BASEBALL 2006 PREVIEW
Tigers focus on return to GSC Tournament

After taking the Gulf South Conference Championship in 2005, The University of West Alabama baseball team is working towards its defense of the title in 2006. Head Coach Gary Rundles enters the season having to replace five key seniors lost from last season’s record-breaking 45-19 team. 

Offensively, the Tigers will need to replace three bats in the lineup, including Brandon Boles, who started 62 games for the Tigers a year ago, finishing with a .336 batting average. He also led the team in runs scored (63), hits (73), doubles (18), triples (3), hit-by-pitch (23) and stolen bases (35). Seth Lofton led UWA in 2005 with a .352 batting average, while also finishing third on the team with a .452 on-base percentage. Lewis Bradford started 52 games a season ago, finishing his senior season with a .294 batting average, while scoring 40 runs and stealing 17 bases. 

On the mound, the Tigers lost two key arms, headlined by Lee Boyd, who went 5-1 in 2005, with a 3.51 ERA and two saves. He also finished with 38 strikeouts in 41 innings of work. Jason Herman went 2-3, with a 4.91 ERA for the Tigers, while also recording a pair of saves. 

Ten seniors, including three All-GSC performers, return and will need to use their leadership to guide West Alabama throughout the 2006 season. Matthew Creighton (6-6, 200, LHP) will look to provide his leadership on the mound, where he finished 6-2, with a 3.36 ERA in 69.2 innings of work last year. He led all Tigers with 74 strikeouts, while limiting opposing hitters to a .230 batting average. His strong season landed him on the 2005 All-GSC First Team. Offensively, First Team All-GSC performer Roberto Martinez (5-10, 210, C, R/R) will look to provide leadership in the Tiger lineup. Last season, he started 54 games for UWA, finishing with a .344 batting average, including nine doubles, three home runs and 37 RBI. He committed only three errors behind the plate, ending with a .981 fielding percentage. Dustin Roberts (6-2, 210, OF, R/R) earned Second Team All-GSC accolades last season. He finished second on the team with a .351 batting average, while leading the team in home runs (10) and RBI (47), while swiping 17-of-20 bases. 

Josh Allums (6-0, 200, LHP) appeared in seven games on the mound last season, and allowed only one earned run in 6.2 innings of work, including one save. Damon Brabson (6-3, 205, OF, R/R) started 56 games in centerfield a season ago. He hit .289, with a pair of doubles, while also driving in 25 runs. His 24 stolen bases were third best on the team. William Crawford (6-2, 175, 1B, L/L) started 27 games for UWA in 2005. He finished with a .259 batting average, including four doubles and 16 RBI, while recording a .986 fielding percentage for the season. James Guilliams (6-1, 190, 3B, R/R) started 43 games for the Tigers last season. He hit .276, including six doubles, two triples and 28 RBI, while scoring 26 runs. 

Shane Martin (6-2, 175, LHP) also provided depth on the mound for West Alabama last season. He ended the season 6-2, with a stellar 2.72 ERA, in 53 innings of work. He struck out 37 hitters, while limiting opponents to a .262 batting average. Dustin Pounders (6-1, 170, RHP) will look to add strength to the pitching staff this season after sitting out the 2005 season as a redshirt. Jacob Townsend (6-0, 220, C, R/R) started 40 games behind the plate and as a designated hitter a season ago. He hit .261 for the year, with 12 doubles, one triple and one home run to go along with 25 RBI. 

Matt Chambless (6-1, 170, RHP) leads a trio of returning juniors for UWA. He recorded a team best seven saves in 2005, while compiling a 2.11 ERA in 38.1 innings of work to go along with 37 strikeouts. His strong season also earned him Second Team All-GSC honors. Brad Johnson (5-11, 180, P/2B, R/R) will be looking to see time on the mound in 2006 after sitting out all of last season due to injury. Ryne Lawson (6-2, 180, RHP) went 7-4 with a 3.99 ERA last season in 67.2 innings of work. He limited opposing hitters to a .213 batting average, on the strength of 61 strikeouts. 

Rundles has added 11 junior college transfers to this season’s roster. Tres Avans (5-11, 183, OF, R/R) comes to UWA after playing junior college ball at both Chattanooga State Community College and Gadsden State Community College. He hit .360 with seven home runs and 46 RBI as a sophomore at GSCC. Stephen Barnett (6-0, 170, RHP) joins the Tiger pitching staff after attending Bevill State Community College. He went 7-2 with a 2.14 ERA as a sophomore for the Bears. He also totaled 58 strikeouts in 51 innings of work on his way to earning First Team All-State recognition and Team Captain honors. Corey Coward (6-2, 220, 1B, R/R) joins UWA via East Central Community College. As a freshman, Coward hit .423 with two home runs, while earning Second Team All-State and Team MVP honors. 

