Dover, Del. (Feb. 17, 2011) -- It's time to "play ball" at Delaware State University, as a new baseball season gets underway this weekend.
The Hornets will open the 2011 campaign tomorrow (Feb. 18) with a three-game series against the nationally ranked Arkansas Razorbacks at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. The series begins with a 4:05 p.m. (ET) contest on Friday. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Delaware State returns 15 letter winners, including seven players who started at least 30 games, from its 2010 squad. The Hornets were 13-36 overall and 8-10 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) last season.
Arkansas is ranked 24th in two major preseason polls after posting a 43-21 overall record in 2010. The Razorbacks also advanced to the NCAA Tournament Super Regionals for the second straight year last season. Arkansas has been picked to finish second in the 2011 Southeast Conference (SEC) West Division race.
Topping the list of returning everyday players for DSU is outfielder Tony Gatto (jr., 6-1, 210) a 2010 All-MEAC Second Team selection. Gatto batted .317 with four home runs and 33 runs batted in last season. He was second on the Hornets in homers, third in RBI and tied for third on the team with 51 hits during the 2010 season.
Second baseman Scott Davis (jr., 5-10, 185) also returns. Davis led all Hornet regulars with a .353 average last season. He also smacked two homers and drove in 23 runs. The middle infield also returns shortstop Keith Hernandez (sr., 5-10, 175), who drove in 29 runs while stealing seven bases in seven attempts in 2010. Hernandez was tied for fourth on the Hornets with 38 hits last season.
Returning infielder Brandon Crist (jr., 5-10, 175) batted .327 with 37 hits in 46 games last season. Sophomores OF Joey Babuca (1 HR, 15 RBI, 24 hits) and INF/P Ryan Haas (1 HR, 10 RBI 21 hits) are expected to provide greater contributions to the offense this season.
The Hornets will also welcome the return of a healthy Troy Drummond (jr. Newark, Del.) to the line-up after he appeared in just 11 games due to injuries in 2010. In one of those games, Drummond was 4-of-5 with a career-high 7 RBI. He batted .302 (26-for-86) with three homers and six steals (in seven attempts) in 2009.
Among the top new everyday players are catcher Eddie Sorondo (fr., Jersey City, N.J.), former Lake Forest HS (Del.) All-Star Cory Smith (INF), former Sussex Tech HS (Del.) standout Justin Allen (OF) and Pratt Junior College transfer Trey DeRouen (INF).
The pitching staff will be led by right-hander Elliott Gardner (so., 6-2, 185), who was 4-5 with a 6.88 earned run average in 15 appearances during the 2010 season. Gardner also tied for the team lead with 51 strikeouts last season.
Righty Jordan Elliott (r-so., 6-3, 185) returns to the rotation after appearing in just three games last season due to injuries. Elliott was 1-2 with eight strikeouts in 15 innings pitched in 2010.
The Hornets have an experienced closer in righty Jose Portela (sr., 6-0, 195), who recorded three saves and 21 strikeouts in 28.1 innings pitched last season.
The top newcomer to the pitching staff is former Delaware All-State selection Matt McLain (fr., 6-2, 180) from nearby Polytech High School. 2010 Delaware State All-State Second Team selection DJ Miller from St. Mark's High School in Wilmington also joins the staff.
The Hornets will play their 2011 home opener on March 2 against Lehigh (2:30 p.m.). The MEAC schedule begins with a home series against Maryland-Eastern Shore on Apr. 2.
