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The University of Mississippi Athletics
2001 Ole Miss Baseball Preview
2/1/2001 | Baseball
Feb. 1, 2001
In just a short time on the job, first-year head coach Mike Bianco has generated excitement not seen around the baseball circles at Ole Miss in quite some time.
A former player and assistant coach for legendary LSU coach Skip Bertman, Bianco was hired on June 7, 2000 following three 30-win seasons as head coach at McNeese State. With him, he brings three national championship rings from his tenure in Baton Rouge, and it is on the national stage that Bi-anco is looking to put the Rebels.
"As a player and a coach, I have always felt Ole Miss has what it takes to be a national contender," Bianco said at the press conference to announce his hiring. "Strong academic standards, first-class facilities and a unique college town in Oxford. Ole Miss has all the ingredients to play big-time baseball in the Southeastern Conference."
Bianco has the luxury of inheriting a team that returns six starters from last year's team that went 30-25 -- the third straight 30-win season for Ole Miss.
In addition, senior RHP Dan McShea is slated to return to action after sitting out the 2000 season when he was forced to undergo preseason shoulder surgery. Ole Miss is hoping he can recapture his 1999 form that saw him post a 7-3 record with a team-best 4.05 ERA while working as the No. 2 weekend starter on the Rebels' regional squad.
Ole Miss also added several talented newcomers that should help bolster the Rebels' depth and provide intense competition to the returning veterans looking to retain their starting roles.
PITCHING
The mainstays of the Rebels' 1999 run to the NCAA Regionals were their No. 1 and No. 2 starting pitchers, Jeff McAvoy and Dan McShea, who combined for 15 of Ole Miss' 34 wins. Despite the loss of McAvoy to graduation, the Rebels may have another stellar one-two combination this spring in McShea and junior transfer Pete Montrenes.
Montrenes, a right-hander, transferred to Ole Miss this past summer after two seasons at Southern California. He went 5-1 in his two seasons with the Trojans and was a member of USC's 2000 College World Series team.
This past summer, Montrenes was 2-1 with a 3.23 ERA in the Cape Cod League and finished fourth in strikeouts with 61.
Several pitchers could fill the No. 3 and midweek starting roles, including newcomers Mike Gray, Michael Posey and Adam Yates. Gray and Posey are junior college transfers, while Yates is a freshman from Jackson, Tenn.
Gray, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound southpaw from Chatham, Ontario, Canada, went 12-5 the past two seasons at Olney Central Community College in Illinois. Posey recorded a 15-6 two-year mark at Itawamba Community College and was a NJCAA second team All-America last season. Yates was a two-time All-State selection in high school, and had a four-year varsity record of 31-1.
"I thought Adam amd Mike both had terrific falls," Bianco said. "Montrenes and Posey were only able to pitch one or two weekends this fall so we didn't get a chance to see them as much, especially at full strength. That was disappointing because those two guys are the kind of players we want here."
Also looking to figure into the pitching mix are senior RHP Ronnie Goodwin, junior LHP Nathan Lyons and junior RHP Glen Morris.
Goodwin made a team-high 22 appearances last season, including 19 in relief, posting a 2-3 mark with a 5.60 ERA.
Both Lyons and Morris will look to rebound from injuries that limited their time on the mound in 2000. Lyons made only 11 appearances, including just six starts, last season after working as the Rebels' No. 3 starter as a true freshman in 1999. In his limited role, he went 3-1 with a team-best 2.85 ERA.
Morris was 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA and opponents were hitting .125 against him before an elbow injury cut short his season in March after only three relief appearances.
INFIELD/CATCHER
Senior Carl Lafferty returns for his third year as the starting catcher. Lafferty gunned down 31.7 percent of runners trying to steal last season (19-of-60) and also led the Rebels with a .335 average. He is also be expected to provide leadership as he was voted by the players to be the team captain for the upcoming season.
After starting 47-of-55 games last season, Lafferty may get a little more rest as sophomore Charlie Waite is pushing for playing time.
"Charlie did a great job this fall, especially defensively, and he looks to play a lot this season," Bianco said.
At first base, Ole Miss must replace three-year starter Jude Voltz. Junior Josh Christian, a JUCO transfer from Meridian Community College, appears to have the inside track on the job. He was an All-Region 23 selection last spring after hitting .351 with a team-leading 11 HRs and driving in 53 runs.
