Feb. 19, 2009

DURHAM, N.C.- The North Carolina Central University baseball team begins its second season of Division I competition, starting this weekend down in Savannah, Ga. taking part in the 2009 Savannah State Classic.

The field for this round-robin tournament includes host Savannah State University and former CIAA rival Norfolk State University. Opening weekend starts with a Friday afternoon matinee against the Tigers of Savannah State with first pitch set for 2:00.

Taking the hill for the Eagles in the season's first game will be sophomore Brandon Oatis, who will look to establish himself as the team's ace. In Oatis's rookie season he finished tied with a team-high two wins, and struck out 23 batters in 36 innings pitched. Third year Head Coach Dr. Henry White didn't hesitate when asked who his opening day starter would be, "We're really looking for Brandon to be a leader out there on the mound for us this season." Another player that White is looking to be a menace on the mound this year is sophomore Douglas Dalley. He'll get the start in the first game of day two in the Classic against the Spartans of Norfolk State at 11:00 a.m.

The third and final game of the weekend will see another sophomore that is slated to take the hill when Jeff Citero makes his 2009 debut on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 against Savannah State. After going 6-30 in their first season against Division I competition, expectations for this weekend's tournament remain optimistic according to White. "I know the young men are excited for this weekend, considering we didn't do that well against both teams last season," He said. "Either way this will be a great opportunity for us to work on some things."

NCCU went a combined 0-7 against both Norfolk State and Savannah State last season, committing 10 errors in those seven contests.

Heading into the weekend affair in Savannah, White feels pretty good about the way his team has prepared. "The last two practices, I've been really happy how we've hit the ball and how crisp we've looked in the infield," He said. "Our focus has been really good heading into this weekend."

2009 NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY BASEBALL PREVIEW

Challenging Schedule Highlights Year Number 2 on the Diamond

In NCCU's first season back to baseball after dropping the sport in 1975, the Eagles brought along the championship accolades. The Inaugural Eagle squad ran through the CIAA going 15-5, taking the 2007 CIAA regular season title, finishing the season at 21-24. It was that performance by the Eagles that garnered 2007 CIAA Coach of the Year honors to Henry White, and built more enthusiasm for a program on the move up to the elite level of college athletics. The second season was the team's first in Division I and the 36-game slate was loaded with 20 games against Division I opponents, while the other 16 were against teams from the Division II level. This first Division I schedule proved to be an education in itself as NCCU ended up going 6-30 in their rookie Division I season. Head Coach Henry White stated, "The kids didn't realize what it takes to play at the Division I level. They now understand that you have to hit the field ready to play. I put the schedule together knowing we were still young, and it didn't quite work out like I expected, but the kids learned what it takes to play at this level. "

The 2009 schedule is chock full of Division I games with 45 of the 48 from the NCAA's top level. The only two Division II schools on the 2009 slate, St. Augustine's and Virginia State. NCCU will play 20 home games inside the magnificent Durham Bulls Athletic Park, and will be on the road for 28 contests in 2009, including a season-long 15-game road trip that encompasses the entire month of April.

The Eagles return 15 letterwinners to the 2009 squad and have a number of pitchers with four returning on this season's the roster. As a team, the Eagles infield turned 14 double-plays and ended the year with a .914 fielding percentage.

Headlining the returners is centerfielder Oliver "O.J." Jenkins, whose athletic prowess made him ever so dangerous on the base paths. The senior from Rocky Mount, N.C. batted .257 last season, while scoring 20 runs, racking up seven RBIs, and leading the team with six doubles. Jenkins also boasted a slugging percentage of .356 and stole eight bases on the season. Unfortunately for Jenkins, a kidney injury late in the season put a quick halt to a productive year. "I'm looking forward to seeing O.J. get back on the field and resume his leadership role after his injury last season," White said. "He's very enthusiastic about the game, loves the game. He's a hard-worker."

