2008 Brevard College Baseball Season Outlook
The 2008 campaign will mark the first year for the Brevard College baseball team as a provisional member of the South Atlantic Conference. The outlook on the 2008 baseball season is one of great promise, as the Tornados will begin the season with a mixture of experience, new faces, and key transfers.
Last season, the Tornados finished the regular season with a 27-23 overall record, posting wins over two nationally ranked opponents and four SAC institutions. The 2007 season marked the third consecutive year the Tornados posted 27 victories. The 2008 season will see the Tornados faced with quite possibly their biggest challenge in the short history of the program, as the 54-game schedule includes a full South Atlantic Conference slate.
Offensively, the Tornados return eight of their top nine hitters, including five players which finished the 2007 season hitting over .300. The Brevard offensive attack will be led by seniors Justin Frady (.398), Seth Corliss (.333), and Luke Lovelace (.320). Also returning following breakthrough seasons a year ago will be red-shirt sophomore Josh Miller (.358) and junior Brice Warner (.301). The 2008 Tornados will also have some key new additions to the lineup, as junior college transfers Adam Arrowood (Surry CC) and Mitch Hefner (Blue Ridge CC) will look to make an immediate impact this season. In all, Brevard returns eight starters from last year’s squad.
One of the major strengths of the 2008 Tornados will be the pitching staff. The Tornados return four of their top hurlers from a year ago, including juniors Seth Laughter (Asheville, NC) and Spencer Linn (Fletcher, NC). Alongside senior Chris White (Hendersonville, NC) and sophomore Shane Galloway (Rosman, NC), the 2008 staff returns 19 of the team’s 27 victories from a year ago. Following the departure of Jordan Hotchkiss (MLB draft) and Brooks Owenby (Graduation), the Tornados have added a tremendous amount of depth to the 2008 pitching staff. Key newcomers this season will be junior college transfers Ryan Toney (Walters State CC), Matt Castro (Mohawk Valley CC), and Brandon Sleezer (Mohawk Valley CC), all of which will be asked to play key roles this season. Erskine College transfer Payne Parker finished with a very impressive fall as well and will add another strong presence from the left side.
The depth of to the 2008 roster can also be attributed to a promising freshman class. First year players that look to have solid careers at Brevard College include first baseman Matt Rose (Charlotte, NC) and infielder Stephen Mullis (Charlotte, NC). On the mound, the 2008 Tornados welcome right handers Luke Smithson (Horse Shoe, NC) and Jacob White (Elkin, NC), both of which had an impressive fall.