Feb. 10, 2010

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. - After finishing with its first winning record and first appearance in a West Coast Conference Championship Series since 2005 last season, look for the 2010 LMU baseball team, which is led by second-year head coach Jason Gill, to once again compete and succeed in the competitive West Coast Conference.

2009 Season
LMU finished in second place in the West Coast Conference after posting a 30-29 overall record and a 13-8 mark in WCC play. The season was capped by LMU's first trip to the WCC Championship Series since 2005. That year also saw the Lions' last winning season prior to the 2009 campaign. The Lions' 8-2 start in 2009 was the best since LMU began the 1988 season with a 15-2 record. That team, led by head coach Dave Snow, went on to start the year 17-3, before finishing the season at 48-18. The 8-2 mark through the first 10 games was also the best start for a first-year head coach at LMU, as Gill completed his first season at the helm of the program in 2009. After that mark, LMU dropped each of its next 10 games. Prior to the losing streak, LMU had won four straight, capped by a victory over then-No. 5 UC Irvine on March 3. Over the 10-game losing streak, LMU dropped five games by one run. The losing streak was the longest since LMU lost 10 straight from April 19 to May 4, 2003. After losing the 10 games, LMU went on to win eight straight before falling to No. 8 UC Irvine on March 31. The eight-game winning streak was the longest for the Lions since LMU won 10 straight from April 22 to May 12, 2000. LMU then started the year 20-14, the fastest route to 20 wins since LMU started the 2003 season at 20-12. The Lions reached 30 victories on May 17, the last game of the regular season. It marked the first time since 2005 that LMU had reached the 30-win plateau. Unfortunately, trends continued to play even into the final few games of the year as LMU dropped eight of its last nine games of the season, including four of five played against Gonzaga, the 2009 WCC Champion. For their work on the field last year, seven Lion players garnered All-West Coast Conference recognition. Jonathan Johnson, Lee Roberts and Ryan Wheeler were all named to the WCC's first team, while T.J. Bernardy, Ryan Hawthorne, Shon Roe and Kyle Spraker each earned a spot on the honorable mention list. Hawthorne and Roe were also named to the All-Freshman squad.

LMU perennially squares-off against quality teams not only on the weekends, but also in midweek contests, competing in the baseball-rich landscape of Southern California. 2009 was no different...and it proved to be a major contributor to LMU's success last season. With a series sweep of then-No. 30 San Diego from May 1-3, LMU finished 9-2 against ranked opponents last year. The only two losses came at the hands of UC Irvine (March 31 and April 13). LMU took down then-No. 5 UC Irvine on March 3, swept then-No. 24 Fresno State in a four-game series from March 20-24, beat then-No. 6 Cal State Fullerton on April 7, and finally swept the Toreros in conference play. In games against ranked opponents last season, LMU batted .332 (126-for-379) with 82 runs scored, 28 doubles, five triples, five home runs and 72 RBI. The team slugged .474 and reached base at a .407 clip.

"The 2009 team did a great job last year in raising the bar in terms of standards and trying to create a winning and a "never-say-die" attitude," Gill said. "I hope that the guys who were here last year, and who are currently still in the program, take what we did last year and continue to build toward our goals."

2010 Season
LMU looks ready to continue to build on those goals through dependence on both experienced and newly acquired hitters, as well as the arms of both their returning pitchers and fresh faces eager to earn time on the mound. "Our expectations are going to be the same every year that I'm wearing this uniform," Gill said. "We want and expect to go out and compete against every team we have on the schedule, and then win a WCC Championship. From there, we want to play in a regional, super regional, and ultimately have an opportunity to play in Omaha for a National Championship." If all goes according to plan in 2010, the Lions will be in the mix for their first postseason bid and WCC Championship since 2000.

