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The
Eagles enter their 21st season of intercollegiate baseball
with high hopes of continuing the winning tradition.
Last season Eagle head coach Ryan Howard led his team to a
regional semi final game. Since Coach Howard took over the
Eagle program, Eagle teams have won 2 HAAC conference championships,
participated in 4 regional tournaments, gained a regional
championship game birth, and won their first HAAC West title
in 2008. Seven out of eight seasons that Coach Howard has
been at the helm, the Eagles have been nationally ranked in
the NAIA top 25. Coach Howard also stresses his teams to succeed
academically. The Eagles Baseball Team has received Avila
's Fred Geer Academic Cup as the male athletic team with the
top grade point average. The team has also had two members
receive honors for the highest male individual GPA within
the athletic department including the 2007 winner, Shawn Wadsworth
from Shawnee Mission South High School.
The
2009 version of the Eagles will feature a strong pitching
staff and an explosive offense, as well as some new faces
since Howard landed one the conference's top recruiting classes.
The pitching staff will be led by senior Nathan Albert, who
possesses a flame thrower for an arm. Albert is joined
by juniors, Gary Lumby, and senior Zach Snyder. The bull pen
will be led by the 6'6 sophomore Jason Bell and junior Sean
Belknap. Senior Michael Brucks will add to the depth of the
Eagles pitching staff this year as well. Starting shortstop
Eric Prickett will be used as a spot starter and out of the
bullpen.
This
year the Eagles are loaded with talented position players.
Starting shortstop Eric Prickett will lead the Eagles into
the 2009 season. He is surrounded by a very talented squad.
Tim Matson and Brandon Pearl are expected to put up big numbers
this season in the outfield while Mario Ausiello holds down
the fort at 1 st base. Starting catcher Brandon Haley returns
behind the plate to quarterback the defense. The Eagles return
Austin Speer in the infield who got valuable experience last
year starting every game in the regional tournament at shortstop.
There
are some hot newcomers to the team this year. Junior's Andy
Velarde and Luis Barrera will start on the Eagles infield
this year and they bring big bats to the lineup as well as
solid defense. 250 pound Junior, Brian Snodgrass will bring
big time pop to the DH position in the line-up. The first
pitch of the Eagles season will be on February 12th in sunny
California against the Masters College.
Good
Luck Eagles
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