Marlins Open 2015 Season Under Heightened Expectations

May 26, 2015 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Morehead City Marlins News Release


MOREHEAD CITY--The Marlins want to start fast, and keep winning their way into a position of long-term success this upcoming season.

Led by new head coach Jason Wood, who transformed the Gastonia Grizzlies into playoff contenders over the past two seasons, the Marlins enter the summer expecting to immediately compete for the Petite Cup. In order to achieve that level of success, this squad wants to avoid last year's horrendous start, which was 1-17 to be exact.

That transformation will begin with the winning mentality from coach Wood, who helped the Grizzlies set seven individual single season records as well as four team single season records en route to a tough three-game series loss in the West Division Championship. 

Entering their sixth season as a program, the Marlins welcome a team featuring players from numerous NCAA conference champions, one squad preparing for the NAIA National Championships and perennial powers in both Division-II and Division-III Baseball.

As for the players already in Morehead City, the Marlins are hoping for a massive spike in power. Led by 6-foot-3 power hitter Logan Sherer, who mashed six home runs for Charlotte this past season, right-handed bat Keyshawn D'Orso (Norfolk State) and catcher Dominick Cammarata (Tennessee), the Marlins have three legitimate offensive threats in the lineup.

On the mound, the Marlins welcome talented young arms, including players that enter the season fresh after pitching limited innings over the Spring. In the starting rotation, expect one returning Marlins pitcher, Kurt Lipscomb (4-1, 2.41 ERA), emerge as one of the top starters in the rotation. Along with a savvy veteran in Andrew Burnick, the Matthews, N.C native, who pitched for Penn.

While the Marlins posted a 4.67 team ERA last season, the addition of pitching coach Danny Higginbotham (Arkansas Tech) along with added depth across the board could lead to more success on the rubber. The Marlins also welcome former Drury University standout Courtney Spitz as their newest hitting coach.

Coach Wood and his staff also speaks very highly of Hayden Jones (Oklahoma), local Eastern Carolina arm Evan Voliva and RHP Brent Stoneking as arms that can provide more consistency to the staff. Combine that with a stellar closer in Tyler Gunnin (West Georgia), who recorded a single-season school record 11 saves, coach Wood believes that his bullpen will be one of this teams greatest strengths throughout the summer. The Marlins will also rely upon the lefty-righty duo of LHP Zach Reid (Tennessee) and RHP Harper Grier (Lander College) to bridge the gap between starter and closer.

The Marlins also welcome back a familiar face in 2014 All-Star Kyle Carroll, who will sit out the first two weeks since the Missouri State Bears qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Another name to watch in the middle infield will be Kodie Tidwell (ULM), who hit .311 while playing in every game this season as the starting shortstop.

On Wednesday night, the Marlins will host the Forest City Owls in the midst of a tough stretch to start the season featuring 8 of their first 10 games on the road.  The Marlins are led by owner, Buddy Bengel, and new general manager Catherine Roth as they will once again be playing all 28 of their home games on Puck O'Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium here in Morehead City.



Coastal Plain League Stories from May 26, 2015


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