Baseball starts on Friday - The season preview roundup

The Oregon State baseball team's most anticipated season ever is about to get underway in Arizona tomorrow. Friday's game will be broadcast in Portland on KUIK 1360.

Man, I hope the Beavers can come close to living up to expectations. We Beaver fans have had some tough seasons this year. It all falls on the shoulders of the baseball / softball teams to finish the year strong and make us feel good about the Beavers again.


Video of Pat Casey previewing the season!


Corvallis Gazette-Times - Beavers looking for repeat

The Oregonian - Diamond draw
The Oregonian - On the diamond

Statesman Journal - Beavers strive for encore performance

The Barometer - Baseball season opens in Arizona

But the Beavers’ lineup returns senior second baseman Ryan Gipson (.330 batting average, 1 homer, 22 runs batted in, 9 stolen bases), senior third baseman Shea McFeely (.319, 5, 41), junior outfielder Tyler Graham (.307, 0, 24, 21 stolen bases), junior outfielder Mike Lissman (.284, 1, 30), sophomore shortstop Darwin Barney (.301, 2, 44) and sophomore catcher Mitch Canham (.325, 8, 39).

Barney was the Pac-10’s Freshman of the Year in 2005 and earned Freshman All-America honors, while Gipson, McFeely and Graham earned all-conference honorable mention.

Canham now has a year of experience behind the plate after starting his OSU career at first base. He’s joined by sophomores Casey Priseman (.241, 0, 3) and Erik Ammon (.255, 0, 16 at Hawai’i).

Depending on the situation, first base could go to junior Cole Gillespie (.319, 0, 18), senior Bill Rowe (.235, 3, 39 at California-Santa Barbara) or Canham. McFeely could move across the diamond at times to get sophomore Lonnie Lechelt (.125, 2, 5) in the lineup.

The Beavers are solid up the middle with Barney at shortstop and Gipson or senior Chris Kunda (.242, 1, 10), an outstanding defensive player, at second base. Gipson took over the starting role early in 2005 and went on to lead the Pac-10 in on-base percentage.

Lechelt and freshman Brett Casey (.667 in an injury-shortened season at Crescent Valley HS) could back up second, short or third.

In the outfield, Graham will move from left to center and likely inherit the leadoff spot in the batting order, as well. Candidates to flank him include Lissman, Gillespie, senior Geoff Wagner (.220, 1, 6), junior Scott Santschi (.391, 1, 37 at CC of Spokane), and freshmen Koa Kahalohoe (.553 at Durango HS) and John Wallace (.390, 5 homers at Reno HS).

Looks like we have some really good newcomers this season. I predict that at least 2-3 guys who weren't on the team last season will make a big impact this season.