LMU was predicted to finish fifth in the conference after being selected to finish sixth last year en route to a spot in the WCC Championship Series. "I have never felt that the preseason rankings were ever extremely important," Gill said. "I think if you are a team that is picked at the top, which is where every team should want to be, I think you work with that, but the reality is, the only real ranking that holds any merit is the one at the end of the season. I have high expectations for our team again this season, and the majority of those expectations pertain highly to the effort and respect that they show in and for the game. Just like last season, I expect us to battle and play each and every game hard, no matter who sits in the other dugout."

Trying to once again defy the preseason predictions, LMU returns four starters to the field, including junior Johnson and sophomores Roe and Hawthorne. The young, but extremely talented group, also returns three starting pitchers from last year's staff, in addition to the bulk of the bullpen from a year ago. Sophomores Martin Viramontes and Matt Koch both missed their true sophomore seasons last year due to injury, and both are expected to be leaders on the field for the Lions this season. Viramontes, sophomores Ramiro Carreon and Alex Gillingham, and freshman Aaron Griffin are expected to be called upon to provide quality starts for LMU as the season begins, while a handful of arms could potentially see starts throughout the year. Junior Chris Eusebio and senior Xavier Esquivel are currently locked in a battle for shots closing games this year, as they anchor what should be a solid bullpen that will be expected to deliver relief innings late in ballgames.

"I think it goes a long way having a lot of freshmen that played last year returning to the field this season," Gill said. "In all actuality, this year's squad is a younger team than last. Although we had some freshmen that got a lot of experience last year, probably more than most sophomores do, we will need the new freshmen class to step in and have an impact just as last year's freshmen did. The fact is we lost a talented group of players last year, but when you are building a program, you have to be able to replace those guys and rely on the returning players to fill those holes and keep the program moving toward the ultimate goal."

Pitchers
On the mound, Gill and his staff are faced with the task of filling the void left by the graduation of Roberts and Ernie Cho from last year's starting rotation. Working as LMU's Friday starter for nearly the whole season, Roberts posted a 7-2 record and a 3.58 ERA over 13 starts and 103 innings of work last season. He allowed just 44 runs (41 earned) and 27 walks while striking out 91 hitters. Roberts lasted at least six innings in 11 of his 13 starts, and amassed five or more strikeouts in all but one. The Lions won 10 of the 16 games in which Roberts pitched, including seven of his last 10 starts. Roberts finished the season ranked first in the WCC in shutouts (1), complete games (3) and innings pitched (103), second in strikeouts (91), fifth in wins (7) and eighth in ERA (3.58). He also finished in the Top-100 in the NCAA in strikeouts (59th). Roberts and Cho accounted for 167.1 innings and 24 starts last year, but LMU does return 67 percent of the total innings from 2009.

"Although we lost our Friday starter from last year, we as a team and coaching staff are confident that our players are poised to succeed this season and fill the void left on the mound," Gill said. "As was mentioned earlier, a program that wants to grow and continue to get better needs to be able to rely on the returning players to step up and fill the voids left from the prior year. In my opinion, we have one of the best pitching coaches on the West Coast in Drew Keehn, and I have the upmost confidence in his ability to help our pitchers get better every day."

Viramontes, who was slated to get the ball on Fridays last year before his injury, is expected to assume the role once again for LMU this season. Gillingham, who was thrown into the starting rotation as a freshman right away last year, is an option for the Saturday starts in 2010. Carreon, who started 10 games last year for LMU, is also in the mix for weekend starts. Griffin, who is just one year removed from Grossmont High School, will likely serve as the fourth pitcher in the starting rotation.

