Senior Lance Dupuis returns after redshirting last season. Dupuis was a two-time SLC player of the week in 2006.
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
THIBODAUX, La. – With the first pitch of the 2009 baseball season just 22 days away, the battle for starting roles is heating up amongst pitchers and catchers at Nicholls.
This season, the Colonels welcome three new catchers in JuCo transfers Kevin Schlegel and Jason Dennis and freshman Michael Cagley. Schlegel (Oklahoma City, Okla./Northeast Texas CC) exhibits quality defensive skills and should see substantial time behind the plate. Dennis (Mobile, Ala./Alabama Southern CC) is a high-energy player who works well with the pitching staff and can handle the grind of catching every day.
“While still battling for the starting position at catcher, both Schlegel and Dennis offer outstanding defensive skills,” said Head Coach Chip Durham. “This will put us in situation to have solid depth at catcher.”
Closing out the catching position is Cagley (Livingston, La./Parkview Baptist) who possesses the tools to be a quality college catcher.
“Cagley is a true freshman that has tons of potential,” Durham added. “This will allow him to develop and provide more depth at catcher”.
Along with the return of starters Jake Parrish, Seth Webster and Lance Dupuis, the Colonels welcome the JuCo duo of Jarrett Dunnam and Tyler Minto to the starting rotation.
Dupuis (Crowley, La./Lurleen B. Wallace CC), a right-hander who redshirted last season due to an injury, was a two-time Southland Conference pitcher of the week as a junior in 2006 and has a chance to be one of the better starting pitchers in the league this season. After pitching nearly every weekend for Nicholls last season, righty Webster (Deville, La./Buckeye) is expected to shine this season with a year of experience under his belt.
The battle for the remaining weekend spot in the rotation is between right-hander Minto (Mobile, Ala./Alabama Southern CC), right-hander Jake Parrish (Albuquerque, N.M./Northeast Oklahoma State) and lefty Jarrett Dunnam (Saraland, Ala./Alabama Southern CC). All three possess quality pitches that they are capable of throwing for strikes and compete well while on the mound. In the weeks leading up to opening day, the competition for the final weekend spot is expected to heat up.
In the bullpen, three freshmen left-handers join a core group of returners to provide a deep and diverse relief corp.
Newcomers Brad Delatte (St. Amant, La./St. Amant), Ryan Cooper (Sulphur, La./Sulphur) and Zephan Rochelle (Desterhan, La./Desterhan) have a chance to help out right away. Rochelle and Cooper will see their time out of the bullpen exclusively, while Cooper may see time as a starter as well.
Anchoring the middle and back end of the bullpen are seniors Ross Larson (New Lenox, Ill./Lurleen B. Wallace CC), Lance Guidroz (Lockport, La./Santa Fe CC) and Ryan Harding (Shawnee, Kan./Crowder College) and sophomore Drew Erwin (Alvin, Texas/Alvin). Harding and Erwin have great pitches that they are beginning to blend with consistency, while Larson and Guidroz are strike-throwers that have the ability to change speeds well.
Dale Dickerson (Calhoun, La./Southeast Missouri State) will serve as the Colonels’ closer this spring. After a successful summer ball stint, Dickerson has matured both physically and mentally and has a chance to be one of the best stoppers in the league.
“I’m extremely excited about our pitching staff this season,” noted Durham. “With the talent that we have competing for starting and relief roles there is no reason for us not to be in the top of our conference in pitching. If we can throw strikes and limit our walks this pitching staff has a chance to do something special.”
