we are facing the other team’s ace.”

PITCHING
Health is the key word for the Highland Cavaliers pitching staff, who last year lost their top three starters to injury by week two of the campaign.
Clay Salyer went out with tendinitis and a bone spur. Chris Tenney had Tommy John surgery. Courtney Nowlin stayed on the staff, but battled injuries in throwing just 21 innings.
Those three should be back in the rotation for the ‘05 campaign, throwing as hard as ever.
In addition to those three hurlers, Brandon Bates returns for his junior season a year after he finished second on the team with 30 strikeouts.
As far as the starting rotation goes, Banner would not touch the subject during the preseason.
“We have some guys who will compete for starting jobs this year,” Banner noted. “We’ll have to get some guys into some games and have them pitch some innings before we know who can do what. We will see soon after the season starts who can start and who can work out of the bullpen.
“We have added some pitchers this season who I think have good potential.”
Some of those new faces are freshmen Brock Funk, Brandon Horton and Will Nance.
“If we can stay injury free, we hope to be able to pitch our guys in spots where they can be most effective,” Banner said. “Last year we had to ask people to do things they were not comfortable with.”

CATCHER
Jason Matlock returns to the Cavaliers lineup with senior experience behind the plate, a position where playing time will be greatly determined by offensive production, Banner said. A year ago, Matlock hit .352 and drove home 17 runs (third most on the team) in 33 games.
Junior Erik Lemley also will don the catchers habiliments again this year. In ‘04 Lemley made the most of his time on the field, hitting .400 and slugging .550 in just eight games.
Banner also likes the potential being shown by freshman backstop Matt Hall, who the coach said, “has great promise defensively.”

FIRST BASE
The player occupying first base will mostly be determined by who is swinging the hot bat, Banner said. Junior Nathan Kiser carried a big stick for the Cavaliers last season, hitting .366 with four home runs and 23 RBI. Kiser likely will spend time at first and at the designated hitter position.
Freshman Chris McReynolds has solid potential and has greatly improved since arriving on campus in the fall. McReynolds, a 6-feet 7-inch lefty, has the size and ability to snag those errant throws that sometimes come from the infield.
Banner said Funk and senior Josh Duffy could also get some time at first.

SECOND BASE
Justin Nixon and Carlos Ramos staged an intriguing battle this fall and on into the spring for the starting spot at second base. Both players, Banner noted, have an excellent chance to win the Cavs’ keystone position with consistency again being the key.
Both players can swing the bat well. Nixon, a senior who has three years experience with the Cavaliers, hit .298 in ‘04, and Ramos hit .263 in 19 at bats.
Freshman Jayson Beck also will play some innings at second.

THIRD BASE
Andrew Anderson started numerous games at the hot corner last year and likely will do so again in 2005.
Anderson sparked the ballclub offensively a year ago with a .352 batting average and 16 RBI in 27 games. Plus, he has solid fielding skills and a strong enough arm to throw out speedy runners on those bang-bang plays at first.
Funk could be Anderson’s back up at third.

SHORTSTOP
Freshman Jorge Laboy should get the skipper’s nod for the starting shortstop job.
Beck, another newcomer who’s natural spot on the diamond is at second, is a solid backup. Beck more than likely will split time between second and short.
“We are lucky that we have two kids in Jorge and Jayson that we can have a lot of confidence in,” Banner said.

OUTFIELD
The Cavaliers outfield will have a familiar look this season. Will Childress will occupy left, while seniors Justin Wyatt and Duffy will play in center and right, respectively.
Last year, Childress tortured opposing pitchers, hitting .420 with a nearly .600 slugging percentage.

DESIGNATED HITTER
When not playing first base, Nathan Kiser will be counted on to blast away at opposing pitchers from the designated hitter position in the lineup.
The junior’s four home runs and 23 RBI were tops on the team in 2004. He showed patience at the plate by drawing a team-high 19 walks. However, he also led the team with 22 whiffs.
Funk and McReynolds also will take some cuts as the team’s DH.
“Who we play at DH depends mostly on who we run out on the field for a particular game,” Banner said.

SCHEDULE
Banner expects this season’s schedule to be one of the most difficult his team has played in recent seasons.
Conference rival Tennessee Wesleyan College, a team that comes up quick on the Cavaliers’ schedule, is ranked 12th in the NAIA’s preseason Top 25 coaches poll. Another league nemesis, Brevard College, also picked up some votes. The Cavaliers play three games at Brevard midway through the season.
Tennessee Wesleyan and Brevard have been picked by the AAC’s coaches to finish the league race first and second, respectively.
The nation’s No. 7 squad, North Georgia College, will play host to the Cavaliers for a three-game set in mid-March.
“This year’s schedule is tougher than last year’s without a doubt,” Banner stated. “But we have a ballclub that’s ready to be tested. We should be able to play well with anybody we face.”