2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball returns solid arms; offense to prove itself in '07
Zane Gresback
Issue date: 2/13/07 Section: Sports
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This year, more than any, might be the Skyhawks' best chance to do just that.
Coming off a 20-win season in 2006, UTM returns all three conference starting pitchers. Seniors Adam Ledlow, Ryan Rockholt, and Jacob Smothers know what type of hitters the rest of the OVC will bring and it is nothing they have not faced before. Rockholt went 4-6 in his first year of Division I baseball since transferring from junior college in 2005. He led the entire staff with 53 strikeouts last season. Ledlow and Smothers might not have had the best records last season (2-10, 3-9 respectively) but they gave quality starts and pitched in close games that lacked run support.
Behind those three is a staff of quality relievers and new arms that should bring talent and depth. Senior Chadwick Cameron could rival any other closer in the league. He posted a 3.90 ERA last season with six quality saves. Sophomore Eric Walker was named to the 2006 All-OVC Freshman Team for his 19 appearances and 3.70 ERA.
Other new faces will make appearances on the hill for the Skyhawks in 2007. The most anticipated newcomer is 6'6" left hander Will Blackmon. A former draft choice of the Toronto Blue Jays in the 39th Round in 2003, Blackmon transfers to UTM as a junior. With so many other OVC teams bringing a standout lefty starter, Blackmon just might be the x-factor to offset them.
The old belief in baseball that good pitching beats good hitting is something the Skyhawks can be confident in. However, everyone knows you have to score runs to win. Run production has been hard to muster the last two seasons. Though UTM might have veteran starters, so does the rest of the OVC. Heralded starters Josh Ehmke of Samford and Eastern Kentucky's Christian Friedrich are just two of the great No. 1 starters that each team will throw at UTM this season.
A key to the Skyhawk offense in '07 will be the consistent bat of senior shortstop Lance Renton. Coming off of off-season shoulder surgery, Renton returns as the
Skyhawks' leading hitter. He hit .309 last season with 10 doubles and 2 HR. After Renton, the list of experienced bats is short. Douglas Nicodemus is a four-year starter who provided clutch hitting for the Skyhawks last season. Junior catcher Chris Rezabek is ready for a break-out year. Rezabek has been a consistent hitter his first two seasons but with the graduation of catcher Brett Spivy, Rezabek has to step in and be a real source of power. Defensively, he is one of the best catchers in the OVC. Base stealers know better than to test Rezabek's arm that threw out 29 of 71 runners last season.
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