University of Richmond Athletics
Baseball Opens 2007 Season This Weekend
02/15/2007 | Baseball
Feb. 14, 2007
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Richmond baseball team will open the 2007 season this weekend at the Citadel Shootout, beginning with the season-opener against the host Bulldogs at 4 p.m. Friday at Riley Field.
The Spiders will play South Carolina on Saturday at 11 a.m. and finish off the weekend versus Liberty on Sunday at 11 a.m. After the three-game Citadel Shootout, Richmond returns to campus for its 2007 home opener on Wednesday against VMI at 2:30 p.m. at Pitt Field.
In the off-season, Hall of Fame head coach Ron Atkins announced he will retire after this season, his 23rd at Richmond. Prior to the season he discussed what he sees the 2007 squad being able to achieve, how the new coaching staff will effect the team and his idea of a storybook ending to 2007.
What are your team's goals for the upcoming season?
"This year the Atlantic 10 is going to be pretty strong. I think one of our main goals is to be in the top six at the end of the season so we get to the A-10 Tournament. Overall, I think our goal is to improve on our performance from last season. We would like to keep our pitching staff healthy and just get back into the conference tournament with a shot at playing in a regional."
What are the strengths of this year's team?
"If our pitching staff is healthy, with the likes of Ian Marshall, Rob Berzinskas and Alex Hale, we should be pretty strong. Offensively, we should score more runs compared to last season. Even without Ben Zeskind I think we will be able to score more runs because our guys are a year older and stronger. We have some guys who are going to be able to help in producing those runs. Defensively, I didn't think we were a very good ballclub last year. We have to tighten up our defense. Overall, I feel like if we are able to stay healthy then our pitching staff should be a big strength for us."
Who are some of the leaders for this team, both on and off the field?
"Rob Berzinskas knows what he has to do this year, being his fourth season, and I think he will lead our staff. Those guys are going to be very beneficial in leading our team. If Joe Mahoney is able to have a good year then we will see results from the entire team. If we can get somebody to hit in front and behind him then he should have some great numbers. If all of that works then we are going to win some ballgames. We will look for Cameron Brown to put up some bigger numbers than he did last season. Justice should also be a major contributor offensively. We would also like to see Wotring, Matt McKenna and Vince Riggi add some firepower to the offensive part of our ballclub."
Who are some of the newcomers you see contributing right away?
"We have to get some good innings out of our younger pitchers. They are going to be very instrumental in our success. We are probably going to have to bring Evan Stehle along so he can possibly catch every other game. We feel with his bat, Stehle could really help us right away. Matt Zielinski is another newcomer who will contribute right away, in fact he will probably be considered for one of our weekend starter roles right out of the gate."
Are you approaching this season any different since you know it is your last?
I am not going to approach this season any different than I have the last 22 years. I am going to continue to coach third base, but if it gets to the point where it is a detriment to the team then I won't go out there -- especially when I can't get out of the way of the line drives. I am going to coach the same way I have in the past since this season still counts against our record.
How will the new staff influence the team?
"I think having our new associate head coach Mark McQueen will help stabilize our pitching staff a great deal. Ryan Wheeler has done a great job so far and he will continue to help the players in a number of ways. Joe Frostick is in his second season and will continue to do a great job for us. Our hitting philosophies are basically the same as what we have had in the past and with those Ryan will add stability to our offense."
What will you remember most about your 23-year career here at Richmond?
"I hope I remember the good times and forget the bad times. Being in Lincoln, Neb., for the 2002 Super Regional was a joy. You remember the Regionals and a lot of the CAA Championship games were always dogfights facing such great competition. I will remember the players -- Sean Casey, Mike Walton, Brian Jordan and Vito Chiaravalotti just to name a few. I will always remember what the players have gone on to become. The one memory I can always recall is Vito's homerun in Lincoln, Neb., and there being total silence in that ballpark full of red."
What would be a story-book ending for this season?
"I would love for us to play well enough down the stretch to win the A-10 Tournament and get into a Regional. The way it is situated now, once you get there, you have a good chance of advancing. We just have to get there. That would definitely be a storybook ending."
