Clarion University’s 2003 Baseball team gets underway in Newport News, Virginia on March 4^th when the Golden Eagles square off against "The Apprentice School" in a doubleheader starting at 1pm.

Clarion will continue its trip with a doubleheader at Christopher Newport on March 5^th, then head to Savannah, Georgia for 6 games before returning to Clarion.

"We’re looking forward to the trip and the season getting underway," said Clarion fourth year head coach Scott Feldman. "We’re looking for our veterans to provide quality leadership this year, but also hope our new faces will step up and make a big contribution this year as well."

Feldman begins his fourth season with a career record of 34-78. The Golden Eagles posted a 7-35 overall record last year and a 3-17 mark in the PSAC-West. In 2001 Clarion was 10-25 overall and 2-18 in PSAC-West play, while in 2000, Clarion was 17-18 overall and 10-10 in league play.

Last season the Golden Eagles batted .274 as a team, scored 181 runs (4.3 runs per game), belted 10 homers, drew 158 walks and were 41 of 53 in stolen bases. The pitching staff’s ERA dropped to 7.96 and that will be an area the team hopes to improve. In 2000 the Eagles hit .289, but had an impressive ERA of 4.78 that led to the team’s overall success.

Geremy Hoover (Sr. Clearfield - Philipsburg-Osceola) and Jared Frey (Jr. Mechanicsburg - West Perry) will be the 2003 team captains.

Hoover, who was a first team PSAC-West catcher in 2002, will move to center field this season and come in as Clarion’s closer on the mound. Last year Hoover played in all 42 games and batted .256 (32 of 125) and led Clarion in home runs (5), rbi’s (27) and runs scored (28).

Frey, who played center last year, will likely move to right field, plus could provide some help on the mound. Frey batted an impressive .336 (46 of 137) and led the team in hits (46) and doubles (14), was second in runs scored (25), posted 10 walks and was 3 for 3 in stolen bases. Frey also hit 333 as a freshman (19 of 57).

"I feel we have two great captains in Geremy and Jared," said Feldman. "Each bring their own distinct style of leadership for the good of our program."

The infield positions will get a new look this year with three new starters expected in the four positions. Veteran Brandon McCliment (Jr. Philipsburg - Osceola) will start at first base, while freshmen Jason Kooser (Pgh. Shaler) and Jeff Donston (New Castle) are penciled in at shortstop and second base, with junior transfer Neil Blewett (Toronto, Canada). Also vying for time are Doug Rowell (So. Harrisburg - Bishop McDevitt) at second, Blase Caranese (Fr. Greensburg C.C.) at short, Dan Barrett (Fr. Punxsutawney) at third and either Josh Kale (Jr. Industry - Western Beaver), Brandon Guiliani (Fr. Moon - Blackhawk) or Derek Parker (Fr. Pgh - South Park) at fist base.

McCliment, a two year veteran, led the team in hitting last year with a .341 average (44 of 129) and was second on the team in doubles (7) and rbi’s (24). As a freshman he batted 333 (11 of 33) with 4 doubles and 3 rbi’s.

Kooser, a freshman, comes to Clarion from Shaler High where he had a .987 season fielding percentage. Jason has good running speed and could hit leadoff.

Donston, from New Castle, is also a quality glove man and hits left handed. An All-Section player, he joins Kooser up the middle to provide solid defense.

Blewett, a transfer from Garrett C.C., will anchor third base. Neil is considered to be a power hitter with a good glove and a solid arm.

Rowell played in 23 games last year at short and second and should battle for time at second base. Doug batted .212 a year ago (14 of 66), scored 8 runs and had 5 rbi’s.

Caranese, also a freshman, comes to Clarion from Greensburg Central Catholic. He earned 4 letters and played third base last year for the Centurians who won the PIAA State Title. Blase is considered one of the best athletes on the team.

Kale, a transfer from Mount Olive, is expected to add some power to the Eagle lineup. A left-handed hitter, he can also catch and could be used as the designated hitter. He played at Western Beaver in 2000 for the WPIAL title team.

