The University of Mississippi Athletics
Diamond Rebs Open Season Against New Orleans On Saturday
2/9/2007 | Baseball
The Rebels lead the all-time series with the Privateers, winning the last meeting in 1999 when Ole Miss defeated
The game will feature what has been called one of the top five pitching duels of the weekend by Rivlas.com as junior RHP Will Kline will take the mound for the Rebels on Saturday to face off with junior RHP Bryan Cryer of the Privateers. Kline emerged as the Rebel ace down the stretch in the 2006 season as he posted a 5-3 record with three saves on the year. He also led Ole Miss with 76 strikeouts on the year while walking only 22 batters.
“We’re excited to be opening the season this weekend,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “We know that we will be seeing a good pitcher on Saturday as
Returning to lead the Rebels at the plate are four players who hit .328 or above in 2006. Preseason All-America Zack Cozart is expected to help pace the Rebel offense along with team-captain Justin Henry, senior C.J. Ketchum and sophomore outfielder Logan Power.
Defensively, the Rebels will look to Cozart and Henry up the middle to help set the tone as the tandem were a part of one of the SEC and nation’s top defenses a year ago that turned 69 double plays on the year. Power returns in the outfield, making the shift from left to center, to anchor what Bianco has said could be the best defensive outfield he has coached at Ole Miss. Joining Power in the outfield are junior Fuller Smith in left field and freshman Jordan Henry, brother of second baseman Justin Henry, in right field.
Ole Miss will see new faces in the infield on Saturday as Cody Overbeck moves from the outfield back to his natural position of third base and freshman Andrew Clark will get the nod at first. Returning behind the plate is sophomore catcher Brett Basham, who saw action in 19 games as a freshman.
First-pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at Swayze Field.
