Marshall University Athletics
@HerdBaseball Begins Preseason Friday
1/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. - Marshall baseball will officially begin its preseason Friday, Jan. 23, with the start of practice at 2 p.m.
"We've been working on individuals, but it will be great for live practice to start Friday," head coach Jeff Waggoner said. "Right now, it's important we focus on arm strength and arm care, and we've been doing a great job of working on individual things for each player."
"Hopefully," Waggoner continued, "we will have nice weather and get to practice outside, but if not, that's the beauty of this new indoor facility. It will help us out a lot."
With the addition of Marshall's new state-of-the-art Cline Athletic Complex's indoor facility, the squad will be able to work on all of the elements of the game even in inclement weather.
The Herd welcomes 13 new faces to its program, including seven junior college transfers and six freshmen, and returns an experienced group of 21 veterans to its roster this spring, including Conference USA All-Freshman team selection Corey Bird (Pinch, W.Va.).
Bird finished his rookie campaign second in the league with 15 stolen bases, and also led Marshall in batting average and hits (.292, 49). The outfielder was also selected to College Sports Madness All-C-USA Second Team.
The Herd also welcomes back hurler Caleb Ross (Barboursville, W.Va.), ranked in the top three in NCAA Division I for pitching appearances last season (36). Ross led the staff with a 2.29 ERA, going 25 consecutive appearances without allowing a run and allowing just four runs the entire season.
Marshall had the third fewest stolen bases against in Conference USA (27), and was fourth in the league with 23 times caught stealing, led by backstop Matt Reed (Purcellville, Va.), who returns for his redshirt sophomore season. Reed was a 2014 Johnny Bench Award Watch List member.
The Herd defeated Potomac State College and played to an 8-8 10-inning tie against West Virginia in exhibition games this fall, and begin 2015 play in Tallahassee, Fla., facing Florida A&M in a three-game series beginning Feb. 13.
