2004 Baseball Team Opens Practice On Jan. 26
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Players, coaches and fans all are excited about the opening of spring practice as well as the start of the 2004 season itself, just over a month away. The Golden Eagles open practice on Monday, Jan. 26, at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field, and open the season on Fri., Feb. 20, at home against Northwestern (La.) State at 3 p.m. The first week of practice will run from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. each day at "The Pete" and will be open to the public.
"We are excited about the start of practice next week," Head Coach Corky Palmer, the 2003 Keith LeClair Conference USA Coach of the Year said. "The players worked hard during the conditioning period and now everyone is ready to get started. Last year, the team won the conference regular season and tournament titles, we hosted the regional and enjoyed a successful season. They know what it takes to be successful and now want to repeat as champions and advance to their second-straight NCAA Regional.
"In order for us to take our program to the level we all want, we have to consistently win conference championships and go to the NCAA Regionals."
Southern Miss returns 17 letterwinners from last year's team (48-17), including six position starters (Marc Maddox - 1B, Jarrett Hoffpauir - 2B, Matt Shepherd - SS, Beau Griffin - 3B, Brad Willcutt - C, Jason Lowery - LF), two starting pitchers (Anthony DeWitt, Cliff Russum) and the entire bullpen (John Nicholas, Ray Antonelli, Austin Tubb, Noah Tritz, Daniel Best). Seven redshirt freshman and reserves from last year's team will try to break into the lineup, along with 13 newcomers.
Leading the Golden Eagles into the 2004 season will be preseason All-American redshirt junior catcher Brad Willcutt (.325, 20 2b, 12 HR, 61 RBIs), junior second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir (.307, 13 2b, 10 HR, 53 RBIs), junior shortstop Matt Shepherd (.296, 10 2b, 4 3b, 3 HR, 32 RBIs), junior third baseman Beau Griffin (.253, 4 2B, 1 HR, 20 RBIs), sophomore first baseman Marc Maddox (.336, 12 2b, 5 HR, 23 RBIs) and junior outfielder Jason Lowery (.322, 11 2B, 2 HR, 28 RBIs).
The pitching staff will be led by senior starter Anthony DeWitt (8-2, 3.31 ERA, 89.2IP, 50K, 19 BB), senior All-American closer Austin Tubb (3-2, 1.45 ERA, 31 IP, 30K, 9 BB, .196 opponents BA), senior reliever Ray Antonelli (4-0, 2.14 ERA, 59IP, 60K, 23 BB, .201 opponents BA), junior starter Cliff Russum (8-5, 3.31 ERA, 87IP, 50K, 19BB, .192 opponent's BA) and junior reliever John Nicholas (4-1, 2.45 ERA, 33 IP, 23K, 12BB).
For season ticket information for Golden Eagle baseball, call the Southern Miss Ticket Office at 1-800-844-TICK.
2003 Conference USA CHAMPIONS
Regular season AND tournament!