Monday, February 16, 2009
Faunce will lead a mostly inexperienced group of outfielders into this season while also batting leadoff. Although Faunce started 37 games last year, he wasn’t regulated to a leadership role. Left fielder Jon Allman did most of the talking with his bat, as he lead the Jayhawks in hitting last year. Faunce understood that this season would be his time to step up.
Fifth-year senior and center-fielder Nick Faunce lays down a bunt that landed him on first base. Faunce was driven in off a two-run shot by John Allman. Faunce finished the game one-for-two at the plate, contributing one run in the Jayhawks' 8-1 victory over Tabor College on Tuesday afternoon.
'breakbox'
Projected starting outfield (last season statistics): Left field: Freshman Jake Marasco (n/a). Center field: Senior Nick Faunce (.326 avg. 3 HR 13 RBI). Right field: Sophomore Brian Heere (.238 avg. 0 HR 2 RBI)
In the mix: Freshman Jason Burnansky, sophomore Jimmy Waters, sophomore Casey Lytle
The Kansan’s Take: Faunce and Heere should hold down the center field and right field spots consistently all season. Left field could end up being a carousel with two highly touted freshmen in Jason Burnansky and Jake Marasco. Marasco gets the start for now, but Price has raved on Burnansky’s athletic ability and talent. Burnansky could compete with Faunce for center field but if Faunce plays well expect Price to find some time for Burnansky elsewhere. Waters will see a lot of time at DH after his strong finish to last season while also seeing some playing time in left field. Lytle will see some significant time as well Price said. Expect him to platoon right field with Heere.
'breakbox'
Texas A&M
Preseason Ranking: #1 (Baseball America)/ #5 (USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll)
The Aggies could likely prove the toughest test of the season in 2009. After finishing first in the conference and 12th in both polls last year, Texas A&M returns four preseason all-conference players. Senior first baseman Luke Anders is one of those players. Anders hit .349 with 58 RBIs and 16 home runs last year in getting selected as an All-Big 12 and All-Midwest Region for the second year running. Joining him on last year’s all-conference team was then-junior outfielder Kyle Colligan. Colligan was named MVP of the NCAA College Station Regional as well. He led the team with four home runs in the postseason series. The Jayhawks face the Aggies in a three-game series from March 27-29.
Texas
Preseason Ranking: #4/#9
The Jayhawks open conference play in Lawrence against the top-ten Longhorns on March 20. With their first four conference series against teams ranked in the top-25, the Jayhawks face a difficult start in the Big 12. Head coach Augie Garrido, the winningest coach in history, has been suspended indefinitely as a result of a January driving while intoxicated arrest. Garrido, 69, has 1,629 career victories—the most ever in major college baseball. He has led the Longhorns to five national titles and five of the last eight College World Series. The Longhorns are expected to challenge Texas A&M for the conference title.
“I specifically need to step up and take more of a leadership role,” Faunce said. “I have been here the five years and so I have a little bit more of a better grasp on what to expect than a lot of these younger guys.”
Faunce doesn’t expect the challenge of batting first to be too daunting of a task. Last year batting primarily first, Faunce hit .326 with a .401 on base percentage. He could improve on his walk total, with only 15 last year but he expects good things to happen with himself batting at the top of the order.
“I’m pretty confident in myself batting first,” Faunce said. “People attack you differently and I like that because they come with a lot of fastballs which is what I like. I have no problem with that role.”
As for the other younger outfielders, coach Ritch Price says he expects to have the most growth out of them. Price specifically mentioned the talent of freshman Jason Burnansky and red shirt sophomore Brian Heere.
“Jason Burnansky is a really talented young man. He is going to get a lot of playing time,” Price said. “Brian Heere is going to open the season and he had a tremendous fall, I’m really pleased with his development.”
The development of those two, in addition to freshman Jake Marasco, will be key in the outfield’s success. Price also mentioned how Heere was a good runner and may see some time batting behind Faunce in the two hole.
But Faunce will be the catalyst for more than just the batting lineup. He will take the leadership role with no doubt, and expects that by the time this season is over, the young group of players will have surprised more than just Jayhawk fans.
