Senior Adrian Perez will start at shortstop on opening day and will help captain an experienced ONU team
ONU Baseball Tigers open the 2013 season on February 14, a day early due to weather concerns. They arrived in McKenzie, Tenn. early this morning to open a three-game series with Bethel University (Tenn.). Head Coach Todd Reid made history when he turned in a starting lineup that included all 10 seniors. With nine already scheduled to start, Reid decided to insert the only remaining senior on the roster, left-handed pitcher Paul Griffin (Pekin, Ill.), at third base.
"I'm just so proud of this senior class. I wanted to show them in a tangible, memorable way how blessed I feel to be their coach," said Reid.
Griffin, of course, would get replaced before fielding a ground ball or taking a swing — and will be one of tomorrow's starting pitchers, along with junior Jonathan Fightmaster (Bourbonnais, Ill.).
ONU took two of three from the Wildcats a year ago, and hopes are high for the veteran group. Ben Heller (Whitewater, Wis.) gets the ball on opening day as the Tigers look to better a season of 36 wins and a CCAC South Division regular season Championship in 2012.
Opening day lineup
Justin Fahy, LF
Dan Schneider, CF
Adrian Perez, SS
Ryan Kern, 1B
Matt Davenport, RF
Kevin Lasowski, DH
Paul Griffin, 3B
Alex Cavender, C
Nick Jones, 2B
Ben Heller, P
Live Stats: http://www.dakstats.com/Websync/Pages/WebcastPlayByPlay/WebcastPBP.aspx?association=10&sg=MBA&compID=160151&sea=NAIMBA_2013