RICHMOND, Ky. -- Coach Jim Ward's Eastern Kentucky University baseball team gets its 1998 season underway this week with four games in the states of North Carolina and South Carolina.
EKU, who finished 20-36 last season overall, opens Thursday with a 3:00 p.m. game at UNC-Asheville and plays another nine-inning 3:00 p.m. single game Friday at Wofford. Eastern takes Saturday off before playing a noon twin-bill at Furman Sunday.
Ward and his staff have been pleased with what they have seen thus far from the young Colonels' work habits.
"The coaching staff has been pleased with the pre-season preparations by this team, " said Ward who is beginning his 30th season as a Division I head coach and his 19th year at EKU. "With 19 lettermen and seven position starters returning, there has been a very mature approach to the season.
"The players are eager to play and compete, and the coaches are interested in evaluating performances and making necessary adjustments prior to the OVC season, " he added.
Leading the returnees for Eastern will be second-team all-conference shortstop Jason Sharp and honorable mention All-OVC pitcher Joe Witten. Sharp batted .322 with five home runs and 28 RBI's, while Witten, the all-time Colonel save leader with 27 in his first three seasons, led the squad last season in E.R.A. with his 2.32 mark and saves with seven.
Other key returnees for Eastern include EKU's leading hitter last season, senior centerfielder Jeff Wellman, who hit .331 last season, and sophomore second baseman Adam Basil who hit .314 with six home runs and 35 RBI's.
Also back is junior catcher Joe Smith (.223, three HR's, 19 RBI's); junior first baseman Ashley Hause (.196, 1 HR, 7 RBI's); junior third baseman J.D. Bussell (.273, 2 HR's, 19 RBI's); sophomore infielder Lee Chapman (.280, 4 HR's, 25 RBI's); sophomore outfielder Tom White (.276, 22 RBI's); sophomore catcher Matt Mason (.257, 1 HR, 11 RBI's); and sophomore outfielder Brad Sizemore (.250, 1 HR, 10 RBI's).
Junior righthander Eric Bess (3-5, 4.86 ERA) will lead a Colonel rotation in the early season that will include three sophomore lefthanders -- Keith Jones (2-6, 6.79 ERA), Corey Eagle (1-0, 9.00 ERA) and transfer Shane Billau.
Sophomore righthander Shawn Thacker, who underwent shoulder surgery after injuring his pitching arm last season, is progressing nicely, but is not expected back until mid-March. He was 1-2 with a 5.79 ERA and one of the Colonels' top strikeout pitchers of 1997 before being injured as he had struck out 27 in 28 innings of work last season.
Eastern opens its 1998 home season Feb. 28 with a noon twinbill against Bowling Green.