By BRYAN GRISHAM

CSCC Sports Information Director

The Calendar has turned to February, which for most folks means at least another month of winter, but for coach Mike Policastro and his Cleveland State Cougar baseball team it means that it is spring time and time to put on the spikes and hit the diamond for another baseball season. The Cougars have some big shoes to fill if they are to improve on an outstanding campaign last year which saw the Cleveland State team ranked among the elite teams in the country for much of the year and a preseason rank of #26 to begin the 2010 campaign.

"We are coming off a good year last year, we finished at 38-18, second in the conference and had a good run in the tournament," explained Policastro. "We have a good nucleus returning and combine that with our recruiting class, I think that we have a chance to be as good or better than last year. Of course things have to work out, we have to have our pitching come through like it did last year and play good defense, but overall we feel pretty good at where we are right now."

The bat of Cody Hooper will once again anchor the cleanup spot for the Cougars. The big sophomore has returned from some knee problems and is poised to improve on his .333 average and team leading 12 homers and 54 RBI. Hooper will see time at first base and designated hitter. Sophomore Lance Rorex will hold down second base and has already signed to play with Carson-Newman after his Cougar days are over. Sophomore, Troy Zawadzki returns as leadoff man and shortstop, while sophomore Quentin Bowman and former Cleveland Blue Raider, freshman Brandon Rader will both see time at third base along with freshman Ryan Mutchnick. Former Walker Valley Mustang, Turner Touchstone will see some time at designated hitter as will Cody Ferrell and Hooper among others.

Former Bradley Bear, freshman Ryan Casteel will hold down the bulk of the catching duties as he provides a huge bat in the three hole in front of Hooper as well as instant leadership from behind the plate. Sophomore, Drew Fox will help out behind the plate as well as spot starts in the outfield or at designated hitter. Casteel will also see time in the outfield and at designated hitter.

"We are really fortunate to have Ryan Casteel with us this year," stated Policastro. "He is a great player and we expect a lot from him this year. He is a leader and will add another big bat to the middle of our lineup."

Coach Policastro will rely heavily on returning sophomores, right handed pitcher Travis Tingle (3.72 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 65 innings) and lefty Cody Ferrell (2.34 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 57 innings) to top the rotation along with sophomores Zane Lefew and Josh Barrett who is coming back from Tommy John surgery. It will be bullpen by committee depending on the situation as Tyler Brown, Kevin Greene, Scott Spears and Scott Laughlin will all see time on the hill. Former Walker Valley Mustang, sophomore Zach Driggers will be called upon to hold down the closer role.

"We feel really good with our defense up the middle which is the key to a good team," stated Policastro. "Pitching will be a big key in our success this year as it was last year. We lost some very good pitchers from last year, but we feel good about the guys this year. Our starters have pitched well in the fall and our bullpen is coming along. Our relief pitchers were great last year, we almost never lost a lead in the late innings last year and that will be a key again this year."

Former Mustang, Adam Hindman has shaken off a knee injury and will return to patrol left field. Redshirt freshman, Trevor Burgiss is slated to patrol centerfield and Gray Hutchinson who transfered in from Valdosta State will start the year in right field. Hutchinson will also provide depth at the middle infield positions.

Coach Policastro sees a very competitive conference race this year as it usually is with preseason #7 Walters State being a slight favorite along with a very tough non-conference schedule.

"The conference games have been cut down a little this year to help out with budget constraints and I think it will help everyone out," explained Policastro. "We will only be playing a doubleheader instead of a three game series against the western division teams. Walters is always good, Volunteer won it last year, they will be good. It really doesn't matter in this conference, because top to bottom you have to be ready to play every time out. Along with the tough conference games, we play five teams in our non-conference schedule ranked in the top 20, so we don't back down from anyone and try to play the best teams that we can."

"We always set goals of wanting to win the conference and advance on to the World Series," the coach continued. "We approach that as the end result of the work that we do all year long. We don't set a goal of winning 40 games, we just want to win today and then do it again tomorrow. The guys really respond to that. They are a good group of guys, they work hard and they do everything that we ask, so we are pretty fortunate in that aspect. Chemistry is a big thing and hopefully that will develop throughout the season. You are going to have good days and bad days, that is just the way it is in baseball."

If things fall into place, the 2010 version of the Cougars could equal or go beyond the lofty season last time around. The Cougars will open the season on Saturday February 6 with a trip to #21 USC Sumter South Carolina for a three game series.