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ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The St. Bonaventure baseball team opens its 2015 season this Friday, Feb. 27, when they go up against Maine in a four-game series at the Russ Matt Invitational in Winter Haven, Fla.
After a disappointing 12-30 record in 2014, the Bonnies return a much more veteran squad to field in 2015 as they welcome back five positional starters and three starting pitchers. St. Bonaventure will be looking to turn heads this season as it was voted to finish last in the Atlantic 10 conference.
In the field, St. Bonaventure returns five key members to its line-up, including its entire starting outfield. Tyler Bell, Bret Heath and Jonathan Diaz, who are three that make up the Bona outfield, combined for 97 hits and 46 RBIs. Of those 97 hits for the three, 24 of them were doubles, while seven were triples and three were homeruns. In the infield returns Thad Johnson, who saw time primarily at shortstop last season, but will transition over to third base this season. Last season, Johnson notched a .290 batting average with 49 hits and 20 RBIs. Catcher Dylan Dunn returns behind the plate for St. Bonaventure. Dunn had 45 hits, four home runs and 27 RBIs in last season for SBU.
On the mound the Bonnies bring back three starting pitchers and their closer. Connor Grey and Drew Teller return to the rubber as they return 130 innings pitched and 79 strikeouts between the two. Both Teller and Grey had two wins last season, which leads returners. Also coming back is Steven Klimek, who went 1-4 last season in nine appearances and four starts. St. Bonaventure found itself a closer last season, as Thad Johnson would come in from shortstop to close the game out. Johnson had team-high four saves last season.
St. Bonaventure also welcomes 19 newcomers to the roster, including 15 freshmen.
At the helm for the Bonnies is head coach Larry Sudbrook. Sudbrook enters his 30th year as the skipper for the Brown and White. Sudbrook holds a 624-647-7 record with St. Bonaventure. Sudbrook is assisted by B.J. Salerno '09 and Eddie Gray '13, both who are former players of Sudbrook.
Maine, who has seven games under its belt already, is 1-6 on the season. The Black Bears' lone victory came in the final game of a four-game set against Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Maine is led by senior infielder Scott Heath, as he had a .361 batting average with 56 hits and four homeruns last season. Heath also went 3-3 on the mound in 11 appearances.
After their meeting with Maine the Bonnies will return to Florida to for the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla. from March 7-10. St. Bonaventure will face off against Villanova for one game and then meet Lehigh for a three-game series.
