Troy University Athletics
Friday, February 18
Riddle-Pace Field
6:00 pm
Troy University
vs
High Point University
Trojans Set to Open 2011 Season Against High Point
2/17/2011 10:48:03 AM | Baseball
GAME NOTES | VIDEO STREAM | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATISTICS | E-MAIL RADIO CREW
The new-look Troy Baseball team will take to the turf at Riddle-Pace Field to open the 2011 season on Friday night, opening a four-game weekend series against High Point.
The first pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m. Saturday's double-header is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start and Sunday's series finale will also start at 1 p.m.
All four games will be broadcast on WTBF-FM 94.7 with Barry McKnight and Jerry Miller calling the action. The games will also be webstreamed with live video on www.TroyTrojans.com. Live stats will also be available.
The Trojans return just three position starters from the 2010 squad, but have bolstered the lineup with new faces. Many of those new players will get an opportunity to see their first action during the series against High Point.
“I think all of the players, returning and new, are ready to play,” Trojans coach Bobby Pierce said. “It has been a long time to practice without the chance to compete against outside competition. We are ready to play and we need to play.
“I am very thankful that we have a four game series so that we can see more of our pitching. Our starting pitchers will be on a strict pitch count, which means more guys will get an opportunity and I look forward to seeing those guys get out there this weekend. We will probably see 12-14 position players get an opportunity to play as well.”
Pierce, who is entering his ninth season with the Troy program, said there will be a lot of evaluating done both during and after the opening weekend of play.
“When the series is over, we'll see where we need to go from there to improve,” Pierce said. “We have had great weather and are hoping for a great opening night crowd. Everyone is excited.”
High Point is a member of the Big South Conference and was picked fourth in that league in the preseason poll. Head coach Craig Cozart is in his third season with the Panthers after serving as an assistant coach at UCF for 12 years.
The Panthers set a school record for victories last year with a 31-29 mark, but must replace Big South Player of the Year Nate Roberts, who hit .416 with 19 homers and 69 RBI last year.
“What I do know is that they are going to pitch pretty good,” Pierce said of the Panthers. “Coach (Craig) Cozart has Florida ties and recruits Florida kids. We know him from our time in the A-Sun when he was the pitching coach for a very talented UCF program that always had great pitching.
“Since taking over the High Point program they have continued to improve, but we don't know much about them. It will be like any opening series. Because we have so many new faces, they don't know much about us either. We do expect to go out and compete well and we expect High Point to come in here and play hard and compete also.”
The Trojans will send junior right-hander Tyler Ray to the mound for the season-opener. Ray was named to the preseason All-Sun Belt squad and is coming off an 8-4 record for the Trojans in 2010. He will be opposed by Panthers right-hander Cody Allen. The junior started his collegiate career at UCF before playing at St. Petersburg Junior College last year.
“The report from people who have seen their guy is that he is 90-94 with a good breaking ball,” Pierce said of Allen. “We must force him to beat us in the zone and not chase pitches that aren't strikes.
“Tyler is our most experienced guy when it comes to starting on Friday night. He has worked hard and feels great. His command has not been pin-point, but we are looking forward to seeing him take it up to game level.”
Offensively, the Trojans will be led again this year by preseason All-American Adam Bryant. The senior shortstop hit .356 last year and led the Sun Belt Conference with 23 homers while driving in 65 runs.
Other returning players for the Trojans include senior second baseman T.J. Rivera (.295, 8, 51) and senior catcher Todd McRae (.354, 0, 32). The Trojans also return two other part-time starters from 2010 in senior outfielder Daniel Peterson (.333, 0, 11) and junior designated hitter Blake Martz (.294, 3, 15).
The Panthers return three infield starters, as well as their starting catcher, but are replacing all three outfielders and their first baseman from a club that hit .334 as a team in 2010.
Saturday's double-header will open with the debut of sophomore left-hander Ryan Sorce on the mound for Troy. He will be opposed by sophomore right-hander Jared Avidon (3-1, 7.71). The second game will see Troy senior right-hander Drew Hull (4-6, 6.59) make his season debut against HPU senior right-hander Mike Caldwell (1-5, 11.87).
Sunday's series finale will pit Troy freshman left-hander Jimmy Hodgskin in his collegiate debut against Panthers sophomore right-hander Zach Haile (2-2, 6.11).
The Troy Athletics marketing department has put together weekly promotions for the season. All Friday games will “Autograph Friday”, with the first 30 kids under the age of 13 receiving a poster autographed by the Trojans' seven seniors.
Saturday's are “Daddy's Day Out” where the purchase of one full price ticket for dad allows him to buy up to four general admission tickets for the kids for just $2 each.
Sunday's will mark the return of "Slide Into Sunday" with all church bulletins presented from that morning's services getting one free ticket. If you bring a canned food item for donation you will receive a free box of popcorn. Also, kids can run the bases after the game.
Fans who have not yet purchased season tickets can still do so by contacting the Troy Athletics Ticket Office a 334-670-3681 or 877-878-9467.
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