Prior to the injury that forced a medical redshirt early last year, Viramontes appeared in and started three games for the Lions. He posted a 7.11 ERA and did not factor in a decision, pitching only 6.1 innings and striking out four. The native of Fresno, Calif. did make the start in LMU's season-opener on February 20 versus Utah before pitching only an inning as a starter and exiting due to injury in back-to-back games against Long Beach State and Holy Cross on February 25 and February 28, respectively. "Martin has the stuff to be an All-American," explains Gill. "It is just a matter of him going out and getting the experience and learning. In baseball it doesn't matter how good your stuff is, you still have to learn on the fly, and most every player learns by making mistakes. Martin is very good at learning on the fly and making adjustments mid-game. Viramontes' success will ride on his ability to make quick adjustments because his stuff is as good as anyone in the country. To have him back in our pitching rotation after missing all of last season is a big deal, and we are excited to have him back in there taking the ball for us. He solidifies Fridays and gives us a chance every weekend to win on a Friday night, which is the key to success at this level."

Asked to make an immediate impact as a starter at the Division I level last year, Gillingham turned in a solid freshman campaign in 2009. The native of Thousand Oaks, Calif. recorded a 4-4 record and a 5.74 ERA over 14 appearances and 13 starts as a freshman. He tossed 73.2 innings, ranking third on the squad in that category. Showing extreme control of his pitches, he struck out 51 batters and walked only nine for an impressive 5.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His 51 strikeouts placed second on the team, while his 1.10 walks per nine innings placed ninth in the nation. Gillingham lasted at least five innings in 10 of his 13 starts, and at least six innings in seven. He also walked one batter or fewer in all but two of his appearances, including none on seven occasions.

"Alex had a good year for us as a freshman, and we expect him to build on that success this season," Gill said. "Gillingham got thrown into the fire right away last year, as we asked him to start on weekends and compete in big games. When you talk about quality starts and eating-up innings, he is a guy that keeps you in ballgames. Alex has worked very hard on his conditioning and getting his body stronger for this season, and we think he will match-up well on weekends with anyone around."

Gill is also expecting big things from Carreon, a sophomore right-hander who made starts against a handful of ranked opponents last year. Carreon appeared in 17 games for the Lions as a freshman, starting 10. He finished the year with a 3-1 record and a 5.05 ERA in 76.2 innings on the hill, walking 18 and striking out 48. His innings mark ranked second on the team in that category. His best and longest outing of the season came on April 6 versus then-No. 6 Cal State Fullerton. He pitched seven and a third innings in that start against the Titans en route to a victory. He also recorded wins over then-No. 30 Fresno State and Santa Clara. Carreon lasted at least six innings in each of his final three starts of the season.

According to Gill, "Ramiro was likely one of the best pitchers on the staff last year, but did not start on the weekend until the very last week when we won a game at Gonzaga. The pitching depth was different last year than it is this season, and Carreon's biggest strength was his ability to come out of the bullpen, throw strikes and get outs. It was very hard to take him out of that role and start him, but this year we hope we can use his quality starts in a weekend role. Ramiro is a tough player who has the innate ability to pitch and get outs."

The Lions expect immediate results from Griffin as the team's fourth starter. The right-hander earned three varsity letters for coaches Rob Phillips and Jim Early at Grossmont High School. The native of El Cajon, Calif. garnered All-City and All-Area honors after his junior and senior campaigns, and was named All-League and All-CIF in his final two years of play. As a junior, he was 10-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 79 innings pitched, punching-out 73 batters and walking 16 that season. Named Division II Pitcher of the Year as a senior, he finished 8-0 with a 2.36 ERA, striking out 75 over 65.1 innings of work.

As the season opens, Esquivel and Eusebio are locked in a battle for time closing games for LMU. Both players should be used frequently in relief throughout the season, either as the closer or quality reliever down the stretch. According to Gill, "there are a lot of players and roles that have yet to be completely filled. I expect great battles throughout the season not only on the hill, but across the diamond."

Esquivel, who was drafted in the 49th round by the New York Yankees, but elected to return to LMU for his senior season, appeared in 19 games for the Lions, all in relief last year. The hard-throwing right-hander collected a team-best five saves, tying for eighth in the LMU record books for a single season. He posted a 2-4 record with a 5.09 ERA in 23 innings of work, notching 28 strikeouts and walking 12.