Guiliani, a freshman from Blackhawk, also is a left-handed hitter and will provide quality depth.

Parker, a red-shirt freshman, has good size and speed and is hoping to contribute.

Pete Vuckovich Jr., who missed last season with an injury, is back to take over the catching chores. "Vuck" hit .162 as a sophomore (6 for 37) and also saw time as a true freshman in 2000. An outstanding defensive catcher who also knows how to handle pitchers, his field leadership will be a plus.

Kale and freshman Jason Warner will also battle for catching time. Warner, a freshman from Berwick High and who also played for the Eagle football team in the Fall, has a strong arm from behind the dish.

Captains Geremy Hoover and Jared Frey will lead the Eagle outfield. Joining them will likely be Kevin Gledhill (So. Austin) in left field, while Tom Kimble (Fr. Apollo - Greensburg C.C.), Todd Braid (Fr. DuBois) and Seth Stewart (Fr. Rimersburg - Union) all look for game time.

Gledhill, a transfer from Mansfield, is expected to start in left. He brings a power bat to the lineup.

Kimble, a freshman, is seen as the fourth outfielder and will play plenty of innings this season. One of the fastest players on the team, he has a strong future ahead.

Braid, also a freshman, is the fastest player on the team and can hit with power.

Stewart, a freshman also with good speed, s learning the college game and could red-shirt this season.

The Golden Eagles graduated its top two pitchers from the last three seasons in David Graham and Nate Baumgardner. Ready to step forward are sophomores Bill Young (So. Grampian - Curwensville), Steve Sherman (Seneca - Cranberry) and Jake Yale (So. Brockport - Brockway), with junior Brad Adamski (Valencia - Mars) and Josh Gerstel (Fr. Verona - Butler) rounding out the top five.

Young pitched in 9 games last year and made 7 starts. He posted a 1-6 record with a 5.92 ERA. In 38 innings he yielded 52 hits, struck out 28 and walked 17.

Sherman, who was 0-5 last year, pitched in 34.2 innings and had a 9.35 ERA. He struck out 22 and walked only 10 batters.

Yale made only 3 appearances and pitched 6.2 innings in 2002 with a 0.00 ERA. He posted an 0-1 record.

Adamski was 1-2 overall last year with a 6.16 ERA. Brad pitched 30.2 innings with 24 strike outs and only 9 walks. Adamski was also 0-4 as a freshman while tossing 22 innings.

Gerstel, a freshman, pitched at Butler high last year and is seen as a strong newcomer that will make an immediate impact in the rotation.

Also looking for time out of the bull pen are Mike Whitling (So. Knox - Keystone), Matt Hutson (So. Washington - McGuffy), Nate Simpson (So. Brookville - C-L), Caleb Martz (Fr. Ringgold - Punxsutawney) and Brandon McCliment.

Whitling was 0-0 last year while making four appearances and tossing 2.1 innings. Hutson pitched 3.1 innings and made 3 appearances, while Simpson tossed 12.2 innings out of the pen. He posted an 0-1 record and a 7.11 ERA. Martz is a red-shirt freshman.

The Eagle closer this year will likely be Geremy Hoover. He pitched 1 inning in Florida last year and yielded seven runs. After moving behind the plate last year his pitching came to a close, but he is likely to return to the mound this season.

"I believe this year we will put a team on the field that will excel at defense," reflected Feldman. "We recruited hard to go out and find kids who can play defense. The bottom line is if you can’t catch the ball you can’t win games. The time is now. Coming close will not be an answer any more. We must go out and find way to win ball games."

CLARION NOTES: Clarion opens play in Savannah against Northwest Missouri State for single games on March 6 and March 7... Clarion closes its 6-game set against Concord in a single game on March 11^th... Clarion opens its Northern Schedule on March 18 at Penn State Altoona and the PSAC-West campaign at IUP on March 29th.