Erskine
Baseball Team Should Be Strong Offensively, Young
Pitching Staff Must Come Through
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The Erskine College baseball team celebrated 100
years of athletics with a 23-29 record last year,
then promptly said goodbye to Coach Dan Massarelli,
now with the Canton Crocodiles, and 10 seniors,
including Josh Meurer, the best pitcher in Erskine
history.
But when new coach Kevin Nichols took over this
summer he would hear no talk of rebuilding. He said
it is time for Erskine to win. Now.
The new Erskine coach put together a team built
around proven transfers and talented freshmen that he
believes could be an offensive juggernaut.
“We have the chance to be very productive
offensively and score a lot of runs with a great
mixture of power and speed," Nichols said.
"At this level, with an aluminum bat, there are
not many pitchers that can dominate if you load up
your lineup with quality hitters."
And load up he did. There are 30 new players who
are joining with the returnees that include starters
Joe Whitmer, all-conference last year, and all-region
and all-conference second baseman Billy Gamble.
“It's unique to be able to step into a
program with only 11 returning players," Nichols
said. "It gives you the opportunity to bring in
players that you want in the program. If you
struggle, then you didn't do a very good job
recruiting.”
Nichols has put together an infield that includes
Gamble (.373, 10 stolen bases last year) at second
and Luke Fleniken at shortshop. The corners will be
held down by Lane Mazei (Enterprise Junior College),
Allen Lang (20 homers last year at Calhoun Junior
College) and Todd Harless (two-time All-American at
West Georgia).
“We have three guys that crush the baseball
and will split time at first, third, and DH,"
Nichols said. "Offensively, I can't be more
pleased, but defensively someone has to step
up.”
The outfield will be one of the best in the
nation, according to Nichols, with Whitmer (.361, 7
homers, 49 RBI last year) in left, Nate Hyde's
(Chattanooga State Junior College) 6.6 speed in
center, and Jeff Pruitt's (University of South
Carolina) strong arm in right.
“We have a lot of talent and depth in the
outfield," Nichols said. "When your top
three outfielders have the potential to hit over .350
with power, and steal 20 bases, you know you're going
to be solid. We are very fortunate to be three deep
at every outfield position."
Joseph Bishop and Scott Ezell are both talented
freshmen that will get some playing time this year in
the outfield, Nichols said.
Behind the plate, Brian Smith (Calhoun Junior
College) is the early leader with his strong showing
in the fall, hitting .400 with 6 HR in only 60
at-bats. Tom Haren (.191, 2 homers last year) is a
great defensive catcher who will see time as well,
Nichols said, adding that Michael Mathias had all the
tools to become a great college hitter and is already
an outstanding defensive catcher.
Even with the potential to generate runs, Nichols
says there are questions on the mound. With only one
returning starter on the pitching staff, Nichols
recruited 15 new pitchers. “We are very young on
the hill this season," he said. "All the
freshmen are talented, but have no experience. It's
going to be exciting to see who steps up and gets the
job done.”
Opposing batters hit only .208 off Erskine pitcher
Barry Peters last year, and the sophomore will anchor
Nichols' staff this year. Joining him as starters on
the mound are big lefty Joe Martin, Chandler Street,
Chad Amidon (Indian Hills Junior College), and Josh
Abernathy.
Working out of the bullpen will be John Jordan,
Jacob Smith, Jared Lybrand, Josh Lee and Justin
Thrift.
“It's a luxury to have 17 pitchers on the
pitching staff," Nichols said. "If someone
struggles early in the game, we will not hesitate to
call on someone else.”
There is no lack of optimism at Erskine as the
2000 baseball season gets under way when the Fleet
hosts Southern Wesleyan on Saturday, Jan. 29, at 1
p.m.
“If we stay healthy and the pitching staff
can overcome their lack of experience, there is no
limit to what this team can accomplish," Nichols
said. "I feel that we have the players to be
competitive in the CVAC."
Along with the conference schedule, Erskine will
play USC-Spartanburg, Kennesaw State and Lander from
the Peach Belt Athletic Conference, as well as
Presbyterian College from the South Atlantic
Conference and Gardner Webb in Division I.
