2008 Season Preview

The 2008 Trojans hope to tap into the experience last year's season provided to tackle a challenging schedule.  This year features another visit to the Bryan College Tournament in Dayton, Tennessee, another NCAA Division I opponent in Butler University and 18 games against 2007 Regional Tournament participants.  Taylor returns 20 players from last year's squad and welcomes six freshmen.

Pitchers

The Trojans will look to many faces to replace the loss of their two most used pitchers from last season.  Sophomore Ryan Boden started 13 games as a freshman, and sophomore Landon Good posted a team-high 47 strikeouts and a 3.90 ERA in his inaugural season.  Both will be looked to for starting duties along with freshman left-hander Chris Howell and freshman Taylor Kinzer.  Bullpen candidates include sophomore Caleb Stertzer and freshman left-hander Zach Vander Laan.  Senior Drew Severns is coming off a 2007 season plagued by injuries and hopes to return to his old form.  Sophomores Matt Kirkendale and Landon Anspach and freshman Josh Grahl might find their way into the Trojan rotation along with sophomore Michael Kraynak, who will be pulling double duty on the mound and in the infield.

Infielders

Kraynak started every game as a freshman at third base and will be part of an infield that returns three of its four starters and should be a strength of the 2008 squad.  Joining Kraynak is shortstop Travis Lee and junior second baseman and lead-off hitter Matt Maple, who also started every game in his first season with the Trojans.  Taylor's infield will also receive help from sophomores Bobby Fanelli (3B) and Wade Rychener (2B), who is coming off a freshman campaign in which he batted .286.  The Trojan infield must replace the program's all-time hits leader Ricky Pease at first base.  Senior Blake Rollins will fill the role after spending most of the 2007 season as a designated hitter.  Also filling in are sophomores Adam Kanzler and Corey Spickler, who will also see time as a DH.

Catchers

2007 First Team All-Conference selection Paul Passiales enters his junior season after leading the Trojan offense last season batting .388 and anchoring the defense by throwing out 40% of base-stealers.  Junior Braden Dissinger saw action in more than 30 games last season, including 11 starts, and will help the Trojans again this year behind the plate along with freshman Brody Rathman.

Outfielders

Senior Christian Burrell will compete in his third season as a starter.  Joining him in the outfield will be sophomore Nate Hillery, probably the most athletic of the trio, and junior Taylor Wilde, who is possibly the best defender in the Trojan outfield.  Freshman Taylor Kinzer is also expected to make an immediate impact, and junior Cassidy Emery will help the outfield as well as incur designated hitter responsibilities.  Freshman Ethan Houts will spend the beginning of the season rehabilitating an injury but will join the outfielders upon recovery.