Another senior looking to improve his workman-like numbers of last season, Robert Landis, led the squad with 14 RBIs and batted .255 while playing nearly every position in the field. Landis, who hails from Winston-Salem, N.C., finished the 2008 season with 45 assists to his credit. Landis also served the role as backup catcher last season, and will move over as the starter in the backstop. "Robert can help us in so many ways," said White. "He has a great attitude, and he knows the game. He's always thinking ahead. We can use him anywhere."

Last season's starter behind the plate, sophomore Blake Murray, returns after starting 21 games. The Wendell, N.C. native posted solid numbers with a .958 fielding percentage and just three passed balls, while also batting .245 and driving in seven runs. Murray moves over to first base in 2009. "After we moved Blake to first base, he solidified the infield the last three weeks of the season," White said. "I'm looking forward to seeing what Blake can do at first base this season, especially if he can come back from the elbow surgery and put the bat on the ball."

Another infielder, David "D.J." Scott, begins his second year on the squad looking to build upon his nine-RBI rookie season. The sophomore from Bunn, N.C. also finished his first season with a.910 fielding percentage, with only six errors. "D.J. is a tremendous athlete with quick feet, quick hands, great attitude, works hard, along with being a great student," White said. "He's one of our keys this year. If he can handle that third slot in the order, we're going to really do some things as a team this year."

Two other infielders that bring a wealth of experience to the Eagles this season, Kurt Wilson and Justin Goodson, return to the fold for their junior seasons looking to add to their combined 11 RBIs and 21 runs scored. Wilson finished tied for third on the team with two doubles, and Goodson had an on-base percentage of .297. Wilson, a Riverdale, Ga. product, sported a .952 fielding percentage along with 23 assists and just three errors around the horn. White had nothing but good things to say about Goodson and Wilson. "Justin is probably one of the most talented players that we have. He has it all, the speed, the quickness, and one of the strongest arms on the team," said White. "As for Wilson, he has a great arm and great attitude. We're moving him to third this year because of his athleticism."

PITCHING STAFF

Entering his third season at the helm of NCCU's revitalized baseball program, White brings back four pitchers who proved they belonged at the Division I level and let it be known their importance last season. "The pitching staff was the backbone of this team, even if their record doesn't show it," said White.

Among the leaders toeing the rubber for the Eagles, local product Douglas Dalley returns after finishing his freshman season tied with a team high in wins (2), and leading the team with 37 strikeouts. Dalley worked 37 2/3 innings in eight starts, while appearing in four other games. "Doug could set records here at NCCU," White said. "We clocked his fastball at 91-92 mph. As he continues to grow as a pitcher he will become more and more dangerous on the mound."

Finishing second in the strikeout category, James Jordan left 36 batters out to dry in 18 appearances, mostly in relief work. Jordan, who hails from Bryson City, N.C., walked a mere 23 batters in 43 2/3 innings. "What can I say about James? We can put him in for long-relief and short relief, it doesn't matter," said White. "He wants the ball in key situations. Has a lot of movement on his pitches. No one works as hard as he does."

Leading the team in overall innings pitched and returning for his second season, Jeff Citero worked 57 1/3 innings for the Eagles, striking out 24 batters in the process. The sophomore from Raleigh, N.C. made nine starts for White's squad, and only issued 31 walks. "Jeff is tenacious," White said. "We couldn't have asked for anything more from him last season. It's too bad his record didn't show it. Jeff went out there and battled hard."

The ace from the left side, Brandon Oatis, also returns to toe the rubber for the Eagles. The sophomore from Matthews, N.C. threw 36 innings a year ago, and finished up with two wins to tie for the team lead. "Another player on our team that wants the ball in all key situations," said White. "He thinks the game, and constantly works on his game. His work ethic is tremendous." Overall, NCCU will look to continue to add to the building blocks of a Division I baseball program. As for now, the pieces are in place for a very competitive season. "The number one challenge will be how well our pitchers do, and number two will be our defense," White said. "I don't think we came to play defensively as well as we could have last season. One philosophy we're going to carry with us this year is we're the underdog, and we have to be aggressive at all times. "We had a great fall season," he added. "The guys have really worked hard and if we hit the ball and some things fall into place, we could really surprise some people."

