WVU Mountaineer Sports: Basketball | Football | News |Baseball: WVU Opens Fall Season

The West Virginia University baseball team opened its fall season yesterday, Sept. 8, at Hawley Field with a pro-style workout followed by an intrasquad game.

 "Our fall baseball season is an extremely important time for our team," coach Greg Van Zant says. "This is when our coaching staff can evaluate our players and teach the game. It is also a time for our players to win positions and improve their game."

 The Mountaineers are expected to play a total of 26 intrasquad games, culminating with the 22nd Annual Blue-Gold World Series at Hawley field in mid-October.

 WVU will also hold a Pro Scout Day at Hawley Field on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 4 p.m. All 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams and the MLB Scouting Bureau will be invited to watch the team workout.

 WVU's last practice of the fall season is tentatively set for Saturday, Oct. 22.

 The Mountaineers return 17 players return from their 2011 roster, including sophomores Josh Harlow, Ryan Tezak, Marshall Thompson and Corey Walter.

 Harlow, a right-hander from Shinnston, W.Va., logged 31.2 innings with a 4.55 earned-run average (ERA). Tezak, also a right hander, led all pitchers in 2011 with 16 appearances, finishing with a 3-2 record, a 3.81 ERA and four saves. Thompson started 11 games with a 5-4 record and a 4.88 ERA. The lefty also finished with 48 strikeouts and two complete games. Walter went 2-4 with a 4.75 ERA in four starts. The righty had one complete game and registered 29 strikeouts in 55 innings.

 Senior infielder Dan DiBartolomeo is the West Virginia's top retuning hitter after batting .338 last season in 41 games with 39 runs, 50 hits, five doubles, one triple, six homers and 28 RBIs. He also was hit by 12 pitches.

 Junior outfielder Brady Wilson will also be a top hitter returning with a .330 clip in 55 games in 2011. Wilson had 45 runs, 71 hits, eight doubles, one triple, two homers and 27 RBIs. He also finished with a team-high 12 stolen bases.

 Other returners include junior catcher Matt Malloy, junior outfielder Chris Rasky, sophomore first baseman Ryan McBroom and redshirt sophomore outfielder Matt Frazer.

 All fall practices are open to the public.