Pitt baseball opens year vs. Duke

With the streets of Pittsburgh covered with slush and lawns full of snow, the thought of… With the streets of Pittsburgh covered with slush and lawns full of snow, the thought of baseball beginning anytime soon seems to be distant from anyone’s mind.

In Durham, N.C., however, temperatures are near 50 degrees and the grass is visible. The fields are ready for the seasons to change, as baseball once again begins to get under way.

The Pitt baseball team is currently in Durham, preparing to face Duke in a three-game series that will last the entire weekend.

Duke, who has already played four games this season, seems to have a bit of a head start on the Panthers. With a record of 2-2 thus far, the Blue Devil roster includes an experienced group of players consisting of four seniors and six juniors.

The Panthers, on the other hand, are just getting started. This will be their first opponent, as a very new team makes its debut on the diamond.

Pitt’s roster includes 13 newcomers. It lost several players from last season to graduation and the Major League Baseball draft.

Last year’s Panther squad finished fifth in the Big East, with a notable overall record of 36-16-1. The team included three players who have since signed with major league teams and individually broke various school records.

They will be without their offensive standout Brad Rea, who recently signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. They will also miss the help of first baseman Brant Colamarino, who was taken in the seventh round of the draft by the Oakland Athletics.

However, Pitt is optimistic that it can win without the players they lost.

“We’re going to be a different team offensively,” Pitt head coach Joe Jordano said. “But we have improved our speed and the overall quality of our lineup.”

The Panthers only have five returning position starters, but six of their top pitchers from last season are back for another year.

P.J. Hiser, a third team All Big East player last season, will return to the mound, along with Jimmy Blue and Don Rhoten. The three combined for 15 wins for the Panthers last year.

With such a mix of experience and newcomers in the lineup, it is questionable as to who will take on a leadership role as this season begins.

“There’s really not one [leader],” Jordano said. “They all need to [be leaders].”

Jordano expects this year’s squad to work well together as a team and plans to go beyond what last year’s team accomplished.

“Our goal is to win the Big East,” he said. “Plain and simple.”

It’s too early to tell where the Panthers stand right now in comparison to other teams as baseball is only beginning to get underway all around the NCAA.

This weekend, however, will be a test for Pitt’s new team, and will let other teams know if the Panthers are for real.

“I anticipate this to be a very competitive series,” Jordano said.

The series begins today at 3 p.m. at Jack Coombs Field in Durham, N.C.