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2008 Outlook
Gannon Hopes
to Base Cocolin Era
on Fundamentals and Hard Work;
Prepare for First Season in the PSAC
New coach, new attitude,
new results. The first two are true statements about the 2008 Gannon baseball
program. Hopefully, the third is a result of the first two.
First-year head coach Nate Cocolin returns to his hometown with a mind-set
to resurrect Gannon’s baseball program that has recorded 22 consecutive losing
seasons. So, the resurrection will need to start from stage one.
“Our main concern is having the players believe in themselves,” said Cocolin.
“Nobody can be successful without having confidence and a killer instinct.
It’s only natural for a team that had a season like last year’s to lack those
qualities, but our team is showing constant improvement in those areas.”
The other intangible needed to be successful this year will be leadership.
Thirteen letterwinners and seven position players who started at least 13
games return from last year’s squad. The list of returning players include
the club’s top five hitters and four of the top six pitchers.
So, talent-wise, Gannon has its leaders coming back. However, Cocolin will
look to his veterans to provide leadership on and off the field. “We can only
lead to a certain point as a coaching staff,” noted Cocolin. “At some point,
the players have to take ownership of the team and invest themselves in the
program. Every successful team has leaders who everyone can look to and trust.”
Cocolin also believes stressing the fundamentals and little things will
be extremely important for a program that has won 26 games over the last
three seasons.
“The most important thing is that the players buy into what we are teaching,”
said Cocolin. “We have been happy with that aspect. The high level of character
and commitment of the 20 players in the program have been our biggest strength.
We have asked our players to work extremely hard and that is the only way
we are going to reach our goals.”
Pitching
If Gannon has any hopes of
competing during its final season as a member of the GLIAC, it must see major
improvements from its pitching staff. The Golden Knights ranked last among
GLIAC teams last season in earned run average, allowing 10.95 earned runs
per nine innings. The staff averaged 8.4 walks per nine innings and allowed
a .359 opponent’s batting average.
Gannon will have experience on its side. Four of the team’s top six pitchers
from last year’s staff return. Greg Radwan brings the most potential after
posting Gannon’s second-lowest ERA in 2007. The sophomore right-hander led
the Golden Knights in starts (10), innings pitched (48), and strikeouts (49).
He was the only Golden Knight to record a complete game, shutout, or save.
He also did not allow a home run in 48 innings of work.
“Greg has shown the ability to lead on and off the field,” said Cocolin.
“The team voted him as a captain and he will most likely come out of preseason
camp as our No. 1 pitcher.”
Radwan’s most dominating performance of his freshman campaign was a 3-0
shutout against the University of Sciences in Philadelphia, allowing only
three hits while striking out 11.
Fellow sophomore Evan Euler also returns after tossing 28 2/3 innings as
a true freshman last season. Euler is expected to compete for a position in
the starting rotation after making six starts last year. He has shown constant
improvement since joining the program after football season, when he was
Gannon’s starting punter.
Nick Licskai completes Gannon’s group of returners who made at least two
starts last season. The sophomore threw 27 1/3 innings, picking up his first
career victory with six innings of work against the University of Sciences
in Philadelphia. He adds a left-handed tosser to the starting rotation.
The rest of the starting rotation, as well as bullpen roles, will be up
for grabs during the preseason. Drew Rojek served as Gannon’s closer last
season, logging 37 innings in 24 appearances.
Adam Biedrzycki rounds out Gannon’s list of returning pitchers with collegiate
experience as a Golden Knight. He threw 20 innings in 11 appearances, making
one start.
Freshmen Shane Braendel, Peter Grouios, and George Johnson represent the
new faces on the staff. All three will compete for time on the mound. Braendel
comes from Cathedral Prep (Pa.) High School; Grouios transferred from Mansfield
University, and George Johnson hails from Wakefield (Va.) High School. Johnson
is also a member of Gannon’s men’s basketball team, which advanced to the
NCAA Division II Tournament.
Eric Harpster and Chris Miller, who start in centerfield and at first base,
round out Gannon’s pitching staff when needed. Neither player pitched last
season.
Infield
Gannon returns experience
at every infield position and has arguably one of the best hitting infields
in the GLIAC. Radwan, Miller, and Jonathan Dziomba return at three of the
infield positions. The three combined to record 96 hits, 50 runs, 17 doubles,
and 46 RBI last season.
