The Rollins baseball team (16-6-1, 1-2 SSC) returns to Alfond
Stadium this week after an exciting 60th Annual Rollins College
Baseball Week ending on Saturday, highlighted by a 2-1 win by the
Tars in the title game against Georgetown.' The Tars will face
Northeast Region opponents American International (1-2) on Tuesday
and Friday and Bridgeport (0-0) on Wednesday.' Rollins will go back
to its Sunshine State Conference schedule with a series against
Florida Tech (17-6-1, 3-3 SSC) on Saturday and Sunday.
ROLLINS BASEBALL ON THE AIR: The Citizens Bank
of Florida Tars Sports Network is scheduled to air live audio of
all 56 games of the 2008 Rollins baseball schedule live on www.RollinsSports.tv. Fans can
also follow the games online with live stats on the Tars' home on
the Web, www.RollinsSports.com.
IN THE RANKINGS: Rollins and Florida Tech each
placed in this week's NCBWA South Region poll, with FIT taking
second and Rollins sixth.' Bridgeport ranks eighth in the Northeast
Region.
LAST TIME OUT: The Tars, backed by an
impressive pitching performance by Marc Hewett, defeated Georgetown
2-1 in the Baseball Week Championship Game on Sunday.' Designated
hitter Bryan Bennett was named the tournament's Most Outstanding
Player, and he was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Hewett,
Mario Lombardo, and Corey Whiting.
AIC is in its first week of baseball, losing to Saint Anselm in
Saint Leo while splitting a pair of games against Bentley in Winter
Park.' Bridgeport will open its season against Rollins.' After
losing two of three to Saint Leo over the weekend, FIT bounced back
with a 14-1 win over Post on Monday.
SCOUTING THE TARS: Mario Lombardo (5-0, 1.94
ERA) and Marc Hewett (4-1, 2.83 ERA) lead the Tars rotation, with
freshman Matt White (4-0, 2.86 ERA) impressing in his first year.'
Designated hitter Bryan Bennett (.500 AVG, 2 HR, 16 RBI) and center
fielder Corey Whiting (.388 AVG, 29 R, 18 SB) are swinging hot bats
for Rollins, and left fielder Mike Crane leads the lineup with a
.444 average.
SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS: Catcher Jeff
Rustico (.309 AVG in 2007) and second baseman David Dest (.277 AVG,
3 HR) are the top returning hitters for AIC.' Senior Uchon Yi (2-3,
3.60 ERA in 2007) leads the Yellow Jackets rotation.
SCOUTING THE PURPLE KNIGHTS: Bridgeport was
picked to place fifth in the preseason East Coast Conference poll,
and pitcher Riley Shuckerow was a preseason All-Conference
selection.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS: Freshman pitcher Matt
Schurig (4-0, 1.80 ERA) is turning heads around the SSC, earning
two Pitcher of the Week honors already.' Infielder Mitch Saum (.457
AVG, 2 HR) is off to an excellent start, and he is supported in the
FIT lineup by outfielder Nick Brennan (.393 AVG, 33 R) and
infielder Michael Demma (.364 AVG, 3 HR, 12 SB).
LAST MEETING: Rollins and Florida Tech met in a
non-conference game last February at Alfond Stadium, with the
Panthers prevailing 10-2.' The Tars then travelled to Melbourne,
and a David Nathanson complete game propelled the team to a 5-2 win
in the first game.' The Panthers came back to sweep the Saturday
doubleheader, clinching the series victory with 14-0 and 9-2 wins.'
Stefano Foggi hit well against FIT last year, going .385 with two
doubles, and three RBI in four games.' All-American Steve Condotta
led the Panthers lineup against the Tars, hitting .667 with three
doubles, six RBI, and four stolen bases.
TARS TIDBITS: Mike Crane and Corey Whiting are
each riding a 21-game hitting streak,matching Jason Cloar's 21-game
streak in 2001 ... Whiting has improved his career average with
Rollins to .372, placing him in a second place tie with Carmine
Cappuccio in program history ... the Tars have outscored their
opponents 36-12 in the first inning ... Marty Cornish, Michael
Eppich, and Robbie Pagano have formed a reliable trio in the Tars'
bullpen, each posting an ERA under 4.00 with an opponents' average
of less than .250 ... the Tars' 23 hits against Holy Cross on 3/3
were the most for the team in a single game in over three years ...
Gary Martoccio has tallied 115 career walks, placing him fourth
al-time in Rollins history ... on 2/29 at Barry, Gene Howard
collected his 100th career RBI ... Eugene Martinez has a hit in all
four pinch hit appearances this year ... Crane scored his 100th
career run last on 3/6 against Georgetown ... in the Baseball Week
title game on 3/8 against Georgetown, Jesse More tallied his 100th
career hit.
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