Photo by: UT Martin Sports Information
SKYHAWK BASEBALL TAKES THE FIELD FOR FIRST OFFICIAL PRACTICE OF 2021 CAMPAIGN
1/29/2021 4:06:00 PM | Baseball
MARTIN, Tenn. – Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Ryan Jenkins, the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad held its first official practice of the 2021 season with an intersquad scrimmage this afternoon at Skyhawk Field.
UT Martin returns 35 players (19 position players, 16 pitchers) and boasts a dozen newcomers this spring. Of those returnees, 29 Skyhawks saw playing time in 2020 as the team was only able to get 16 games in before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the season on March 12.
All 15 returning position players started in at least one game last spring as Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-Americans Christian Hall (.368 batting average, team-high .465 on-base percentage) and Wil LaFollette (.500 slugging percentage, 13 RBI's) return. That pair plus Houston Wright (.308 batting average, team-high 14 RBI's) and Jack Culumovic (team-best 13 runs scored) are expected to anchor the UT Martin offense from the left side.
Sean Dixson (.339 batting average, team-high four home runs), Casey Harford (.294 batting average in an injury-plagued season), Ethan Whitley (team-highs of .385 batting average, seven doubles) and Blake Davis (six extra-base hits) are projected to provide thump from the right side.
The Skyhawk bullpen was a major strength last season as 2020 Preseason All-American closer Nick Wohlbold (1-0, two saves, 12 strikeouts in seven innings pitched) and David Hussey (3.18 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 18:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio) return as late-inning options. Ryan Insco (.227 opponent batting average) and Jefferey O'Doherty (team-high nine appearances) also collected a win out of the UT Martin bullpen a year ago.
All four of the Skyhawks' regular starting rotation returns as well in senior right-hander Winston Cannon (12 wins and 222.1 innings pitched over a four-year career), senior lefty Sam Folks (nine wins and 197 career innings), sophomore right-hander Seth Petry (four career victories) and freshman righty Eric Steensma (1-1 in three starts in 2020).
The full schedule is still being finalized but UT Martin will tentatively open the 2021 slate with a three-game nonconference series at Samford on Feb. 19-21.
UT Martin returns 35 players (19 position players, 16 pitchers) and boasts a dozen newcomers this spring. Of those returnees, 29 Skyhawks saw playing time in 2020 as the team was only able to get 16 games in before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the season on March 12.
All 15 returning position players started in at least one game last spring as Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-Americans Christian Hall (.368 batting average, team-high .465 on-base percentage) and Wil LaFollette (.500 slugging percentage, 13 RBI's) return. That pair plus Houston Wright (.308 batting average, team-high 14 RBI's) and Jack Culumovic (team-best 13 runs scored) are expected to anchor the UT Martin offense from the left side.
Sean Dixson (.339 batting average, team-high four home runs), Casey Harford (.294 batting average in an injury-plagued season), Ethan Whitley (team-highs of .385 batting average, seven doubles) and Blake Davis (six extra-base hits) are projected to provide thump from the right side.
The Skyhawk bullpen was a major strength last season as 2020 Preseason All-American closer Nick Wohlbold (1-0, two saves, 12 strikeouts in seven innings pitched) and David Hussey (3.18 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 18:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio) return as late-inning options. Ryan Insco (.227 opponent batting average) and Jefferey O'Doherty (team-high nine appearances) also collected a win out of the UT Martin bullpen a year ago.
All four of the Skyhawks' regular starting rotation returns as well in senior right-hander Winston Cannon (12 wins and 222.1 innings pitched over a four-year career), senior lefty Sam Folks (nine wins and 197 career innings), sophomore right-hander Seth Petry (four career victories) and freshman righty Eric Steensma (1-1 in three starts in 2020).
The full schedule is still being finalized but UT Martin will tentatively open the 2021 slate with a three-game nonconference series at Samford on Feb. 19-21.
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