RALEIGH, North Carolina -- Saint Augustine's University begins the 2013 baseball season this weekend when they travel to Atlanta, Ga., to visit Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University.
The Falcons open against Morehouse at Perkerson Park in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. The first game starts at noon. The next day, the Falcons face Clark Atlanta at Bill Evans Field in a twinbill beginning at noon.
Head Coach
Charles Whitaker is anxious for the season to get underway. He has a mix of skilled veterans and newcomers on the roster.
“I am definitely excited,” Whitaker said. “We have a talented freshman class and I am excited to see what the freshmen are capable of doing. I am anticipating great things from our senior group.”
The nine seniors on the roster are pitcher
Clarence Ganus (Whiteville, N.C.), pitcher
John Hailey (Rockingham, N.C.), first baseman
Pat Hall (Virginia Beach, Va.), pitcher
Stephen Hamilton (Chicago, Ill.), first baseman
Darien Hardaway (Atlanta, Ga.), infielder
Ariel Polanco (Harlem, N.Y.), infielder
Chris Rogers (Chicago, Ill.), outfielder
Daveed Todd (Chicago, Ill.) and infielder/designated hitter
Jeremy Wilkins (Smithfield, N.C.). In addition to the new players, Whitaker added
Tom Stewart as assistant coach. Stewart joined the coaching staff in October 2012.
“With the addition of our new pitching coach
Tom Stewart, we should see some improvement with our pitching staff,” Whitaker said.
Last year, the Falcons reached the CIAA Tournament after finishing fourth in the regular season. They have advanced to the championship round four of the past five seasons.
“We had a great offseason in the fall with practice and weightlifting,” Whitaker said. “When we returned in January, the players followed up with more hard work in practice. Everybody is ready to start.”
COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Sept. 7 *Alabama State, Jackson, MS 6 pm (W.C. Gorden Classic)
Sept. 14 Tennessee State, Memphis, TN 6 pm (Southern Heritage Classic)
Sept. 21 Texas Southern, Jackson, MS 6 pm
Sept. 28 @Southern U., Baton Rouge, LA 6 pm
Oct. 5 Arkansas Pine Bluff, Jackson, MS 6 pm
Oct. 12 Mississippi Valley State, Itta Bena, MS 2 pm
Oct. 19 Grambling State, Jackson, MS 2 pm (Homecoming)
Oct. 26 Prairie View A&M, Prairie View, TX 4 pm
Nov. 2 IDLE
Nov. 9 Alabama A&M, Huntsville, AL 1 pm
Nov. 16 Alcorn State, Jackson, MS 2 pm “Senior Day”
Dec. 7 SWAC Championship Game Birmingham, AL 1 pm
Head Coach: Mr. Rick Comegy
Director of Athletics: Dr. Vivian L. Fuller
President: Dr. Carolyn W. Meyers