That's right sports fans, Im back after a long hiatus and with the return comes branching out to cover more LU sports, not just football. With snow still on the ground here in Lynchburg, its hard to believe that its already time to break out the aluminum and welcome the boys of spring again.
LU finished with better than 30 wins for the fifth straight season in 2009, going 33-21 and finishing with the most wins in the first two years for an LU coach with 68. 16 times last year, the Flames scored 10 or more runs in a game, and they won all 16 times. They finished the year with the fourth most runs in team history (383, the record being 492 in 2002), finished with better than 40 team home runs for the third time in four seasons (60, the record is 87 in 1998) and set records for the highest fielding percentage (.974) AND fewest errors (53) in a season.
Over the next five days we will take a look ahead to the 2010 season for the Flames and get you ready for the opening series this Friday-Sunday down in Kennesaw, GA against Kennesaw State.
Today we will take a look at Liberty's role in baseball's arms race.
The major benefit for Liberty this season is there is lots of experience coming back on the mound in addition to some talented new faces. It all starts with the frontliners as converted fielder Shawn Teufel returns for his second season on the hill after a very successful season last year, going 9-2 with a 4.33 earned run average (ERA) and a team leading 72 strike outs in 72.2 innings pitched (which also tied for the team lead with Steven Evans) finishing first team all-conference. Making his return to the mound in 2010 is right-hander Dustin Umberger. In his last full season, Umberger led the Big South Conference in strikeouts (88) and was among the leaders in wins (8) and ERA (3.80) This should give the Flames a solid 1-2 punch going into weekend series, with lefty Steven Evans (from right up the road in Amherst) giving head coach Jim Toman two lefthanders he can call on. Evans finished last year second on the team in wins behind Teufel (7) and third in strikeouts (45) in 12 starts. Evans was the workhorse of the staff last year, logging the only complete games by a Flames pitcher. Also look for Mark Swanson to make some midweek starts after he comes back from injury in 2009. Even though he only made 6 starts last year, he made the most of them going 4-0 with a 2.79 ERA and 35 strikeouts.
In the bullpen seniors Carter Browning and Dane Beakler (who like Umberger sat out the 2009 season) lead the way along with sophomore Carter Browning, who started the year as the Flames closer before giving way to senior Andrew Wilson.
a pair of freshmen along with some new upperclassmen faces will compete for innings this year. Cameron Gianinni (from Hargrave Military Academy in nearby Chatham) and Josh Richardson headline the incoming class of hurlers along with upperclassmen Zane Bator, Bryan Cole, J.J. McLeod and Chris Roach all look to contribute this season.
Tomorrow we'll run down the infielders and catchers
Until next time,
Fan the Flames
Information and statistics comes from Liberty Flames website www.libertyflames.com
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