Eusebio was once again the go-to player out of the Lion bullpen as a sophomore last year. He appeared in a team and WCC-high 28 games, all in relief, recording two saves to place 10th in the WCC. The native of Walnut, Calif. finished the season with a 5-5 record and a 4.39 ERA in 41 innings of work, striking out 35 batters and walking 17 while holding opponents to a team-best .255 average against.

"Chris did a great job for us last year, and really proved himself to be the mainstay of our bullpen," Gill said. "He is an extremely valuable arm on our staff, as he can go out every day and throw strikes. He has great command and a quality slider, and he can flat-out get outs. Eusebio's work ethic is outstanding, and he is a guy who is maximizing his potential every time he goes out to the mound. He never pitches scared and is willing to do whatever you ask of him."

Along with a handful of returners to the Lion bullpen, LMU has fresh new pitching entering this season with the arrival of freshmen Matt Florer, Alex Sachs, John Tewhill and Tony Rosado. Florer, a 2009 graduate of Mission Viejo High School in Mission Viejo, Calif., earned two varsity letters and served as team captain in his senior year. The left-hander garnered All-League and All-City honors after his senior campaign, recording a 5-3 mark with three saves that season. Sachs, a 2009 graduate of Woodland High School in Woodland, Calif., earned two varsity letters and served as team captain in his senior year. The right-hander garnered All-Area recognition as a senior and was named All-League in both of his varsity seasons. Sachs recorded a 2.14 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 25 innings as a junior, and collected a 2.05 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 62 innings during his senior campaign. Tewhill, a 2009 graduate of Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield, Calif., earned three varsity letters for coach Mike Firenzi and served as team captain in his senior year. The right-hander garnered All-League recognition as a junior, and posted a combined 12-4 record in high school. Tewhill tossed 94 innings and struck out 90 hitters while maintaining a 2.35 ERA in his junior and senior years combined. Rosado, a 2009 graduate of Loyola High School in Los Angeles, Calif., played for former Lion, coach Brian Felten, and served as team captain in his senior year. Rosado posted a 7-2 record and a 2.45 ERA as a senior, tossing 60 innings in his final year.

Catchers
After boasting depth and experience at the catching position a year ago, LMU returns just one player to the catching position to go along with a pair of freshmen. Koch, who was slated to the be the starting catcher a year ago, returns after sitting out the entire 2009 campaign due to injury. He is joined by freshmen Colton Plaia and Steve Dueñas behind the plate.

Before the injury, Koch made 24 starts and played in 43 games as a freshman in 2008. He batted .276 with nine runs scored, seven doubles, a triple and 13 RBI, collecting eight multiple-hit games, including three hits against UC Santa Barbara on February 29 and Gonzaga on May 18.

"Although we would have loved to have Matt's bat and presence behind the plate last year, things worked out very well for us, as the seniors who platooned there were outstanding," Gill said. "In addition, Matt got another year closer to his degree before the draft, and was able to learn and watch from the sideline. Matt has a lot of potential, and his biggest thing is he needs to get back there and catch. He was not used a whole lot as a catcher in his freshman year, and missed all of last season because of injury. With that said, he got to catch in the prestigious Cape Cod League for LMU alum, Kelly Nicholson, and he caught well. Koch is looking great at the plate right now, and we think he will surprise some people in the middle of our lineup as we try to help for the loss of Angelo Songco and Wheeler."

Plaia, a 2009 graduate of J Serra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., is expected to be the backstop to spell Koch when needed. Plaia earned three varsity letters for coach Brett Kay, and served as team captain in his senior year. The 6'3 205-pounder garnered All-League recognition as a junior and senior, batting .382 with 18 runs scored and 19 RBI as a senior.

