Friday, September 12, 2008

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Sept. 12, 2008) - The ETSU baseball team opened fall practice this week as the team underwent individual and team practices as well as intra-squad sessions.

"After two productive weeks of individual workouts, it has been great to finally get our ball club on the field," said head coach Tony Skole. "The nine new players we brought in this year have gotten off to a great start.  Their ability to catch up with the speed of the game has been better than any other freshman class I have ever had."  

Newcomers to the program include outfielder Cory Betterson (Lithonia, Ga.),  infielder Bo Reeder (Cookeville, Tenn.), right handed pitcher Taylor Gouffon (Knoxville, Tenn.), catcher Skyler Barnett (Erwin, Tenn.), middle infielder Garrett May (Marietta, Ga.), left handed pitcher Josh Gonzaga (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), shortstop Cody Bentley (Pound, Va.), outfielder Matthew Scruggs (Knoxville, Tenn.), and left handed pitcher Pete Whittingslow (Kennesaw, Ga.).

"There has been a great mesh between our returning players and new players," Skole said. "There is currently a lot of competition for every spot in our lineup/rotation and that is a good thing. The energy and enthusiasm that the players have brought to the field every day has been phenomenal. We still have a long way to go but our staff is very encouraged and excited about the rest of our fall season."

Please visit www.ETSUBucs.com for more information on ETSU baseball and all other Buccaneer athletic news.