Baseball | 2/3/2016 1:33:00 PM
SAN FRANCISCO– This Friday afternoon at 1pm will mark the beginning of the
Tony Schifano era in SF State Gator baseball. The Gators will open their 2016 regular season against Holy Names to begin a three-game weekend series between the two teams. The series will move to Maloney Field on Saturday morning for a doubleheader starting at 11am.
SF State returns 15 players from last year's squad that finished 19-29 overall and 17-23 in the CCAA. Coach Schifano looks for those returners to blend in with the 19 newcomers to this year's team.
"I am very optimistic about the upcoming season," said the first-year head coach. "We have a great returning class with All-CCAA centerfielder
Nick Jackson leading the class. Also back is All-Conference first baseman
Chad Thurston along with seniors
Ryan Burke and
Peter Reyes. A lot of our older guys will have new roles including second baseman/pitcher
Joe Chedid. We definitely are deeper on the mound this season."
SF State is looking for 2015 All-Conference selection
Nick Jackson to anchor the outfield from the centerfield position. Jackson batted .302 last season with 33 hits. He also scored a team leading 33 runs and was 6 for 9 in stolen base attempts.
Look for returners
Connor Fraser,
Ryan Burke and
Chad Thurston look to head up the corner positions. Fraser played in 24 games last season with 20 starts at the hot corner. Burke and Thurston each come back at first base. Thurston was an All-Conference selection as he batted .322 last season in 34 games with 20 runs batted in while scoring 20 times. Burke played in 26 games in 2015, batting .278 with 6 doubles while sharing time at first base and designated hitter.
On the mound, the Gator coaching staff is looking for good things from
Ryan Bohnet and
Peter Reyes. Bohnet had three victories in 12 appearances last season with 37 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched. Reyes is back for his fifth-year after collecting three wins in 12 starts last season. SF State has a host of newcomers including outfielders
Chris Nicholson,
Myles Franklin,
Alex Kotheimer and
Jake Faulkner.
Holy Names played two games last week at Cal State Monterey Bay in which they were swept 13-1 and 5-4 in Seaside. Trent Carrier led the Hawks' hitting attack with a .800 batting average as he had four hits in five at bats including a solo home run.
Seven different pitchers saw time on the mound last weekend with Jayse Bannister recording four strikeouts in six innings pitched.
After this weekend, the Gators will return to the diamond in Fresno, Calif., for a three-game series with Fresno Pacific on Feb. 12-13. The series will begin at 4pm on Friday, February 12 and then the two teams will play a doubleheader starting at 11am on Saturday, February 13.
Link to Live States for Friday's Game at Holy NamesLink to Live Stats for Saturday's Doubleheaders----
Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic
