2011 BASEBALL.indd - Missouri S&T Athletics

2011 SEASON PREVIEW
Carter is expected to anchor the third base position
and returner Grant Brasher is the projected starter at
first base, but the middle infield will consist of players
new to the Miner roster this spring. Nick Burke, a
transfer from John Wood Community College, figures
to see playing time at both shortstop and third base,
while freshman Clint Wobbe will play either at second
base or shortstop. Freshman Eric Van Dyke will also be
in competition for a starting role at the middle infield
positions.
Drew Davenport, who has started for a better part of
the last two seasons behind the plate, returns to that
role and will share the catching duties with newcomer
Josh Caffrey, a transfer from Marshalltown Community
College in Iowa.
They will catch a staff that, similar to that of the
position players, is a fairly even mix of veterans and
newcomers.
The Miners return five starting pitchers with
experience, headed by junior Zack Gronek who spent
the entire 2010 season coming out of the bullpen –
making a school record 27 appearances during the
season. Gronek went 2-2 with a 4.61 earned run average
in that role after spending most of his freshman
season as a starter, but is expected to move back into
the starting role for the most part this spring.
Sophomore pitcher Chris Bowe is one of many
pitchers competing for starting roles in 2011.
MINER BASEBALL
Among the other returners to the starting rotation are
senior Nick Johnson, sophomores Chris Bowe (2-2 as a
freshman) and Kyle Robertson and junior Drew Pyles,
who is expected to come out of the bullpen this season.
Alex Dunn, who has been a reliever throughout his first
three seasons at S&T, is expected to join the starting
rotation this year along with newcomers John Auble,
who recorded a 13-2 record in his final two seasons at
Lutheran South High School and Drew Schrader, who
was a top pitcher last season at Troy Buchanan High
School.
In the bullpen, the Miners are expecting to get contributions
from Pyles and returners Nolan Korn, Matt Walker,
Harry Dunsford and Mike Bush.
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Will Morrison led Missouri S&T in hitting in 2010
and broke the school record with 75 hits.