Chris Gilbertsen (6-2, 210, OF, R/R) played for Head Coach Chris Gober at St. Charles Community College. He hit .355 with 14 doubles, five home runs and 37 RBI as a sophomore for the Cougars. Clark Humber (5-9, 145, IF, R/R) and Brett McBurnett (6-3, 175, IF, R/R) make their way to UWA from Chattahoochee Valley Community College. Humber hit .328 with 14 doubles and 34 RBI as a sophomore. He was also selected First Team All-Conference and led the Pirates to back-to-back 35-win seasons and two playoff appearances. McBurnett concluded his sophomore campaign with a .383 batting average, including nine doubles, three triples, six home runs and 35 RBI, while earning All-Conference recognition. R.J. Miller (6-1, 210, RHP, R/R) joins the roster after his junior college days at Enterprise Ozark Community College. As a sophomore, he recorded two wins and one save with a 3.83 ERA in 42.1 innings of work. 

Britt Park (5-10, 170, OF/P, R/R) also joins the UWA roster via Bevill State Community College where he hit .330 with six home runs as a sophomore for the Bears. Brent Telano (5-10, 170, P/OF, L/L) played for Head coach Kenny Dupont at Holmes Community College. As a sophomore, he hit .302 and stole 22-of-24 bases. He also went 4-2 on the mound for the Bulldogs, while also recording one save. Brandon Wheeler (6-2, 195, RHP) joins the pitching staff after playing two years Gadsden State Community College. 

Seven sophomores will look to add depth to the Tiger roster in 2006. Brent Bumgarner (6-0, 197, OF, R/R) is coming off of a season in which he started 10 games as a true freshman for UWA. He hit .250 with one double and five RBI, while also stealing 6-of-7 bases. Jake DeRoy (6-1, 175, C, R/R) appeared in 29 games a season ago for the Tigers. He hit .270 with one double and seven RBI, while also stealing 4-of-4 bases. Behind the plate, he committed no errors in 85 chances on the season. 

Brandon Dill (6-1, 170, RHP) appeared in 10 games, including three starts on the mound last season. He finished with a 3-0 record, while striking out 21 batters in 21.2 innings of work. Brady Dundon (5-8, 170, 2B, R/R) joins UWA after playing at Texarkana Junior College as a freshman. He led the Bulldogs in fielding percentage as well as helping lead the team to a fifth-place finish in the Junior College World Series. Jeff Mason (6-1, 150, RHP) appeared in six games on the mound for UWA in 2005. He finished with a 1.10 ERA in 10 innings of work, while striking out 10 opposing hitters. Roy McDaniel (5-11, 165, C/3B, R/R) started 23 games last season for the Tigers. He hit .272 with two doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI, while also stealing 3-of-5 bases. Clint Moody (5-11, 170, OF, R/R) appeared in 28 games a season ago, on his way to finishing with a .354 batting average, including four doubles, one triple and 10 RBI. 

Eight true freshmen, along with two redshirt freshmen look to play key roles for UWA this season. Jeremy Dorrance (6-3, 190, OF, R/R) played for Head Coach Allan Watkins at Austin (Ala.) High School, where he hit .420 with six doubles, two triples, two home runs and 17 RBI as a senior. Charlie Hutchins (5-9, 175, OF, R/R) makes his way to UWA, following a prep career at Livingston (Ala.) High School. As a senior, he hit .692 with one home run, while stealing 31-of-32 bases. 

Phillip Merryman (6-1, 195, OF, R/R) begins his collegiate career following a prep career at Wilcox (Ala.) Academy. During his senior campaign he hit .650 with 10 doubles, 12 triples, 10 home runs, while swiping 15-of-18 bases. Jody Morgan (6-2, 195, C, R/R) joins the team after a career at Hernando (Miss.) High School. As a senior he hit .312, including 12 doubles and 11 RBI. He was also named All-County, Team Captain and Offensive MVP. Chris Parkman (6-0, 200, C, R/R) played his prep career at Raleigh (Miss.) High School. He finished his senior campaign with a .475 batting average and two home runs, while also being named MVP of the High School All-Star Game. Dallas Rogers (6-1, 160, OF, R/L) begins his career at UWA following his prep days at Brookwood (Ala.) High School where he played for Head Coach Jim Goble. He hit .460 with 10 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 31 RBI as a senior. 

Jonathan Sherrill (6-0, 190, RHP) joins the UWA pitching staff after a prep career at Holt (Ala.) High School. He went 5-5 as a senior and recorded 120 strikeouts in 60 innings of work. Clint Smith (6-2, 175, RHP) begins his collegiate pitching career after playing for Head Coach Chad Shannon at Tuscaloosa County (Ala.) High School. He finished his senior season with an 8-2 record and 42 strikeouts in 67 innings of work.

Rob Dahlberg (6-1, 190, 3B, R/R) and Cory Houston (5-10, 210, 1B, R/R) both look to play key roles for the Tigers this season after sitting out as redshirts in 2005. 

West Alabama will look to defend its GSC Title in 2006 with another tough schedule of games, including 30 games at Tartt Field. The Tigers open conference play on the road on Mar. 18, when they play at Alabama-Huntsville.