2007 Baseball Preview

2006 SEC Champs Look For Omaha Trip In '07

TUSCALOOSA, AL| Coming off a SEC regular season championship, winning over 40 games, and hosting a NCAA Super Regional, the 2007 Alabama Baseball team wants to repeat some of the same success as last season, but it also has a loftier goal, a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

The 2007 Crimson Tide, ranked 24th in the rivals.com preseason poll, looks to return to Omaha for the first time since 1999 with a mixture of old and new faces. The Tide is led by Coach Jim Wells, Alabama's all time wins leader, preseason All-American Emeel Salem and 2006 Freshman All-American Tommy Hunter.

Alabama is picked to finish third in the SEC Western Division by the coaches and media and when asked if this team could repeat as SEC Champs, Coach Wells said, "I don't know, but I didn't know last year's team was going to do it. Someone will need to continue to improve. But we had some surprises last year and maybe we will have one or two this year."

Here is a breakdown by positions:

Outfield:

While a lot has changed in four years for Alabama's athletic department, one thing has remained the same. Emeel Salem in center field. Salem hit .356 last year with 67 runs scored and an SEC best 36 stolen bases. Joining Salem in the outfield will be senior Brandon Belcher, when he is not on the mound, and sophomore Kent Mathes. Belcher provides another quality bat in the lineup for the Tide and will also be a weekend pitching starter. While Mathes played a limited role in 2006, he is a very fast, athletic player who has the potential to be a very good offensive player. Sophomore Tyler Odle will be the fourth outfielder and play when Belcher is pitching.

Infield

Matt Bentley will get the first shot at replacing Spencer Pennington at first base and is a big, powerful lefty that could provide power in the middle of the lineup. Jeff Texada will start at second base, along with much improved senior Greg Paiml at SS, and freshman Jake Smith at third base. Alex Avila had a great year offensively as a freshman in 2006 and is slated as the designated hitter going into this season. He could also be playing first or third base depending on the offensive production of Bentley and Smtih.

Pitching/Catching

The Tide is led on the hill by sophomore ace pitcher Tommy Hunter. Hunter who pitched for Team USA this past summer will get the ball on Friday nights. After him the weekend rotation will be Brandon Belcher and either Kasey Kebodeaux or Miers Quigley. Alabama must replace 2006 ace Wade LeBlanc and closer David Robertson, who both signed professional contracts after last season. Last year's Saturday starter, Bernard Robert, has been battling arm fatigue will miss the first few weeks of the season but is on schedule to be in the rotation before SEC play begins.

Will Stroup, a transfer from Birmingham Southern, will try to replace Robertson as the Tide closer with Josh Copeland, Austin Hyatt, and others rounding out the bullpen.

Behind the plate the Tide must replace 2006 All-American performer Kody Valverde. Ryan Rhoden, who had a good year offensively in '06, but struggled in right field, will start at catcher.
The catching position is one that was a struggle for Coach Wells in the fall as junior college transfer Vin DiFazio and Jared Avchen were out with injuries. DiFazio is taking a medical red shirt, but Wells noted that Avchen has looked very good in the spring coming off a broken hand and will see some time behind the plate with Rhoden.


Overall

While this team is predicted to finish in the middle of the SEC West, it would not be a big surprise to have a great season. With a solid nucleus returning and talented young players in place this Tide team has the potential to repeat as SEC champions.

As usual in college baseball, the team's success will be measured by its pitching staff and the team should go as the starting rotation does. If the weekend starters perform at a high level this could be the year the Tide returns to Omaha.

Alabama opens the season tomorrow night at 6:30 CT with a 3 game weekend series against Georgia State. The final two games of the series will be played Saturday at 4 pm CT, and Sunday at 2:30 pm CT.