USD Baseball 1991

The Outlook Pagel 1991 USD BASEBALL OUTLOOK The USD baseball team enters the 1991 season with an experienced group of everyday players but the ultimate success of the team may hinge on the efforts of its young pitching corp. Head coach John Cunningham, entering his 28th season at the helm, returns 14 lettermen from last year's squad. His infield and outfield will be manned by players with at least one full season of major college experience. In most cases, each position will be at least two deep with talented players. The pitching staff is another story. Just one player with starting experience returns.SeniorJames Ferguson, who started 14 times in 1990, will anchor the staring rotation. The 6'7" righthander, who was 3-4 a year ago, was USD's "Rookie of the Year· as a freshman in 1988. He will be joined in the rotation by junior righthander Pat Crema, 0-2 in 1990, and freshmen Mike Austin and Sean Durbin, the only lefthander on the staff. Additional starters may well come from a corps of long relievers that include junior transfer Glen Yannotta, sophomores Marc Bouchard and Kevin Herda and freshmen Pete Schoen and Chris Collins. The bullpen is the domain of 1990 co-MVP Tom Cheek. Cheek, a senior, set a USD single season record last year with his 37 appearances. He compiled 8 saves and a 7-6 win/loss record. He also fanned a team high 68 batters in over 85 innings of work. Junior Sean Gousha returns for his third season as the Toreros' starting catcher. He batted .265 last season and was voted USD's "GoldGlove Award" winnerfordefensiveexcellence by his teammates.Hewill be backed up by senior Steve Stumpf! and freshman Craig Ross. Experience is the key in the infield, starting at first base. Co- MVP Rick Doane returns for his final season as a Torero. He banged out 13 home runs and hit a team high .342. He also made only one error in the field for a .998 fielding percentage. Second base will belong to either Tom Cheek or junior Jim Keen, the 1989 "Gold Glove Award" winner. Shortstop will be entrusted to sophomore Chad Boyd, a fine gloveman, while third base will be patrolled by sophomore Dave Pingree, who had a 16 game hit streak on the way to a .306 batting average in 1990. The outfield will be manned by two experienced ballhawks and an exciting newcomer. Senior Devin Bundy (.297, 3 HR) moves from rightfield over to left. Freshman Josh Stepner, an AII-CIF selection last season at San Diego High School, moves to centerfield. Sophomore Tony Moeder, last season's centerfielder and a .308 hitter, moves over to rightfield. Outfield depth will be provided by senior Dan McAdoo, a three-time USD "Hustle Award" winner, as well as freshman Mike Henry and junior college transfer Ed Scofield. When not pitching, sophomore Kevin Herda will be called upon to handle the Designated Hitter chores. Herda drove home 45 runs and banged out 7 home runs to go with a .330 batting average. Experienced in the field, behind the plate and at the bat. That's the story line of the 1991 University ofSan Diego Toreros' baseball team. If the pitching comes through - and the experi- enced players play true to form - then 1991 might be the season that brings the Toreros toward their goal, an upper echelon finish in the West Coast Conference. It should be interesting!