2003 Baseball Outlook

Looking to improve on last season’s finish, which included a disappointing loss to Bethune-Cookman in the NCAA Regionals, Florida International Baseball will continue to build off of its winning tradition in 2003. For the past 30 seasons, FIU Baseball has become synonymous with winning, as the Golden Panthers have enjoying winning seasons in 29 of those 30 years. The 2003 campaign should be no different as Head Coach Danny Price expects a return to the NCAA Regionals for a seventh consecutive season.

Golden Panther Baseball has made a consistent habit of improvement over the years. Certainly, making the jump to Div. I in 1982 was a big step in the program’s development, but the Golden Panthers have also made tremendous strides since that point. Over the last ten years, FIU ranks 22nd out of all Division I programs in total wins, but over the past five seasons, FIU ranks even higher in total wins at 18th. Also, thanks to last season’s appearance in the NCAA Regional in Gainesville, Florida, FIU has now advanced to an NCAA Div. I Regional for six consecutive seasons, establishing a school mark. These sorts of accomplishments have become almost commonplace at FIU, where improvement is stressed on a daily basis.

Key among the improvements Coach Price seeks for this year’s team will be replacing some of the hitting he lost this past season. Looming large in particular is the loss of two ABCA All-American position players: catcher Tommy Duenas and first baseman Brad Eldred. Duenas, who was drafted in the 16th Round of the MLB Draft by the Anaheim Angels, hit .387 with 57 RBI and 12 Home Runs for the Golden Panthers last season. Eldred, the 2002 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, hit .358 with 71 RBI and established a school record by hitting 29 home runs. The Golden Panthers will also miss the production of outfielder Bernard Gonzalez (.323 BA, 10 HR, 62 RBI) and infielder Alex Ansoleaga (.354 BA, 11 SB, 27 RBI). Still, Coach Price has high hopes for this year’s group. “I don’t know if we’re going to swing the bat like we did last year, as we were an offensive ballclub. But our line-up is very capable of scoring some runs, and I expect we’ll see some players step up.”

Among those counted on to cushion the losses will be a bevy of talented outfielders. The group is led by senior Adam Summerell, who has hit .335 for his FIU career with 10 home runs and 38 RBI. Seniors Solomon Frieder (.346, 7, 26) and Fernando Alvarez will also look to contribute, while newcomers Ricardo Nanita (.424, 11, 64, at Chipola Junior College), Yahmed Yema and James Knapp join the program and hope to make an immediate impact.

The infield returns two excellent players in senior second baseman Skip Adams (.323, 9, 47) and sophomore shortstop Dennis Diaz (.314, 3, 29, 29 SB). Both will be counted on heavily again this season, but Price hopes to move them around a little to get two talented newcomers onto the field in freshmen Michael Lopez and Luis Rivera. Two more freshmen, Bryan Pullin and David San Juan, and sophomore James Bacon should also figure into the mix.

The Golden Panthers shouldn’t have any problems behind the plate, as two proven performers return at catcher for the Golden Panthers this season. Senior Michael New (.478, 2, 9) will return following a solid 2001 season and an injury-plagued 2002 campaign. He will be challenged for the starting position by sophomore Adrian Casanova (.308, 24 put-outs) and newcomer Mario Monreal.

Developing depth in the pitching staff has always been a priority for the coaches, but in 2002 it became a necessity. The staff suffered several injuries in 2002, and the team was also hurt by the early departure of top reliever Ozzie Lugo before the season even started. No less than five pitchers missed time due to injury last season, causing Coach Price and pitching coach Mark Calvi to juggle their rotation all year. This season the Golden Panthers should be better off for it as they return nine pitchers who saw game action last season. “We have some guys who have been through the big games and have performed for us,” Price said. “This staff now has a lot of versatility, and we’re going to be able to play with our line-up and move some of them around.”

At the top of the staff stands sophomore ace Derek DeCarlo. Pressed into action as a freshman last season, DeCarlo (11-0, 3.53) emerged as the most dependable player on the staff on his way to a perfect starting record. His eleven consecutive wins set a school mark for freshmen, and he was voted Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year for his efforts.

Still, the entire starting rotation is up in the air, as the coaching staff wants to create competition. Junior Josh Banks (3-2, 2.65, 4 saves) and senior Andrew Edwards (0-0, 2.25) look to bounce back from injury and contribute more in 2003. Both players showed potential last season, leading the team in ERA in limited action. Senior Carlos Sanchez (6-0, 4.24) will also be a factor as the team’s top returning left-hander. In addition, junior Arthur Santos (2 wins, 1 save, 5.13) should push for time.

Versatile junior Luis Gazitua (3-0, 4 saves) returns as a potential starter/reliever, while seniors Derek Taylor (5-2, 4.08, 2 saves) and Peter Kocur (3 appearances) will likely be solid bullpen options.

Newcomers Edgar Ramirez, Manuel Monreal, Brian Aragon, and Ammer Cabrera will all vie for playing time as well.

With a solid mix of newcomers and returnees, the FIU men’s baseball team will take on a challenging schedule in 2003. Eight NCAA postseason teams will be a part of the schedule, including cross-town rival Miami (Fla.) and Sun Belt Conference foes South Alabama, New Mexico State and Louisiana-Lafayette. The Golden Panthers also face UCF, Harvard, Bethune-Cookman and Florida Atlantic. Seven of those teams will FIU’s University Park, including Super-Regional participants Miami (Fla.) and Florida Atlantic.