Golden Eagles anxious to convert potential into performance

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- On a cold, blustery day in early January, Tennessee Tech baseball coach Matt Bragga looked across the diamond at Bush Stadium with anticipation.

Leaping into his third year as coach of the Golden Eagles, Bragga's enthusiasm warmed the chilly dugout. There was a broad smile lurking just below the surface, a smile he can rarely suppress. And that smile brought promise and brightened the afternoon, even as the sun hid behind heavy, damp grey clouds.

There is passion, hope and an awful lot of baseball savvy behind that smile. Bragga doesn't look backward, but points his focus - and the focus of everyone within his program - toward a future bright with promise.

"We're excited," says the coach who once ranked second in the Southeastern Conference in hitting, and has spent his first two seasons in Cookeville working to mold his Golden Eagle program into one that can become a consistent winner, not only in the Ohio Valley Conference but on a national level.

"We're excited because we have an awful lot of talented young men who are excited about the season, and who have the potential to be a very good baseball team," he says. "I fully expect great things from this year's team."

It would be more than a month before his team's schedule will unfold - and the first obstacle (Feb. 17-19) would frighten most with a three-game series at national powerhouse LSU - but Bragga's enthusiasm is contagious.

It's little wonder that alumni and supporters of the program cast a hopeful eye toward the 2006 campaign - and beyond - despite the team's 13-42 record last year. Tech was 6-20 in the Ohio Valley Conference, finishing ninth and missing the league tournament.

"A lot of those games just got away from us. We would compete and have several good innings, but just didn't finish strong," Bragga says. "That's something I think this team will be able to do."

There have been growing pains the past two years, but this year's squad is built around a combination of players who Bragga believes in - the roster features an infusion of newcomers coupled with the return of a handful of players who have shown tremendous potential.

The plan in 2006 is to take the program from potential to performance. Tech opens the year at LSU on Friday (Feb. 17) at 6:30 p.m. Tech also plays Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.

UP ON THE HILL

Tech's 2006 improvement starts with the pitching staff, where a reliable rotation began to emerge during the fall. There are eight pitchers projected as starters, including five who could see the bulk of the starting assignments -- newcomers Zac Cole and Jake New, returnees Billy Welsh and Justin Fields, and Michael Alcorn, who returns from a medical redshirt season.

A transfer from St. Bonaventure University, New could be a pivotal player for the Golden Eagles with the ability to pitch, or play first base or in the outfield. Cole comes to the roster after two seasons at Palm Beach Community College.

Welch pitched in 14 games as a freshman, going 2-1 with 16 strikeouts and 16 walks, while Fields tossed innings in 23 games including a team-high nine starts.

Alcorn was on his way to a sensational season as a freshman, posting a 3-1 record and a 3.99 ERA, before an ailing back sidelined him.

The starting nod could also go to sophomore Blake Forst (1-2), senior Brandon Bornstein (2-2) or freshman Adam Liberatore. Bornstein is one of just two seniors on the roster and will lend leadership in his final campaign.

The bullpen features four options for the middle innings. The prospects include junior Matt Smith, a two-year veteran out of the bullpen for Vol State Community College where he posted 10 saves and a 3.20 ERA; sophomore Matt Kearney, who worked as a starter and in relief during his rookie season; junior Adam Cloar, who has excellent velocity and control, getting 25 strikeouts while walking only 13 last spring; and Kevin Cizmarik, a tall (6-foot-6) lefty who is just beginning to reach his potential and can be an overpowering figure on the mound.

The job of closer could go to one of three newcomers, each bringing a different angle to the role. Freshman Brantley Kilgore is an all-state pitcher/first baseman at Dobyns-Bennett High School. Junior Charlie Bolton, who throws sidearm, is a two-year veteran from Skagit (Wash.) Valley College where he posted a 1.50 ERA. Sophomore Patrick Miller is a transfer from Cumberland (Ky.) College where he posted eight wins last season.

BEHIND THE PLATE
The Golden Eagles seek a replacement behind the plate for departed four-year starter Britt Clubb, and have four catchers on the roster including junior Daniel Owens, who played in 18 games last season.

The top prospect among three newcomers is junior Steve Soper, who spent one season at Louisiana Tech before a highly successful campaign last year at Wallace State. Soper led Wallace State to the NJCAA World Series, hitting .385 with 60 RBI. A versatile offensive player, he should fill a spot in the middle of the lineup.

Also vying for the role are freshmen Corey Wright, a strong-armed power hitter from Dobyns-Bennett High School, and Tate McMillan, a left-handed hitter from Houston County High School who could also see action at first base.

AROUND THE HORN

There are only two returnees names on a list of nine players penciled in for the infield positions and one of those -- sophomore Clint Alexander -- missed the entire fall schedule with a shoulder injury.

In other words, there will be a new look around the horn in 2006.

If he's healthy, Alexander will be among those challenging to be the everyday first baseman. He hit .297 with 12 doubles and 23 RBI as a freshman. Pitchers Jake New, Brantley Kilgore and Tate McMillan could also play the position.

At second base, junior Brian Sprowl emerged from the fall as a leading candidate and a real sparkplug. A .309 hitter in two seasons at Shelton (Ala.) State, he could also play in the outfield.

Sophomore Matt Mihoci and freshman Stuart Meinhart also figure heavily in the middle infield, along with junior Ryan Wardlow. Mihoci played in 36 games in a backup role as a freshman and hit .247, while Meinhart comes from an MVP career at Brentwood High School. Freshman Patrick Kimmons will also spend time at second base.

Wardlow, a key player for two years at Elgin (Ill.) Community College, is the projected starter at shortstop.

Meinhart, Alexander and Sprowl are among the players who could play the ?hot corner' for the Golden Eagles.

IN THE DISTANCE

Senior Kyle Rowekamp returns from a medical redshirt season, junior Scott Dunham and sophomore Adam Black are back, and all three returnees figure to play important roles in Tech's outfield in 2006. They will be joined and challenged by four newcomers, including two who could be starters.

An aggressive player who should find a spot near the top of the batting order, Rowekamp - one of only two seniors on the Tech roster and the only one slated to hit -- played in just three games last season before an injury put him on the shelf. He's expected to start in left field. Sprowl and Dunham, a .241 hitter as a sophomore, are also capable of playing in left.

In center field, Bragga can turn to junior Josh Goodwin or Dunham to handle that key position. A two-time prep all-state selection in Alabama, Goodwin played two seasons at Wallace (Ala.) State where he batted .370.

Right field is the final piece to the puzzle for the Golden Eagles. In addition to Adam Black, the other three players on the depth chart at the position would all move from different spots and force Bragga to shuffle his lineup. They include Sprowl (from second base or left field), Jake New (from pitcher or first base) and Adam Liberatore (from the pitching staff).

DESIGNATED HITTER
With the loss of projected designated hitter Shaun Sheehan to a preseason injury, Daniel Owens and Patrick Kilgore become the likely names to make their way onto Bragga's lineup card at the position. Owens saw limited action as a freshman with just 20 chances at the plate. Kilgore, who's listed as a possible closer or first baseman, batted .390 with 116 RBI in his career at Dobyns-Bennett High School.