"Plaia will give us a chance to rest Koch if needed during long weeks and doubleheaders. Colton is a very intelligent baseball player who will be a very good catcher here over his career. He is good enough to play at the Division I level as a freshman, and I really look forward to watching him grow as a player in our program. He has worked very hard for us this fall and into spring, and he is developing strength-wise and enhancing his receiving and blocking behind the plate. Colton is only going to get better for us in the future, and we are very confident in his ability to step into the catching role right away and maintain the high level of play that we expect behind the plate."

Infield
Although young, the Lion infield does have experience nearly across the board, and should prove to be a strength of the team in 2010. Junior Jonathan Johnson looks to be a lock to start at second base for the third consecutive season. The native of Lakewood, Calif. is also slated to be the Lion leadoff hitter after hitting at the top of the lineup last year. Johnson garnered All-West Coast Conference first team honors after a stellar sophomore campaign in which he started all 59 games for the Lions at second base. The left-handed hitter batted .305 with seven triples, 10 doubles, a home run, 41 runs scored, 25 walks, a team-best six stolen bases, 11 hit-by-pitches and 24 RBI. His seven triples ranked second in the WCC and 10th in the nation last year. Johnson posted 17 multiple-hit games and six-multiple-RBI games over the course of the season. In conference games alone, he batted .375 with 16 runs scored, five doubles, three triples, a home run and 12 RBI.

"Johnson led off for us last year and did a great job," Gill said. "He understands how to be a leadoff hitter, and is a tough out. Along the same lines, he understands the game and is a good baserunner with good speed. When he is on the base paths, he is very intelligent and gets good jumps. Johnson is the most experienced player on the team, and is the only true junior that has played two years in a row. We will rely on him to take quality at bats at the top of our lineup and set the tone for our offense."

Roe, who got the starting nod at shortstop as a freshman last year, is expected to start at that position once again in 2010. Like Koch, he is expected to hit somewhere in the middle of the Lion batting order. Roe was named honorable mention All-West Coast Conference as a freshman, and garnered a spot on the WCC All-Freshman team after a breakout first season. He started 57 of LMU's 59 games at shortstop, playing in 58 total contests. The native of Palmdale, Calif. amassed 17 multiple-hit games, placing fourth on the team in that category. Roe batted .259 with 28 runs scored, 10 doubles, five home runs and 41 RBI. The 6'2 infielder really hit his stride in conference play, batting .308 with 14 runs scored, seven doubles, four home runs and 23 RBI in WCC games alone.

Freshman Joel Licon is also challenging for the starting shortstop job in 2010. Licon, a 2009 graduate of Diamond Ranch High School in Diamond Bar, Calif., batted .433 with three home runs, 25 runs scored, eight doubles and 10 RBI as a senior. In addition, he was named All-City, All-Area and All-League in his final year of play. A versatile and athletic infielder, Licon could also be used at third base this season.

"There is very good competition for the positions on the left side of the infield, and those battles will continually be fought throughout the season," Gill said. "Shon and Joel will be at shortstop battling for time as the season opens. Joel is doing an excellent job, but the difference is the experience at the Division I level. Both players can play defensive shortstop equally, but Shon has a full year under his belt. With that said, Joel is really having a great spring, and he is making it difficult to keep him out of the lineup."

With regards to playing time at third base, sophomore Trevor Gee is the frontrunner to get the starting nod to start the season. Gee played in 39 games for the Lions as a freshman, starting 27. 19 of his starts came at designated hitter, while he earned eight at third base in 2009. The left-handed hitter batted safely in each of his first six career games with an at bat, spanning February 20 to 28. Overall, he batted .274 with 16 runs scored, two doubles, a triple and 16 RBI.

Along with Gee and Licon, senior Brad Bauer is also working at third base and could find time at that position throughout the year. Bauer played in 37 games for the Lions in his inaugural season, starting 27 at the designated hitter position. The transfer from Cuesta College batted .321 with seven doubles, 17 runs scored, a triple, a home run, 16 walks and 22 RBI. His batting average placed second on the team, and first amongst players returning in 2010. A consistent hitter, he hit safely in 22 of his 37 games played, including 19 of his 27 starts last year.

