Season Outlook - Guilford College

•  2006 BASEBALL OUTLOOK

      For the first time in eight seasons, Guilford begins with a new coach, as Nick Black takes over for the departed Gene Baker.  Black inherits an experienced squad that returns its top five hitters and two winningest pitchers from last season's team, which went 24-17 and finished third in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) during the regular season.

      With a solid core of returning talent, Black enjoys the luxury of tweaking the roster instead of undergoing an overhaul.  He first addressed the Quakers' defense.  Guilford led the ODAC last season with 107 errors but this year's team will have three new starters in the infield, with only first baseman Rob Bittner returning from 2005.  The hire of assistant coach Tod Gross should also help.

      Black has high hopes that shortstop Ricky Seabolt, a transfer from Greensboro College via Southeast Community College, and freshman Michael Costa will solidify the infield defense.  Costa will be in the mix for playing time at second base, along with holdovers Zach Schlesinger and Ian Spector.  Costa may also see time at third base, along with classmate John Goodwin.

      Last year's starting second baseman, junior Chad Boone, takes over for three-year starting outfielder Josh Miller, who ended his Guilford career in sixth place on the school's all-time hit list with 163 safeties.  Boone, who played five games in the outfield in 2005, will be joined by sophomore center fielder Fred Parent and senior Jeff Arzonico, who moves from right field to left.

      Andrew Lerner turned in a solid defensive performance behind the plate in his first season with the team.  He led the ODAC with 20 runners caught stealing and was well known for trying to pick runners off base.  Lerner, a member of the 2005 American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings NCAA Division III Second Team All-South Region Baseball squad, as well as an honorable mention All-ODAC performer, returns for his senior season as one of the team's five captains.

      The Quakers will have an excellent top of the rotation, with juniors Logan Collier and Dave Whigham providing Black with two proven starters.  Black hopes to establish a rotation early and find a third starter from a group that includes seniors Mike Balash and Matt Spoerlein (right) and freshman Joe Overby.

      If Overby does not start, he could find himself as a multi-inning closer.  Collier should also see late-inning action and Boone could be in the mix as a one-inning power arm.

      The strength of the team remains its offense.  The Quakers led the league last year in home runs and return their top two long ball threats in Bittner (10 HR) and Boone (8 HR).  Guilford finished 27th among Division III teams with an average of 8.4 runs per game and ranked second in the ODAC in runs and third in batting average in 2005 and should be among the league leaders again.

      In his first year as a head coach, Black faces the challenge of being the final decision maker.  He says changing the squad's mentality is one of his top priorities.  Black feels the Quakers have the talent to compete with the ODAC's best but that they need to be able to overcome their mistakes and play for 27 outs to capture the league title.

-Brian Joura '05