THE SCHEDULE

The Eagles head into a very challenging 2009 schedule with a year of Division I play under their belts. NCCU will host 22 home games at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP), while White's squad will hit the road for 28 affairs, 15 of those come in a month-long road swing from April 3-May 3. The schedule has its daunting tasks to say the least as the Eagles battle three teams that competed in last season's NCAA Tournament (UNC-Wilmington, Elon, and N.C. State). Of those three teams that were tourney bound, the average 2008 record was 43 wins and 19 losses.

Two teams from the ACC don the Eagles schedule, beginning with their cross-town foe Duke in a home-and-home series (March 31 & April 7). The Blue Devils are coming off one of their most successful seasons in the school's history, finishing 2008 with a 37-18-1 record, yet failing to qualify for the ACC Tournament. The second Atlantic Coast Conference team that marks NCCU's schedule, NC State, is also a home-and-home series. NCCU will host the Wolfpack on March 17 at the DBAP, marking the first time these two teams who are separated by approximately 31 miles will meet on the diamond. The return game at Doak Field will take place on May 3. NC State finished last season 42-22, 18-11 in the ACC, and came within one game of punching their ticket to the College World Series in Omaha, falling in game three of the Super Regional to the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens.

UNC-Wilmington challenged one of the NCAA's top seeds, North Carolina, falling to a much deeper Tar Heel squad in the championship game of the Cary Regional. The Seahawks finished 2008 with a 44-17-1 record and strolled through the Colonial Athletic Association going 25-4-1 and taking the CAA's regular season crown by five games. NCCU will take on UNCW on March 18 in Durham, and April 28 in Wilmington. The third and final NCAA Tournament team from last season is Elon. NCCU will travel to Alamance County to take on the Phoenix on the middle of a season-long, 15-game road swing. The two-game set will take place on April 17 and 18 at Latham Park. Last season, Elon went 44-18 and came away with the 2008 regular season and tournament championships in the Southern Conference. The Phoenix were also voted No. 1 in the SoCon's preseason poll.

Along with the NCAA participants on the schedule, the Eagles will also take on six other teams that hail from the Old North State, putting the number of in-state opponents up to nine (Appalachian State, Davidson, St. Augustine's, Campbell, Duke, and North Carolina A&T). "I told Athletic Director Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree that we could play a 56-game schedule within a two-hour drive of the campus," White said. "Baseball in this area is outstanding. Playing N.C. State, Duke, Elon, and UNC-Wilmington, is great for our program, and we want to go out and show that we can compete. Our team has to understand that we have to go out and be competitors. I really set up this schedule towards our player's abilities, and now it's time for us to show it."

NCCU will also slide head first into competition against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, taking on six of the seven MEAC squads. All Eagle fans should have March 14 and 15 circled on their calendars. On those two days, rivals NCCU and North Carolina A&T will go toe-to-toe in doubleheader action in Greensboro on March 14, and then both teams will head to the DBAP for a single contest on the 15th. Last season, A&T finished just below .500 after going 29-30, including 11-6 in MEAC play.

Florida A&M is coming of a near .500 season also going 20-22, and finishing 11-7 in conference action. NCCU will travel to Tallahassee on April 3-4, while the Rattlers return to the Bull City 20 days later for a two-game set April 23. Of the MEAC opponents NCCU will face, Norfolk State is the only one that finished with a winning record last season. The Spartans finished 25-24 overall, but could only muster a 7-10 record in conference action. The Eagles will host the Spartans for doubleheader action on March 4, and then travel up to the Tidewater area on April 15.

Coppin State will be looking to rebound from its 4-52 season, the CSU Eagles will travel to Durham on March 10, then NCCU will travel up north for a single contest on April 13.

The Eagles will travel to Dover, Del. for a doubleheader against the MEAC's Delaware State University on April 14.

The Eagles will end the season with University of Maryland Eastern Shore with a three-game set from May 8 to a season-finale doubleheader on Senior Day on May 9 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

All in all, year number two should be a major stepping stone towards White's dream... to become the first HBCU to make it to the College World Series. And with his vision and resume of success it's only a matter of time before his dream becomes reality.