“We have some really good young players and when they hit their stride we’re going to spark some intrigue and we’re going to scare some teams,” he said. “It’s going to be fun to see them not know where we’re coming from and hit them in the teeth.”
— — Edited by Realle Roth
Senior Ryne Price to play right field
Although Price’s position has changed, his philosophy hasn’t.
Jayhawks enter season with experience
Putting last season’s disappointment behind them, team members look forward to a ...
Big 12 baseball season looks bright
Weather can't stop the start of the Jayhawks' new season.
Baseball team rallies for victory
Home run seals Kansas’ 8-6 victory against the Northern Colorado.
Jayhawks’ leadoff hitter starts the spark
The men’s baseball team’s center fielder shows his versatility for the team.
Heere brings versatile batting to plate
Sophomore outfielder with second-highest batting average excels at third position in the ...
Contagious personality spreads in dugout
Junior second baseman Price thinks the team has the ability to make ...
Baseball team welcomes positive news
Coach Price and outfielder John Allman have received honors, and 10 recently ...
Bottom half of baseball lineup struggles
Players hit a slump with the bats but remain confident they can ...
Starting the new Kansas baseball season
A breakdown of the players for the new baseball season.
Baseball beats Croatian national team
The Croatians visited Hoglund Ballpark Sunday in preparation for their Olympic qualifying ...
Big-league crowd
Kansas baseball won’t overlook Western Illinois
Coach Ritch Price wants to give freshmen players more time on the ...
Baseball captain takes the field with a ...
Kansas captain Jake Marasco plays with a heavy heart after losing his ...
It’s a long way to the top ...
Baseball team must improve its record on the road if it wants ...
Four home runs seal Kansas' victory
Home runs contribute to 15-0 victory over the Tabor Bluejays.
Defense will make or break Big 12 ...
Both the team and its defense are ranked 4th in the conference.
Baseball team breaks losing streak with victorious ...
Successful batting led the Jayhawks to a 7-4 victory.
Strong-handed players
The wind usually blows into left field at Hoglund Ballpark, giving right-handed ...
Baseball starts with losses and gains
After a disappointing last season, the Kansas baseball team starts the new ...
Jayhawks hope to regain swagger
Baseball team hopes a victory over Northern Colorado will get them back ...
Despite rough start, Jayhawks defeat Ravens 7-2
Kansas rallies after first few innings against Benedictine College on Wednesday.
Baseball newcomers bring lineup changes
Though Ritch Price has several veteran players holding down spots in his ...
Walz named Big 12 Pitcher of the ...
The senior pitcher receives the honor for the second time, striking out ...
Team hopes bats heat up in Arizona
Four games highlight baseball team’s weekend in the Peoria Spring Training Classic.
Kansas defeats Le Moyne in home opener
Despite heavy winds, the baseball team triumphed over Le Moyne in the ...
Youngsters shine in baseball’s victory
Reserves set season highs in hits and runs with hot bats against ...
Early-inning hits stopped by Texas bullpen
Texas coach Augie Garrido went to his bullpen early to stop a ...
Baseball bench productive in subpar season
Jayhawks have come off the bench for the Kansas baseball team to ...
Baseball struggles on the road
After two wins against LSU, the team couldn’t keep up with the ...
Cornhuskers, Tigers present challenge in Big 12 ...
Missouri enters the Big 12 North baseball season as the running favorite, ...
Kansas wins 3 of 4 in series ...
Solid pitching and timely hitting helps Kansas win the series.
Baseball opens today against Air Force
Today’s game will set the tone of what to expect for the ...
Kansas victory makes tournament berth likely
Red Raiders offense hammers Jayhawks’ pitching
Texas Tech racks up 32 runs in series’ final two games.
Foes and friends, Kansas seniors have shared ...
Kansan baseball players Erik Morrison and Ryne Price have a long history ...
Infield strength bolstered by transfer
Second baseman Narodowski is settling in and looking forward to baseball season.
Left out
Junior right fielder, Brock Simpson, works to regain focus and his position ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID