UWA opens baseball season
By Staff
from school reports
January 31, 2004
LIVINGSTON, Ala. The University of West Alabama baseball team begins the 2004 season today with a doubleheader against Southern Arkansas beginning at 1 p.m. The Tigers will also face Southern Arkansas on Sunday at 1 p.m. for a single game.
The Tigers finished the 2003 season with an overall record of 31-24, while going 11-9 in Gulf South Conference play. Rundles has a solid core of players returning from last year's squad, including three players that hit over .300 and some strong arms on the mound.
West Alabama's roster features eight seniors that will be looking to take the Tigers to the Gulf South Conference Tournament in Millington, Tenn., from May 6-9.
Senior Rafael Farrell led UWA last season with a .362 batting average with two triples and four home runs. Outfielder A.J. Ray also returns for the Tigers after hitting .351 last season with a team-high 66 hits and 21 doubles. Shortstop Scott Needs, who hit. 301 last year with 12 doubles, two triples and four home runs, returns to the middle infield for the Tigers.
Senior Jason Herman will lead the Tiger pitching staff after compiling a 6-5 record and a 3.14 ERA while striking out 86 batters in 80.1 innings of work. After being an All-GSC player for the Tigers last season, Herman was named to the Preseason All-GSC Team this year.
The Tigers will also look to some newcomers to come in and make an immediate impact on the team. Brandon Boles will look for time in the infield after stealing more than 50 bases for Chattahoochee Valley Community College last year.
Ryan Taylor will look to add depth to the Tigers pitching staff. Taylor, a 6-3 right-hander, came to UWA by way of Holmes Community College and the University of New Orleans.
The Tigers will face a tough 55-game schedule with GSC play opening up on March 20 as West Alabama travels to Alabama-Huntsville for the first two games of a three-game series. The first home GSC contest will be March 27 as the Tigers host Montevallo for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.
West Alabama was picked to finish fifth by the coaches of the GSC in the Eastern Division this season. The top three teams in each division make the GSC Tournament at the end of the season.