Alex Guthrie, who walked-on to the team as a freshman, spent last season behind Wheeler on the depth chart at first base. The native of Sunnyvale, Calif. did a great job of learning the game and absorbing as much information as possible last year, and is currently in line to earn the starting nod at first base. Guthrie appeared in six games as a freshman last year, starting one. He made his collegiate debut as a pinch-hitter before taking over at first base on February 28 versus Holy Cross. His first collegiate start came on May 11 at Arizona, getting the nod at third base. After working hard during the offseason, Guthrie is expected to hit in the middle of the Lion order in 2010.

"Alex has done a great job of turning himself into a quality Division I player," Gill said. "He came in as a walk-on last year, and listened, learned and paid attention. A testament to his work ethic, Guthrie got in the weight room and put on about 15 pounds of muscle during the offseason. He is an extremely tough out, and he is very strong. Alex has worked hard on his overall game, fine-tuning both his swing and his defense, and I think LMU fans will be impressed with what he does for our program."

Freshman Sean McIntyre could also see time at first base for the Lions this season. McIntyre, a 2009 graduate of Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, Calif., was a four-year starter for coach Scott Muckey. According to Gill, "much like Guthrie, McIntyre is a walk-on who has thrived on the development process. Sean has done a great job of competing with Guthrie, making both himself and Alex better in the process. McIntyre is turning himself into a really good player, and there is no doubt that he will be a great player here one day."

Listed as an infielder, Case Miyahira has developed into a utility player for the Lions headed into the season. Miyahira, who had to sit out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, started 38 games for Occidental College as a freshman in 2008. There, he batted .327 with 33 runs scored, 11 doubles, three triples and 20 RBI. Additionally, he slugged .442 and reached base at a .405 clip while finishing with 12 stolen bases.

"Miyahira has done a great job for us so far this season," Gill said. "He has worked very hard on his game both offensively and defensively, and he is playing a little center field for us right now. Case is extremely valuable to our team because he is the kind of guy who can play everywhere on the field, and a guy who can run the bases well. Furthermore, he can handle the bat and do the little things we need in terms of moving runners along. Based on his skills and ability to play virtually every position, he will find his way on the field and in the lineup this year."

Outfield
Unlike some of the infield positions, jobs in the outfield seem destined to be won throughout the season. A handful of players, both returning and new on the scene, are competing for starts right out of the gate. Evan Simonitsch had won the job in centerfield before suffering an injury in both the fall and early spring. He will likely be out until the third or fourth week of the season, so jobs are open all around in the outfield.

Simonitsch played in 56 of LMU's 59 games as a freshman, starting 46, last year. He began the year as a reserve before earning his first start, and taking over the job in centerfield, on March 7 versus UC Santa Barbara. Over the course of the season, he batted .248 with 21 runs scored, seven doubles and 12 RBI. A team player, Simonitsch finished the season with 10 sacrifice bunts, good for second on the team and 62nd in the nation.

"Evan's injury creates a little bit of an issue for us," Gill said. "Really, it is going to have to accelerate Nick Truhan's development as a centerfielder. Truhan is an athletic outfielder, but he is also a little crude and justifiably makes a few freshman mistakes. Nick is a hard-working guy and will be a good baseball player for us at LMU. It looks like we will have to ask him to fill the role in centerfield right away as a freshman because of his speed and ability to track down a fly ball."

Truhan is a 2009 graduate of Westlake High School in Westlake Village, Calif. There, he earned two varsity letters for coach Zach Miller, and served as team captain in his senior year. The 6'0 right-handed hitter garnered All-League and All-City recognition in his final season after batting .410 with five home runs.

"The spot in left field is wide open between junior Joe Vierra and Hawthorne," Gill explains. "There is an extremely good battle brewing out there between a few talented athletes. Hawthorne has experience after playing all year last season, but Joe is swinging the bat well and doing a lot of things right. Ryan is a left-handed hitter, while Joe hits from the right side, so as the season progresses, it may develop into a platoon role in left field."

