Union College Athletics

2009 Bulldog PreviewBULLDOG BASEBALLUnion College has gone to new heights each season underhead coach Bart Osborne. In five seasons, the Bulldogshave posted 40-plus win seasons four times, won theAppalachian Athletic Conference tournament once, NAIARegion XII championship twice and advanced to the NAIAWorld Series in 2008.As has been the case for Union in recent years, achievingsuccess is one thing and maintaining that success is another. Thathas been the challenge for Osborne and the Bulldogs the pastcouple seasons, and it stares them in the face again in 2009.After placing fifth at the NAIA World Series, Union willhave a big target painted on its back. And the Bulldogs’ No. 7preseason ranking makes that target even bigger.The No. 7 ranking is the highest Union has been in the pollsince April 19, 2006. However, the preseason ranking meanslittle to Osborne.“It (the ranking) means nothing to me,” said the six-yearcoach. “That’s off of last year’s team’s accomplishments. Thisyear’s team hasn’t done anything yet.”Union posted a 48-18 overall record, equaling the schoolrecord for wins, in 2008 with a balance of timely hitting andstrong pitching. The Bulldogs batted .331 with 131 doubles, 14triples and 54 home runs while scoring 548 runs to average 8.3runs per game. Adding to the team’s offensive prowess, Unionled the NAIA with 205 stolen bases.The Bulldog pitching staff compiled a 4.06 earned-run averageand registered school records for shutouts (11), strikeouts (371)and innings pitched (499.1). Union was led by ace MartyPopham who went 17-1 with a 2.27 earned-run average and133 strikeouts in 123 innings of work, earning him NAIA All-American First Team honors.And as for the NAIA World Series run, Osborne said all thatwill likely do for the 2009 Bulldogs is paint a larger bull’s eyeon their backs.“We’ll be a bigger target than we’ve been in the past,” hesaid. “I think people will want to beat us even more nowsince we went to the World Series.”Union returns a number of players from last year’ssquad, but Osborne is concerned about his startingpitching.“We’ve got some veterans back on offenseand I feel real good about our offense andour defense will be improved,” the Bulldogcoach said. “But our pitching is unprovenand our biggest question mark.”PITCHING STAFFThe Bulldogs return eight hurlers withLance Dougherty (Canyon, Texas) back as the onlyregular starter in 2008. Yet, Union has addedseven other arms to the staff, but how thingswill work out is still up in the air.“We’ve got more pitching depth (thisseason), but I don’t think we’ll have adominant guy like Marty (Popham),”Osborne said. “Our pitching is goingto be OK, but we just won’t have thatdominant pitcher.”6 • Union CollegeDougherty, a 5-foot-8 left-hander, went 8-1 in 16 starts with a2.93 earned-run average, two complete games and 48 strikeoutsin 83.0 innings of work.Right-hander Adam Snyder (Knoxville, Ky.) is back for asecond try at his junior season. His 2008 campaign was cut shortdue to an injury. In 6.2 innings of work, he posted an earned-runaverage of 14.85, but Osborne said he has the potential to be abig-game pitcher.Chaz Bargo (Barbourville, Ky.) spent the majority of hisprevious three seasons in the bullpen, setting the single-seasonrecords for appearances and relief appearances with 26 in 2007and the career mark for appearances with 66. However, the 6-foot-7 right-hander will attempt to be a starter this season for thefirst time since the 2006 season.“We’re going to experiment with Bargo being a starter,” saidOsborne. “If it appears it’s not going to work out, we’ll movehim back to the pen.”In 25 appearances last season, Bargo went 1-6 with four savesand a 4.18 earned-run average last season.Junior transfer Jason Parsons (Hamilton, Ohio) and juniorLucas Henson (Corbin, Ky.) will also help out as starters.Henson went 4-1 in 12 appearances with nine starts, a 4.26earned-run average and one save.In the bullpen, senior left-hander Russell Logsdon (BowlingGreen, Ky.) and junior transfer Chris Daniels (Wappingers Fall,N.Y.) will be the mainstays with Daniels serving in the closer’srole. Daniels will also play in the outfield.Freshman Brandon Hedrick (Corbin, Ky.) will also play thefield and see time on the mound.BACKSTOPWith the graduation of Justin Hart – the program’s all-timecareer RBI leader, Union has a void to fill at catcher. A threeyearstarter behind the plate, Hartdrove In 182 runs during hisfour-year career as well asthrowing out 39 would-bebase stealers.Osborne said thatthe team will use threeplayers to fill theposition with seniorLioney Henriquez(Brooklyn, N.Y.) receivingmuch of the time in the backstop.Henriquez spent all 2008 as theBulldogs’ second baseman. Offensively,Henriquez will hold his own afterbatting .311 with six home runs, 12doubles and 53 RBIs. He also stole36 bases in 38 attempts. Thequestion remains