Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Baseball Begins Fall Practice
10/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Oct. 27, 2003
The Florida Atlantic University baseball team began fall practice Monday. After four months off, the squad returned to the field to prepare to defend its 2003 Atlantic Sun Conference title. With 15 lettermen returning and one of the best recruiting classes in the nation, the team hopes to advance to its fifth NCAA Tournament in six seasons.
Five returning pitchers and 10 position players will provide leadership to 16 newcomers trying to gain starting positions on a team that finished 47-16 in 2003 and 25-7 in the A-Sun.
Randy Beam (Sarasota, FL) will lead the pitching staff after finishing with a 13-1 record last year. The senior was recognized by Baseball America on the all-senior team. His is the only starting pitcher to return to a staff that finished 12th in the nation with a 3.42 ERA. Matt O'Brien (Royal Palm Beach, FL) and Chris Saxton (Lake Worth, FL) are expected to play major roles again this year. The two combined for a 5-5 record, 135.1 innings, six saves, and 82 strikeouts.
Offensively, FAU's top two hitters return. Jeff Fiorentino (Hollywood, FL) and Rusty Brown (N. Fort Myers, FL) led the team in batting average, runs, hits, doubles, home runs, and RBI in 2003.
Newcomers to the roster include five transfers and 11 freshmen. The recruiting class was ranked among the top 60 in the nation by Collegiate Basebal Newspaper. The class will try to fill the void of 10 lettermen from last season, including three starting pitchers and two hitters who combined for 21 home runs and 92 RBI, who were picked up in the major league draft.
"Recruiting coordinator John McCormack has put together a recruiting class that has the ability to step right in and fill the void of players lost," said head coach Kevin Cooney. "We expect our freshmen to see a good deal of playing time this season and are excited about their futures. This looks to be our strongest recruiting class yet."
Local players Mike McBryde (Palm Beach Gardens, FL), Robbie Widlansky (Coral Springs, FL), Mike Crotta (Palm City, FL), Jordan Hafer (Deerfield Beach, FL) and Joel Gossett (Coral Springs, FL) all enter as freshmen and look to make an immediate impact.
The 2004 season officially begins February 6th against Florida A&M in Boca Raton. Seven NCAA Tournament teams from 2003 help highlight the 2004 schedule, including a tournament on February 27-29 that includes Minnesota, Notre Dame and Winthrop.
