Messer hopes 2005 baseball season means more than his 600th win

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

February 23, 2005 Last Updated: February 23, 2005 01:34 PM College

SLIPPERY ROCK - Early in the 2005 college baseball season, Slippery Rock University will reach a milestone.

Veteran coach Jeff Messer hopes it turns into a milestone year for The Rock later in the season.

SRU opens the season March 4 against Stonehill in Fort Myers, Fla., with Messer needing just two wins to reach 600 for his 20-year coaching career at The Rock.

Coming off a 30-21 season in which it fell short of the PSAC playoffs, The Rock enters 2005 ranked No. 24 nationally in Division II and No. 3 in the Northeast Region by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

"We weren't very happy about last year," Messer said. "We didn't produce in the clutch. We went through some scoring droughts. We just never put it together."

"We got our share of hits," infielder Chase Rowe, a Knoch graduate, said. "We just didn't get them when we needed them."

Rowe (.343, 6 HR, 35 RBI) will start at second base this season, moving over from third so Todd Schickling, a transfer from Allegany College in Maryland, can take over at third.

Last year's second baseman, Phil Butch (.302, 0 HR, 16 RBI, 10 SB), is replacing Nathan Statzer, who graduated, at shortstop.

Messer said first base "looks rather congested," but the leading candidate is Chris Tolliver, another junior college transfer from Maryland.

Brad Wilson, a sophomore catcher who hit .331 as a freshman, returns behind the plate and Matt Kozusko (.337, 6 HR, 35 RBI) returns in center field.

"Up the middle, we're looking very solid offensively and defensively," Messer said.

Billy Wolfe (.315, 3 HR, 23 RBI), last year's first baseman, will be a designated hitter.

Slippery Rock High graduate Matt Messer, the coach's son, will start in left field as a redshirt freshman. Dave Gonos (.259, 2 HR, 14 RBI) will start in right.

J.D. Lowry, a transfer from Ohio University, and Nick Phillips, a transfer from St. Bonaventure, are pushing for starting outfield spots.

"We have talent in the outfield but we lack playing experience," Messer said. "Lowry, Phillips and Messer are all freshmen who haven't played an inning of college baseball yet."

Matt Messer tied for the team lead in home runs during the fall.

"Matt will give us some more power in the lineup," Messer said. "He earned his position on this team and he's earned the respect of his teammates.

"They know he's not out there because he's the coach's kid."

The Rock returns plenty of experience to its starting rotation, and Rocky D'Angelo (5-1, 3.27 earned run average) anchors the six-man rotation.

Other starters include Colin Scott (3-2, 4.32), Derek Blyzwick (4-3, 4.53), Nick Armstrong (2-3, 9.08) and John Katich (5-3, 3.26). Troy Wilson, a transfer from Marshall University, has the inside track at the No. 6 spot.

Jeremy Becker, 2-0 with a 3.90 ERA a year ago, is rebounding from an arm injury. Messer hopes to have him ready by the home opener March 15.

"We're taking a wait-and-see approach with him," the coach said. "A lot will depend on his health."

A few local arms - Karns City graduate Travis Trimbur, Mars graduate Josh Rape, Slippery Rock graduates Scott Rice and Mike DeCola - will pitch out of the bullpen.

Rice had surgery in December for a torn rotator cuff and might be redshirted if he doesn't bounce back fully. Trimbur had off-season shoulder surgery.

"Trimbur's surgery was to his non-throwing arm," Messer said. "He can't swing a bat this year, but he can pitch. He has the inside track as our closer right now."

Adam Rose, a freshman infielder from Slippery Rock, is another Butler County product on SRU's roster.

SRU has won 14 PSAC West titles and been to the Division II World Series four times under Messer.

"Making the playoffs is always our primary goal because the other stuff can't happen without it," the coach said.

Shippensburg, ranked No. 8 nationally and No. 1 in the region, figures to be the favorite in the conference. PSAC East contender Kutztown is ranked No. 2 in the region.

"In the West, it should be Shippensburg, California (Pa.) and Slippery Rock battling for the top," Messer said. "They're taking six teams to the conference playoffs this year, so it should be quite a tournament.

"Hopefully, we'll be a part of it."