It is certainly not a stretch to say that the baseball team took a big hit this offseason due to graduation, particularly on offense. With the departure of last year's seniors - Brian Casey, Bryan McDavitt, Kyle Backstrom and Chris Decembrele - the 2008 squad must address holes not only at the key defensive positions of catcher and shortstop, but at the top of the order as well.
Fortunately, Tufts returns its top run producer, senior right fielder Steve Ragonese. The Upper Saddle River, N.J. native led the Jumbos with nine home runs and 37 RBIs last year and should be stationed in the middle of the order as one of the main offensive threats. But with Ragonese as the lone position-playing senior, it will be up to a strong crop of juniors and underclassmen to provide both protection for Ragonese and run production of their own.
"We've been working really hard in the preseason," sophomore infielder Alex Grzymala said. "We've really been focused in every aspect of the game, trying to get ready for our Virginia trip."
"We have a great blend of players," sophomore third baseman Caleb Sims added. "We've got great senior leaders as well as a young core group of guys that really forms a good makeup for a team."
Gryzmala and Sims, as well as junior co-captain Kevin Casey, sophomore first baseman and designated hitter Corey Pontes and sophomore Nate Bankoff, comprise the returning infielders for the Jumbos this season. Behind the plate, sophomore Alex Perry and junior Will Woods return to the team with catching experience.
In the outfield, juniors Eric Catalanotti and Dave Katzman return to the team with significant game experience. Both started 30 games last season and got over 90 at-bats. Elsewhere, junior Aaron Sommer as well as freshmen Ian Goldberg, Derek Miller and Chase Rose could see time this year.
Tufts opens its season on Friday against Lynchburg, a Virginia team that has already played 17 games and sports 11-6 record, including seven wins out of its last eight games.
"We open up against a solid Lynchburg team that's already in the middle of their season," Gryzmala said. "But we look forward to the challenge of playing a good team."
"We should be well prepared for the trip down south," Sims added. "We definitely have some good competition, but that's what we play the game for. We're up for it and it should be fun."
The Jumbos left bright and early yesterday at 4 a.m., embarking on a trip that will gauge the team's early-season progress. The young team should definitely improve as inexperienced players gain the skills that only live-game experience can produce, but many of the players have clearly already adapted to the college level.
Pontes had an outstanding freshman campaign, hitting .398 to lead the team as well as slugging .527, second only to Ragonese's .536. Casey, already a two-year starter, batted .346 and was second on the team with 30 RBI. Both Katzman and Catalanotti are sweet-swinging lefties who will be solid members of the lineup this season.
"I'm excited for the year," Sims said. "I'm confident in our team and our players. Our team looks solid."
The spring break trip, in which the Jumbos play almost a third of their season, is by no means a cakewalk used to pad the team's record. Coach John Casey has scheduled games with several traditionally strong teams in addition to Lynchburg, among them Methodist, Greensboro College and Virginia Wesleyan.
"I'm just really excited for the season to begin," Gryzmala said.
