2010 Spring Training Shows Defense Strong

COCOA BEACH, FL – The Franciscan University of Steubenville Barons baseball team spent the university’s spring break in Florida for a seven-game spring training at the Cocoa Expo Center.  The season is looking bright for the Barons, going 3-4 over the four days of doubleheaders, taking two victories over Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponent, Hilbert College, and one over Norwich University.

“Overall, this was the best Florida trip we've ever had, in every aspect,” Coach Marrow said of the week as a whole.  “It was the best defensive ball I've ever seen Franciscan play.  Everything improved in our game this week.  Our pitchers hit their sports and changed speeds well all week.  We significantly reduced our number of errors, having only four through our first six games.  We turned several double plays and had a lot of ground ball outs – even picking off three base runners.  We just played excellent defense all week long.”

In the first game of the tournament, the Barons fell to the New Paltz Hawks, 7-1.  Chris Kotur led the Barons with one hit and an RBI while Dustin Pagano scored a run.  Later that day the Barons took on Hilbert College, scoring seven runs in the second inning en route to a 10-3 rout.  Rocco Auteri led the Barons with four hits, three RBIs, and one run, while Kotur had two hits, one RBI, and two runs, and Jacob Machado contributed three hits, three RBIs, and one run. 

 “Our base running was aggressive, putting pressure on Hilbert’s defense all day,” Barons head coach Robert Marrow said of the win.  “We got ahead early and stayed ahead.  It was a great win for us.”

On the second day of competition, the Barons split against Norwich, winning the first game 8-1, but losing 5-1 in the second game.  Auteri stepped up big for the Barons, this time registering two hits, two RBIs, and two runs.  Senior catcher Matt Liedel also added to the victory, accumulating two hits, three RBIs, and one run.

“We played well defensively against Norwich,” Robert Marrow noted.  “Tommy Costello, Kevin Marrow, Rocco Auteri, and Ryan Marrow really stood out on the defensive side of that win.”

The Barons split again on the third day of spring training against Hilbert. The first game was a difficult 6-5 loss.  Auteri had another solid performance with two hits and two runs, and Machado contributed two hits, two RBIs, and one run.  Later that day, the Barons rallied back to take a 6-2 victory over Hilbert.  Auteri had two hits and two runs, Machado contributed two hits, two RBIs, and one run, and Anthony Pontarelli had two hits and an RBI.  Costello and Matthew Pomeisl each had a hit and a run scored in the win.

The final spring training game for the Barons was a 17-2 loss to Doane College.

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