URI baseball set to kick off its season next week
Kayla Panu
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Sports
This season, the Rams will have approximately six new players to replace the ones who graduated and a whole new field. Freshman Sam Vandenheuvel from Arizona is a pitcher and shortstop player. They have also added freshmen Milan Adams (catcher), Anthony Pisani (left-handed pitcher), Ryan O'Neill (right-handed pitcher and outfield) and Mike LeBel (infield). As a transfer from CCRI, junior Luis Chacon is also an infielder.
Foster said that he does not have a set lineup in mind yet, but said that they will have pretty good versatility.
"We got to get playing and put some difficult combinations together," Foster said.
Along with new player additions to the team, Bill Beck Field is going through a renovation after URI athletics received a $1 million donation last year. It will have a completely new surface of synthetic turf. It is the same surface that the Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays use.
Because of the snow, the turf has not been done yet, but Foster said that work should begin again on Monday.
"The field is going to be beautiful," Foster said. "It will require a lot less work and maintenance for the players and staff."
As always, the team wants to win the A-10 championships and make it to the Regionals. Foster said that they also want to make it to the Super Regionals.
"We need to stay healthy, play ball and have fun," he said. "These guys are good ballplayers, good students and good guys. We have a lot of talented kids."
Foster said that he does not have a set lineup in mind yet, but said that they will have pretty good versatility.
"We got to get playing and put some difficult combinations together," Foster said.
Along with new player additions to the team, Bill Beck Field is going through a renovation after URI athletics received a $1 million donation last year. It will have a completely new surface of synthetic turf. It is the same surface that the Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays use.
Because of the snow, the turf has not been done yet, but Foster said that work should begin again on Monday.
"The field is going to be beautiful," Foster said. "It will require a lot less work and maintenance for the players and staff."
As always, the team wants to win the A-10 championships and make it to the Regionals. Foster said that they also want to make it to the Super Regionals.
"We need to stay healthy, play ball and have fun," he said. "These guys are good ballplayers, good students and good guys. We have a lot of talented kids."