Hawthorne was named honorable mention All-West Coast Conference as a freshman last year, also garnering a spot on the WCC All-Freshman team after a breakout first season. He started 57 of LMU's 59 games in left field, playing in 58 total contests. Over the course of the season, he batted .307 with 39 runs scored, 12 doubles, a home run and 29 RBI. His 70 hits placed third on the team last year, and first amongst players returning for the 2010 season. Increasing his productivity during WCC play, he hit .348 with 13 runs scored, four doubles and nine RBI in conference games alone.

Vierra played in 10 games for the Lions as a sophomore in 2009, starting one. In limited at bats, he hit .100 with two runs scored, a walk and a sacrifice bunt.

Although he did not take the hill at all last year, Hawthorne is still an option as a left-handed pitcher for LMU in 2010. "Hawthorne came into the program as a two-way guy last year, but he did not do any pitching last year," Gill said. "He wants to pitch, and we feel that he would be very effective as a left-handed specialist. Although he will not immediately be asked to pitch, I feel that he has a future on the mound, and his pitching could be developed later on this season."

The other corner outfield spot is also up for grabs, as junior transfer Jason Barmasse and freshman Matt Lowenstein are competing for time in right field. Barmasse played in 42 games as a sophomore for coach Joe Arnold at LA Pierce College. The native of Westlake, Calif. garnered All-Conference recognition in his sophomore year after batting .290 with 43 runs scored, eight doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 35 RBI. He also drew 24 walks and swiped 11 bases.

Lowenstein is a 2009 graduate of Chino Hills High School in Chino Hills, Calif. There, he earned two varsity letters for coach Kyle Billingsley, and served as team captain in his senior season. The left-handed hitter garnered All-League recognition as a junior and senior and was named All-CIF in his final season. A member of the 2009 Senior Inland Valley All-Star game, he batted .449 with six home runs, 27 RBI, 33 runs scored, four triples, 11 doubles and seven stolen bases as a senior.

"Lowenstein will be a superstar here at LMU in the near future," Gill said. "With that being said, Barmasse is having a great spring and will likely win the job to start in right field based on experience at the collegiate level. Matt will find his way into the starting lineup throughout the year, whether it is somewhere in the outfield or at the designated hitter position. Lowenstein is a big guy who can run and hit. We expect him to be a very good player here, and we foresee him being an everyday player sooner rather than later."

Transfer and redshirt-sophomore Nick Devian has a chance to play in a number of spots in the outfield this year. Devian transferred into the Lion program after spending two seasons, including a redshirt year in 2009, at LA Pierce College as a teammate of Barmasse. As a freshman, Devian was a starter in right field for coach Joe Arnold, hitting .375 with two home runs and 35 RBI.

"Nick is a mentality and an attitude person that can be moved around to all three outfield positions," Gill said. "He will have opportunities to play, and it is our hope that he excels when we put him in the lineup."

According to Gill, just like last year, the Lions are "going to take the approach of come to the field ready to battle, play the game hard, and leave it all on the field. As is always our approach, we want to play each game inning-by-inning, pitch-by-pitch and at the end of the day, we'll look at the scoreboard and see what it tells us. Our pitching should be deeper than it was a year ago, and our hope is the guys who got experience last year on the hill take that experience and continue to grow. Our offense will be different than last year in that we tried to roll it over and get to the experienced hitters in the middle of our lineup a year ago. This year we are not forced to rely on one or two guys in particular, and instead our team should function like nine pistons in an engine. Every player in the lineup will pull his own weight and do his part, including bunting, executing the hit-and-run, and surprising with the slash. The great thing about this team is nearly every player has the ability and skills to do each one of those tasks pretty well, so we should force the opposition to play catch this year."

- GO LIONS -