2009 Baseball Season Outlook

Guilford looks to improve upon its 17-22 overall record in 2008, (6-12 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)). The Quakers went through 2008 with a young pitching staff and missed going to the six-team ODAC Baseball Tournament for just the fourth time in eight years. Head coach Nick Black ‘02 embarks on his fourth season and returns 24 letter winners from last year.

Leading the way for the Quakers will be senior Joe John and junior Alex Starbuck, who should again patrol the outfield and hit in the top half of the order.  Starbuck leads all returning players with a .329 batting average and 29 runs scored. John hit .276 with 33 runs batted in and five homers.  With a core of seasoned veterans, Black looks to lead a more experienced team back into ODAC contention.

Here’s a preview of the 2009 Quakers’ lineup by position:

PITCHER: The Quakers return only half of the 317 innings pitched in 2008. The pitching staff, a mix of veterans and newcomers, had a good fall and the competition for starting sports will continue into the spring. Transfers Corey Landis and Bryan Bialecki were among the best statistically in the fall and compliment sophomore returners Alex Pecevich and Sammy Stuart. The four hurlers are in contention for starting jobs in 2009, along with veteran Reid MacLean and freshman Zack Montalbano.

Senior Michael Costa, who moved to the mound from the infield last season, has improved steadily and joins newcomer Michael Blocher to add depth to the pitching staff. Zach Daw, David Thomson, John Jenkins and Garett Brandes return to provide some help in relief.

Senior Drew Gurkin and freshman Will Henschel should be two of Guilford’s primary closers. Freshmen Eric Backus, Peter Rosa and Alex Shutterly also showed the ability to throw extended innings this fall and may contribute throughout the season.

CATCHER: Jason Flud and Will Cornelius started 30 and five games, respectively, for the Quakers in 2008 at one end of the battery.  Both bring experience to the catching position, played well in the fall and will compete for time behind the plate this year.

INFIELD: Senior Drew Gurkin’s fall performance makes him the frontrunner for the first base job, with sophomore Derek Hardison also competing for time. Sophomore Jason Cox gets the nod at second base after a great fall defensively and looks to continue improving offensively. Senior Josh Sumler returns at short-stop after starting all 39 games for the Quakers in 2008 and finishing among the team’s offensive leaders.  Drew Ward moved from second to third base this fall and will anchor the other corner of the infield.  Senior John Goodwin, a versatile player, provides depth across in the infield along with freshman Travis Starbuck and sophomore Forrest Steed.

OUTFIELD: Familiar faces will man the outfield in 2009 with the return of John, senior Terrance Penn and Starbuck.  All three have good speed and quality arms.  Offensively, John and Starbuck ranked among last year’s leaders in hits, runs, on-base percentage and average for the Quakers. They will be asked to drive in runs, while Penn’s role is getting on base and pressuring the opposing defense with his speed.  Penn stole five bases on six attempts last year. Newcomers Ryan Kontra and Jason Shrader had successful fall seasons, should provide added depth and will challenge for outfield time with sophomores Robb Elko and Jordan Nelson.

DH: Five different sluggers will vie for the designated hitter role this spring.  Leading the way after a strong fall of swinging the bat is sophomore Kyle Wooden.  Other candidates include Goodwin, Hardison, junior Jared Davis  and senior Zac Apple.

The Quakers play a challenging schedule once again in 2009. In addition to the ODAC slate that features 2008 NCAA Regional participant Randolph-Macon College, Guilford also plays five squads out of the competitive USA South Athletic Conference, including 2008 NCAA participant Methodist University. The Quakers also continue their crosstown rivalry with Greensboro College, playing two games at NewBridge Bank Park in downtown Greensboro.

Guilford’s schedule includes a game versus Tufts University for the sixth straight year and pairs of games against Piedmont College, Case Western University and Division II Bluefield State College. Lynchburg, Virginia’s Calvin Falwell Field once again hosts the ODAC Tournament April 23-26. The top-six finishers in the ODAC regular season advance to the tournament, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Regional Tournament