UML young, but talented enough to be a contender

By Chaz Scoggins, Sun Staff



The UMass Lowell baseball team, long a Northeast-10 power, is going through a rebuilding phase that will continue into next year, when coach Ken Harring says he will be bringing in the best group of recruits he's ever had.

"And there's not a team in the league that feels sorry for us," Harring said.

They shouldn't, because Harring thinks these River Hawks (3-12) just might be near the top of the standings when the season's over.

"I think we're a Northeast-10 Tournament team, definitely," Harring said after the River Hawks returned from their annual Florida trip with a 3-11 record. "NCAA? Who knows? This is the youngest team I've had since leaving St. Anselm.

"But our season really begins with the 30 conference games, and we can still turn things around and do what we think we're capable of doing."

It won't be easy, however.

"We graduated 12 seniors, so we're throwing a lot of young guys into the fire," Harring said. "And with young kids, when things go well they're fine. But when things don't, they really struggle.

"We really only have two guys, our center fielder and our catcher, playing the same positions they played last year. And we have guys batting in the middle of the order who have never hit there before."

The River Hawks are also rebuilding their pitching rotation. James Barry is the only senior starter, and Jeff Maloney is the lone junior. Dan White and Ted Haley are sophomores, and Kyle Davis is a freshman.

"Davis has great stuff, a nasty slider," Harring said. "He just has to command it.

"All our pitchers do. You can't defense a walk."

The River Hawks also lost last year's regular third baseman, Brendan Fullerton, for the year with a stress fracture in his foot. Senior second baseman Anthony Santos, a Chelmsford native, is currently sidelined indefinitely with a staph infection.

Harring has some promising new hitters, notably infielder Sean Burns.

"He has a good approach at the plate and a high baseball IQ," Harring said.

But Harring has found it necessary to put senior center fielder Tim Manton, a leadoff hitter in his first three seasons with the River Hawks, in the number three slot in the batting order.

"He's a catalyst, and we think he'll create the dynamic we need in the middle of the order," Harring said.

Manton only needs to be careful about not changing his approach to hitting, now that he'll be expected to drive in runs.

"The main thing is to not try to be a home run hitter, just keep playing the game the same way and make contact," said Manton, who came out of the Florida trip hitting .423 with 10 RBI in 14 games.

"Batting leadoff, you want to take a few more pitches and walk as much as you can," he said. "In the three-hole, I have to look for that one pitch I want to hit. But don't change my swing.

"I'll have to take walks if I get them and trust the rest of the lineup to drive in runs. That's what they're there for."

"We don't want him to change his approach at all. Just keep doing what he's always done," Harring said.

Taylor von Kriegenbergh came out of Florida hitting a modest .229. But nine of his 11 hits had been for extra bases, including three homers, and he boasted a .563 slugging percentage and was tied for second on the team with 10 RBI.

"This is where we've been the last few years coming out of Florida," Harring acknowledged. "But we played well in a series against West Chester, the number six team in the country, so that's a good sign.

"The talent is here. It's just a matter of putting it all together."