Coming off the programUs first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, Amherst College Baseball hopes to continue its success into the 1997 season with a returning core of 17 letterwinners. The Jeffs compiled a 20-11 record in 1996 that featured Head Coach Bill ThurstonUs 500th career win on a 9-0 rout of Little III foe Wesleyan.
The Jeffs return 9 seasoned pitchers for depth and strength from the mound. Senior right hander Brock Safronoff led last year's team with a 4-2 record and 1.87 ERA. He will be backed up by junior Mike Spirito (2.30 ERA) and Co-Captain Ian Downes (4.30 ERA, 30 SO) in relief. Sophomores Graham Callaghan (3.29 ERA) and Mike Sweeney (3.90 ERA) will also be in the starting lineup, throwing to catchers Dan Blednick, Greg Berchelmann and Whit Griffinger.
With the losses of Keith Poopor and Adam Rankin to graduation, adjustments in the infield will be necessary to fill their roles. Co-Captain Mike Brendler (.274 avg, .879 fielding %) moves to shortstop as an experienced utility infielder, while rookie Hugh Quattlebaum looks to begin his career as a collegiate third-baseman. Geoff Spies (.362 avg) and Mike Grant (.298 avg) return at first and second base, respectively, with the infield's best fielding percentages (1.000 and .969). The outfield returns two of its three starters in juniors Josh Carroll (LF, 0.397 avg, 26 RBI) and Mike Sullivan (RF, .329) as it regains senior Dan Jin from injury.
As a team, the Jeffs hit .334 in 1996 with a .959 fielding percentage and 43 stolen bases on 54 attempts. Though without a power-hitter, the Jeffs's lineup has the depth and skill both offensively and defensively to matchup with any opponent.