By Gavin Lindahl
Assistant Sports Editor
According to Head Coach Larry Sudbrook, last season’s Bonnies baseball campaign was a disappointing one after finishing with a 20-28 overall record and 9-15 in their conference. The team, which boasted a strong senior core featuring two Atlantic 10 all-star players, failed to meet expectations.
While the Bonnies lost most of their starters, experience and leadership from the previous season, they will be returning with their veteran pitching unit mostly intact. According to Sudbrook, the team’s pitching will be its strength.
However, the Bonnies pitching won’t be as strong as it could have been. The team lost their number one pitcher, Andrew “Dice” Revello, to complications following a tragic car accident in June last summer. Revello, who led the team in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts last season and brought a veteran presence, will be missed.
“Whenever you have a tragic accident like that, it’s hard all around,” Sudbrook said.
Besides relying on their veteran pitching, the Bonnies will also be looking to a young team to step up. According to Sudbrook, recruiting has been key to rebuilding the team and replacing its starters.
Despite being the opposite of the Bonnies’ experienced team last season, Sudbrook said he’s hopeful in his young, talented squad regardless of their inexperience.
“Just because they’re young players doesn’t mean they’re bad players,” Sudbrook said. “They may not have 400 at bats in the A-10, but they’re still talented players.”
According to Sudbrook, freshmen catcher Dan Trimble and third baseman Danny Urban (replacing his older brother, Billy Urban, who graduated last year) have impressed him early on and will crack the roster as starters.
The team also acquired two students, junior center fielder Tyler Bell and junior catcher Dylan Dunn, through transfers this season. Redshirt junior Bret Heath has also been moved to center field.
The team left yesterday for Port Charlotte, Fla. to compete in the Snowbird Classic where the Bonnies will open up against Iowa tomorrow. According to Sudbrook, Iowa will be ready to meet the Bonnies.
“They’ve had about the same weather as us, but they have a field house to practice in because of the football team there,” said Sudbrook. “Also, they played three games last weekend, so they’ll be ready. It will be a challenging first game.”
Iowa is coming off two wins and one loss against Austin Peay State University, and is playing today against Mississippi Valley State. After opening against Iowa, the Bonnies will stay in Port Charlotte to play eight more games before coming home on March 3.
Following the game against Iowa, the Bonnies will take on Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Kansas and Nebraska-Omaha on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday respectively.
The team will play nine total games in the tournament, finishing Mar. 3.