Miller, an All-GLIAC honorable-mention selection last season, returns at
first base after hitting .261 with 23 runs and 23 RBI in 2007. The senior
is considered one of the league’s best fielding first basemen, committing
only 12 errors in 878 opportunities during his three-year career. He ranks
eighth all-time at Gannon with 71 career RBI, needing 45 to break Nick Leslie’s
(2000-04) school record of 115. Miller is also one of Gannon’s most patient
hitters, ranking ninth in school history with 52 career walks.
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Chris Miller is one
of the GLIAC’s best defensive first basemen and was Gannon’s second-leading
hitter last season. The senior hit .261 with 23 runs and 23 RBI in 2007. As
a junior, he hit .337 with 28 runs and 34 RBI. He also committed only two
errors as a junior. |
Dziomba brings experience
to the left side of the infield. The junior middle infielder started 46 games
last season at shortstop. He hit .252 with 15 runs, 20 RBI, and a team-high
three home runs. The Williamsville, N.Y., native is expected to provide Gannon
with left-handed power in the middle of the lineup.
Radwan is expected to man the hot corner at third base when he’s not on
the mound. He hit .244 as a true freshman, making 32 starts. Radwan produced
a .359 on-base percentage and committed only five errors in 2007.
One returner and three newcomers will battle for the starting position at
second base. Bobby Fanto is the lone returner with experience at second base.
The sophomore saw action in 13 games last season, including five starts. He
hit .231 in limited action and committed only one error in 19 chances as
a true freshman.
A trio of freshmen - Braendel, Kolten Hoffman, and Ryan Tann - will compete
against Fanto for playing time at second base.
Outfield
Gannon can boast about its
infield experience and talent, but it might have a stronger outfield. The
Golden Knights have starters returning in leftfield and centerfield, who ranked
among Gannon’s top three hitters last season.
Eric Harpster controls the center of the field for the third consecutive
campaign. The junior has turned into one of the region’s best centerfielders,
defensively and offensively. He earned All-GLIAC honorable-mention accolades
last season after hitting .322 with 26 runs and 18 RBI. The Erie, Pa., native
stole 14 bases in 16 attempts.
One of the team’s captains, Harpster can cover a large amount of ground
in the outfield. He has committed only five errors in 238 opportunities during
his two-year career.
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Eric Harpster earned
All-GLIAC honorable-mention accolades last season. The junior has turned into
one of the Great Lakes region’s best centerfielders, committing only five
errors in 238 chances during his two-year career. He posted a team-high .322
average last season. |
Ford Eisenman returns as
Gannon’s starting left fielder and is on the verge of school history. The
junior enters the campaign with 33 career stolen bases, 35 shy of Clint Page’s
(1997-00) school record of 68. His 21 stolen bases last season equaled the
sixth-highest single-season total in school history. Eisenman hit .259 with
21 runs and 16 RBI in 2007. He owned a .359 on-base percentage and .974 fielding
percentage.
“Ford is one of our fastest players,” noted Cocolin. “We’re expecting him
to create problems for opposing teams on the base paths.”
The starting position in right field will be hotly contested between a slew
of players. Freshman Zane Anderson is the lone player in the group listed
on the preseason roster as only an outfielder. Rojek, Hoffman, Braendel, and
John Pichette could also see time when not playing their primary positions.
Catcher
Four catchers will compete
for playing time behind the plate, but only one saw significant time last
season.
Jim Travers, who transferred from Division I Canisius prior to the 2007
campaign, returns with the most experience, playing in 25 games last season
with 17 starts. The junior hit .222 with a .453 on-base percentage and .963
fielding percentage. He is expected to see a lot of playing time after recovering
from a preseason injury.
Seniors John Pichette and Blake Nusbaum also return with playing experience.
Pichette saw action in eight games last season, including two starting assignments.
Nusbaum played in six contests.
Pichette hit .273 in limited action during the 2006 season. The Horseheads,
N.Y., native, had a .385 on-base percentage in 12 games. Nusbaum came to Gannon
prior to the 2007 season from Medaille College in Buffalo, N.Y. He hit .278
with a .398 slugging percentage for the Mavericks.
Redshirt freshman Brandon Crum completes Gannon’s group of catchers. Crum
was named to the Meadville Tribune Dream Team as a junior and senior.
He was also a two-time all-conference selection at Saegertown High School.
Gannon UniversityUniversity Square ~ Erie, PA 16541-0001
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Free: 1-800-GANNON-U
Sports Press Box E-mail
updated
3/13/08 by: drt
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