Junior Banks Robinson will also be at first base after moving over from third. He posted a .296 average a year ago with three HRs and 19 RBI.
"Josh had a very good fall and looks to be one of those guys that will be in the line-up and be a big run producer for us," Bianco said. "We moved Banks over to first in the fall and he also played well. One of them will probably end up playing first and the other will be the DH."
Junior Clint Farrar is the incumbent at second base but freshman Matt Tolbert appears to be the starter heading into preseason workouts. Farrar hit .284 last season and led the Rebels with 46 runs scored. Tolbert comes to Ole Miss after a stellar prep career at Centreville Academy where he was an All-State standout in both baseball and football.
"Tolbert did a good job in the fall and looks to be the starter, even though I don't think Clint had the fall he would have liked," Bianco said. "Still, Clint is very talented, especially offensively. He is probably going to find a way into the line-up, if not at second, somewhere."
Sophomores Evan Conley and Chad Sterbens are looking to fill the void at shortstop left by Justin Huisman, who signed with the Colorado Rockies last June after being a 15th-round draft choice following his junior season. Both Conley and Sterbens were bitten by the injury bug last spring. Conley missed nearly two weeks in midseason after suffering a fractured cheekbone in practice, while Sterbens missed the year's final 11 games after fracturing his right wrist when he was hit by a pitch in a game at Memphis on April 25. Sterbens was hitting .348 at the time of the injury, while filling in at short for Huisman, who was injured himself at the time.
"At shortstop we have two guys that are battling and doing a great job," Bianco said. "Evan and Chad are both competing very hard for the position and it is still up in the air as we head into the season."
Senior Lance Jones should man the "hot corner" at third. He appeared in 43 games last season after transferring to Ole Miss from the junior college ranks, and provided steady defensive play. He fielded at a .953-clip, committing six errors in 127 chances. Jones also can provide the occassional power, as he had five HRs last season.
OUTFIELD
The outfield features two returning starters in juniors Kris Cox and Burney Hutchinson. Cox started in left field last season but will shift to center this spring to replace the graduated Chad Hill.
Cox hit .307 a year ago with one HR and 19 RBI and also stole 11 bases while hitting mainly in the lead-off spot. He turned in a strong showing this summer in the Cape Cod League, finishing seventh in the prestigious wooden-bat summer league in batting with a .304 average, and swiped 19 bases in 24 chances.
Cox also gained experience on the international stage this past fall as he was a member of Baseball Canada's Senior National Team that participated in the America's Qualification Tournament for the 2001 World Cup, held Nov. 24-Dec. 3 in Panama City, Panama. He was the starting centerfielder for Team Canada and batted .333, going 6-for-18, and drew seven walks in six games to help the Canadians advance to this upcoming November's World Cup.
Hutchinson is a two-year starter in right field, and is the Rebels' top returning home run hitter from last season with 10. Hutchinson also batted .293 and drove in 37 runs, in addition to providing steady defensive play.
"Burney really came on at the end of the fall," Bianco said. "He started off slow but he really got hot at the end and showed why he is such a good offensive player in the Southeastern Conference.
"About the same time Burney did, Kris also really caught fire. I think he started to feel more comfortable with some of the things we were asking him to do offensively. Of course, Kris is exceptional in the field and will help us a lot defensively."
Several players are in contention for the starting position in left field, including senior Craig Nugen, junior A.J. Cochet and JUCO transfer Jon Reeder. Bianco will probably play several players early until a starter can emerge.
SCHEDULE
The Mike Bianco-era officially opens Feb. 9 at home against Arkansas-Little Rock. SE Louisiana, SE Missouri State, Austin Peay and Tennessee-Martin will all pay visits to Oxford in February. Ole Miss will host a three-day, four-team tournament in Oxford, Mar. 2-4, while the annual Mayor's Trophy game against Mississippi State is scheduled for Mar. 28 in Jackson, Miss.
The Rebels kickoff SEC play Mar. 9 at home against Kentucky. Other SEC teams visiting Oxford this year include: Alabama (Mar. 23-25), Georgia (Mar. 30-Apr. 1), Florida (Apr. 20-22) and Mississippi State on the season's final weekend (May 11-13).
