Baseball Opens Fall Drills Reply

[Eric the Red]

NU: Baseball Opens Fall Drills Reply

 

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Baseball Opens Fall Drills

Courtesy: NU Media Relations

Release: 09/19/2006

 

Lincoln – For Nebraska baseball coach Mike Anderson, Tuesday is opening day, as the Husker baseball team begins fall drills this afternoon. While the players have been on campus participating in conditioning and skill instruction, this afternoon’s workout is the first time the entire squad will be together working out at Hawks Field.

 

“We are excited to get going,” Anderson said. “We have a good core of kids coming back and a group of newcomers who we are anxious to see on the field.”

 

The Husker head coach will begin his fifth season with the most experienced roster of his tenure. Nebraska returns 22 letterwinners (10 position players and 12 pitchers) from a squad that went 42-17 and reached NCAA postseason play for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.

 

Anderson said that the 22 practices the Huskers will conduct during the fall are important to the development of the 2007 squad.

 

“The fall is a very important time for us in the evaluation process,” Anderson said. “Not only does it give us a chance to work on fundamentals and let guys to play together, but we try to put our players in as many game-like situations as we can to help them prepare for the spring.”

 

On the mound, the Huskers have the luxury of returning three of their top four starters from a year ago, headlined by All-American Tony Watson. In all, NU returns 29 wins from a season ago, as well as their top two set-up men in sophomores Erik Bird and Zach Herr.

 

Watson, who was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 17th round last spring, went 10-2 in 17 appearances before spending the summer in the Cape Cod League where he was ranked as the league’s No. 13 overall prospect for the 2007 MLB Draft. Two-time All-Big 12 pitcher Johnny Dorn (9-4, 3.89 ERA) and sophomore right-hander Charlie Shirek (4-2, 3.23 ERA) will anchor the rotation, but all three starters will be limited in the fall.

 

“They have thrown enough innings for the year and won’t throw in scrimmages,” Anderson said. “They are known quantities and by shutting them down for the fall, it gives us some opportunities to develop some other pitchers for the spring. I think the competition on the mound will be one of our best position battles. Every outing in the fall will be important in helping us to establish a staff for the spring.”

 

Around the diamond, the Huskers welcome back 10 position players, including six that started at least 33 games last season. That group is headlined by All-American shortstop Ryan Wehrle, who hit .367 with eight homers, 48 RBIs and 22 doubles. The junior from Papillion was selected in the 18th round by the Cincinnati Reds and is one of four position players who earned All-Big 12 honors in 2006.

 

In addition to Wehrle, the Huskers feature three other returning all-conference performers, utility player Andrew Brown (.298-9-30), second baseman Jake Opitz (.293-2-27) and designated hitter/outfielder Andy Gerch (.290-4-18). The group of returnees also includes starting third baseman Jake Mort (.265-0-24) and starting center fielder Bryce Nimmo (.259-3-21, 16 SB).

 

Anderson said two of the more interesting position battles will be at catcher, where the Huskers look to replace two-year starter Jeff Christy, who was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the sixth round, and at first base, where Brandon Buckman earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2006.

 

The Huskers will hold their annual scout day on Monday, Sept. 25 with the Red/White Series set for Oct. 11-13. In addition, fans will have an opportunity to meet the 2007 Husker squad on Saturday, Oct. 7, as the Husker Home Run Club will host a function that morning. More details about the Husker Meet-and-Greet will be announced in the coming days.

[T-BONE]

How was our baseball recruiting class ?

[HuskerHank]

What was the real story on Jaros (sp) and Buchanan?

[gamecocks]

I think the baseball team's motto should be "unfinished business" for this upcoming season.

[kc_husker]

What was the real story on Jaros (sp) and Buchanan?

I heard that Jaros got into with a wrestler and Im sure

he was told by Anderson to take a hike. A guy I work

with said the reason he had to go the juco route before

NU was he got into some trouble right out of high school.

To bad the kid is very talented.