Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer
Baseball Season Preview - Catchers / DH
2/14/2012 5:36:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - The defending Sun Belt Conference champion Troy baseball team begins its title defense on Friday when it opens a four-game series against Central Michigan at Riddle-Pace Field. First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m. The series continues with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and concludes with a single game on Sunday at 12 p.m.
TroyTrojans.com will preview the upcoming season over the next five days with a breakdown of each position group and finally a preview of the weekend series on Thursday.
Sunday - Infield
Monday - Outfield
Tuesday - Catchers / DH
Wednesday – Pitchers
Thursday - Game Preview
The Breakdown:
The Trojans will look to a trio of players behind the plate to replace two-year starter Todd McRae (94 starts over two years). Junior Brandon Brown is expected to be Troy's opening day starter after batting .367 as a sophomore at Middle Georgia College and .356 as a freshman at Kennesaw State. Brown has the athletic ability to hit at the top of the lineup for the Trojans.
Fifth-year senior Blake Martz enters the season as the Trojans primary designated hitter and backup option behind the plate. Martz has started 86 games over the last three seasons with 14 coming behind the dish. He is coming off a season in which he hit seven home runs, drove in 40 runs and slugged .424.
Head coach Bobby Pierce will also look to true freshman Jake Harrell to give the Trojans some innings behind the plate. After missing the fall with an injury, Harrell has had a strong start to the spring both behind the plate and with the bat.
Besides Martz as the designated hitter, fans can expect to see senior Josh McDorman fill the role when not slotted into the lineup in center field.
Pierce Says:
“Brandon Brown has been our most consistent and probably most athletic guy behind the plate and the pitchers really like throwing to him. He doesn't have what you would consider a power arm behind the plate, but his throw-out percentage is extremely high because of his quickness and his accuracy. His blocking and receiving have been outstanding. His ability to connect and work really well with the pitching staff has been amazing to me for a first-year guy.
“Blake Martz has been catching and throwing better than at any point in his career and brings experience with him. He is also our primary designated hitter.
“Jake Harrell, who was out all fall with a broken finger, was a guy who we didn't know exactly how things were going to go with him in terms of a redshirt because he missed the fall. The fact that we only have three total catchers in the program and that he looked good his first time out, he has certainly earned some opportunities this year. We won't be afforded the luxury of even considering redshirting him.”
TroyTrojans.com will preview the upcoming season over the next five days with a breakdown of each position group and finally a preview of the weekend series on Thursday.
Sunday - Infield
Monday - Outfield
Tuesday - Catchers / DH
Wednesday – Pitchers
Thursday - Game Preview
The Breakdown:
The Trojans will look to a trio of players behind the plate to replace two-year starter Todd McRae (94 starts over two years). Junior Brandon Brown is expected to be Troy's opening day starter after batting .367 as a sophomore at Middle Georgia College and .356 as a freshman at Kennesaw State. Brown has the athletic ability to hit at the top of the lineup for the Trojans.
Fifth-year senior Blake Martz enters the season as the Trojans primary designated hitter and backup option behind the plate. Martz has started 86 games over the last three seasons with 14 coming behind the dish. He is coming off a season in which he hit seven home runs, drove in 40 runs and slugged .424.
Head coach Bobby Pierce will also look to true freshman Jake Harrell to give the Trojans some innings behind the plate. After missing the fall with an injury, Harrell has had a strong start to the spring both behind the plate and with the bat.
Besides Martz as the designated hitter, fans can expect to see senior Josh McDorman fill the role when not slotted into the lineup in center field.
Pierce Says:
“Brandon Brown has been our most consistent and probably most athletic guy behind the plate and the pitchers really like throwing to him. He doesn't have what you would consider a power arm behind the plate, but his throw-out percentage is extremely high because of his quickness and his accuracy. His blocking and receiving have been outstanding. His ability to connect and work really well with the pitching staff has been amazing to me for a first-year guy.
“Blake Martz has been catching and throwing better than at any point in his career and brings experience with him. He is also our primary designated hitter.
“Jake Harrell, who was out all fall with a broken finger, was a guy who we didn't know exactly how things were going to go with him in terms of a redshirt because he missed the fall. The fact that we only have three total catchers in the program and that he looked good his first time out, he has certainly earned some opportunities this year. We won't be afforded the luxury of even considering redshirting him.”
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