USA baseball starts 2013 season

Monday, 11 February 2013 19:27

Second baseman Logan Kirkland during the Red-Blue Series. (JT CRABTREE | LOC SPORTS EDITOR)The 2013 South Alabama baseball season starts Friday, February 15 at 6:30 p.m., with a three game series at Stanky Field against Stephen F. Austin.
The Jags 2013 roster will feature 16 newcomers and return 19 lettermen from the 2012 team, a team that finished with a record of 23-34, the worst record in program history. They also had a 15-15 Sun Belt Conference record, good for fifth in the conference.
“We have a lot of returners back, and a couple of guys in key positions who are newcomers,” said head coach Mark Calvi. “There will be competition all over the field. The returners seem to be bigger and stronger.”
Following the 2012 season, three Jags were selected to the All-Sun Belt team. Designated hitter Whitt Dorsey, outfielder/infielder/pitcher Jordan Patterson and pitcher Jarron Cito all received postseason recognition. Dorsey was selected First Team All-Sun Belt, while Patterson and Cito were selected to named Second Team All-Sun Belt.
Coming into the 2013 season, Patterson and outfielder Nick Zaharion were named All-Sun Belt Team by Perfect Game USA. South Alabama was also predicted to finish fourth in the Sun Belt Conference this season, with Florida Atlantic winning the conference.
In 2012, Patterson hit .323 with 15 doubles, eight homers, a triple, 44 RBI, 41 runs scored and two stolen bases in 56 games. In 10 innings pitched, he posted a 3.60 ERA with 10 strikeouts. Patterson ranked 14th in the Sun Belt Conference in batting average, ninth in the league in on-base percentage (.426) and tied for ninth in home runs and doubles.
Zaharion hit .285 with eight doubles, seven home runs, two triples and 36 runs scored, and tied for the team lead with 44 RBI in 54 games. He was also selected as the SBC Player of the Week (3/20-3/25/12) after hitting .474 with two doubles, three homers, nine RBI and six runs in four games.
The Jags will open the season with seven consecutive home games: a three game series with Stephen F. Austin, a Wednesday night game against Alabama State and a weekend series with former Sun Belt rival University of New Orleans.

Written by JT Crabtree | LOC Editor

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