Baseball team opens this weekend, building on record-setting 2008
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- After winning 35 games in 2008, the second
most wins in school history, the 2009 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagle
baseball team looks to continue the growth that the program has
experienced under coach Matt Bragga, now in his sixth season.
The Golden Eagles get the 2009 season underway this weekend hosting
a four-game series with St. Peter’s College of New Jersey.
The schedule gets underway with doubleheaders both Friday and
Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. each day. Admission is free.
This year’s team will feature a combination of seven
experienced seniors, several incoming freshmen who look to make an
immediate impact, and everything in between. Tech’s captains,
senior outfielder Alex Henry and junior pitcher Jared Dobbs, return
to a squad which brings back three of its top six hitters, and four
of its top five pitchers from a season ago.
Pitching
One of Tech’s strengths looks to be on the mound in 2009, as
two of the Golden Eagles’ three weekend starters return,
along with two mid-week starters and the team’s top go-to
bullpen specialists.
Adam Liberatore is a top candidate to join Dobbs and senior Michael
Alcorn as a conference starter, and Bragga is excited about the
quality and overall depth of the pitching staff.
Alcorn, a fourth year starter, ranked second in the Ohio Valley
Conference in complete games with six, eighth in the conference in
ERA, and led Tech with seven wins a season ago. Joining Alcorn will
be Dobbs, a third year starter. The captain earned all-tournament
honors last spring, as he dominated the No. 2 seeded Samford
Bulldogs, allowing one run in a complete game victory. Liberatore
had a stellar fall campaign for the Golden Eagles after spending
his summer pitching in the prestigious Valley Baseball League,
where he led the league in ERA (1.36) and opponents batting average
(.170) and earned Pitcher of the Year honors.
Sophomore A.J. Kirby-Jones, also one of Tech’s leading
hitters, led the team with a 2.92 ERA last season, while being
named to the OVC All-Freshman team and the OVC All-Tournament team.
He will see time on the mound again in 2009, likely in relief when
the game is on the line. Returning saves leader Ryan Dennick will
also be a mainstay in tight gamsituations. With Kirby-Jones being a
right-handed pitcher, and Dennick a lefty, Bragga will have his
options open out of the bullpen.
Chad Oberaker is coming off a strong freshman season in which he
made numerous mid-week starts and was Tech’s most improved
pitcher in the fall. After proving that he has made the transition
to collegiate baseball, Matthew Shepherd will also be looked upon
as a mid-week starter or top flight reliever.
Senior Blake Forst will also play a significant role on the
pitching staff. Forst has 19 career starts in his career as a
Golden Eagle, and is effective with four different pitches, making
him a versatile weapon to throw at opponents as a reliever or a
starter.
A key newcomer to watch is junior college transfer Lee Henry. Henry
was a junior college All-American, and looks to provide valuable
innings as a starter or reliever.
Other key contributors on the mound will be freshmen dual position
players Chad Hayes and Ben Burgess. They will be joined by junior
Wade Bilbrey, sophomore Chason Choate and freshman Jerred Griggs,
all of whom bring a wealth of ability to the hill for the Golden
Eagles.
As a unit, the Golden Eagles ranked fourth in the conference in
ERA, and struck out two batters for every walk, which led the
conference, while opponents hit just .284 against them in 2008.
With another year of experience under its belt, the pitching staff
looks to put up great numbers again in 2009.
Catchers
Between catchers Cory Wright, Brandon Crossman and Tate McMillan,
Tech returns every inning caught from a season ago, and adds
freshman Ben Burgess to the catching corp.
Wright is an experienced, strong-armed catcher who leads the Tech
defense. Crossman provides the Golden Eagles with offensive punch
to all gaps and savvy behind the plate. Burgess, with his ability
to drive the ball to all fields and his poise behind the dish will
make an impact at the position as well. He is a versatile player
that will also see time in the outfield.
Infield
The Golden Eagle infield is loaded with talent, led by senior third
baseman Evan Webb. McMillan and sophomore Kirby-Jones look to lead
the way at first base. A mix of players, including Trice Powers,
Chad Hayes and Heath Cheverton, will fill the middle infield
slots.
Webb is an outstanding defensive third baseman with excellent range
who can make the highlight-reel play from the hot corner. Also a
threat at the plate, hitting .330 with 12 doubles and 41 RBIs last
spring, Webb will be one of Tech’s most complete players in
2009.
Up the middle, Tech will utilize shortstop Heath Cheverton, who was
an All-Conference shortstop at Chattanooga State Community College.
With his speed, range and arm strength, Heath can make the routine
and spectacular play.
To go along with Cheverton, Tech will rely upon freshman Chad Hayes
and redshirt sophomore Trice Powers in the middle infield. Hayes is
a flashy defender, that has shown great ability to drive the
baseball while Powers is a coach on the field that can defend and
handle the bat extremely well.
Outfield
Senior captain Alex Henry will roam left field, and is a dangerous
all-around player with his defensive toughness and switch-hitting
ability at the plate. Henry is a hard nosed competitor who will
again be at the top of the TTU batting order.
Sophomore Chad Oberaker is a five-tool college player, and among
the team’s best athletes. When not on the mound, he looks to
be an everyday player in center field.
The Golden Eagles can feel comfortable putting any number of
multi-position players in right field. Redshirt-sophomore Casanova
Donaldson could be a regular at the position, but also expect to
see Ben Burgess, when not catching, or junior college transfer
Richard Rausch spend time in right field.
Designated Hitter
McMillan, Kirby-Jones, and Crossman are everyday players who will
fill the DH spot when not in the defensive lineup for the Golden
Eagles. Kirby-Jones comes back after being named to the OVC
All-Freshmen team and the OVC All-Tournament first-team. He hit
.326 in 2008 with 15 doubles, five home runs, and 51 RBIs. He
continued to play impressive baseball in the summer and fall, as he
hit 11 home runs in the Clark Griffith Summer League and led Tech
in home runs in the fall. McMillan is Tech’s most improved
offensive player, which is high praise coming off a season in which
he hit .342. Crossman will be a major contributor as an offensive
weapon. He spent the fall recovering from knee surgery.
