January 29, 2006

LAURINBURG, NC—First year Head Coach Chris Chaffinch will guide a St. Andrews baseball program that went 10-games over .500 last year (32-22). Chaffinch will coach 18 letter winners and 13 newcomers that look to build on last year’s success.

Chaffinch takes over at the helm after spending the past three seasons as an assistant coach under former head coach Bobby Simmons. St. Andrews had a winning 81-77 (.513) record under Simmons and Chaffinch from 2003-2005. The Knights increased their win total in each of those years and won their most games (32) last year since ’97.

“It is really easy for me to make the transition and take over this year as most of the guys I will coach were here when I was an assistant,” said Chaffinch.

The Knights, who are picked seventh in the 2006 Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference (CVAC) Preseason Coaches Poll, have higher expectations on the season. St. Andrews entered the past two CVAC Baseball Tournaments as the No. 4 (2005) and No. 5 (2004) seed and made nice runs in each tourney (finishing third both times).

“It should be a good year. We have high hopes on the season and the players are on the same page as the coaching staff,” explained Chaffinch. “We have a hunger inside to win and put St. Andrews on the map baseball wise.”

The Knights diamond nine will use its strength of having a very deep returning core of players that experienced a turnaround year last season. The leadership from the upperclassmen that have a winning season under their belts will only help.

Chaffinch is concerned about replacing All-Conference caliber players at shortstop (Everett Kelly) and centerfield (Marc Hammonds). A combination of replacing Kelly and Hammonds defensively at those positions and how quickly the young Knights can mature offensively will be a key to how successful St. Andrews will be this year.

The SAPC pitching staff, under the direction of first year assistant coach Chris Tibbetts, returns everyone from last years rotation while adding several solid arms.

During CVAC weekends the Knights rotation will most likely feature the same combination as last year. Right-handed seniors Anthony Mehling (Pottsville, PA) and Brad Smith (Riegelwood, NC) will compliment junior leftie Ryan Curley (Emmaus, PA). The trio combined for 38 starts, 12 wins and 117 strikeouts last year.

Senior rightie Scott Adams (Vernon Hills, VA), who went 6-1 with three saves in ‘05, will be available for the full season (missed the first half last year). Rightie Ryan Kirkman (Liberty, NC) will see his first action on the mound after medically red shirting. Sophomore T.J. Chrusch (Fleetwood, PA), who led the Knights with 27 appearances, 3.95 ERA, seven wins and four saves, will once again anchor the bullpen. Transfer Mike Mianulli (Ellicott City, MD) and freshmen Arlin McDaniel and Jason Cargile (Greenville, NC) will all see action on the rubber.

Junior Cliff Allred (Franklinville, NC) brings back two years of experience for St. Andrews at catcher. Allred returns a team-high eight homeruns from ’05 and is expected to bring big things to the Knights after having his best fall this year. Sophomore Dustin Maitland (Dunn, NC) and freshman Chip Gordon (Hamlet, NC) will both be buying for playing time as the Knights back stoppers.

The St. Andrews infield will feature three seniors. Smith, a 2004 CVAC All-Tournament honoree, will see time at third when not pitching. Seniors Greg Wrape (Hamlet, NC) and Will Clark (Laurinburg, NC) will man first and second base, respectively. Wrape, last years team MVP, led the Knights with a .374 batting average and 47 RBI. Clark, who was an All-CVAC selection in 2004, has batted .369 over his first two years at SAPC.

Sophomore B.J. Horne (Hamlet, NC) returns one years’ worth of experience at third while newcomers Steven Reeves (Hamer, SC) and Taylor Maul (Ft. Collins, CO) will compete at first. A bunch of guys will see time up the middle including sophomore Jose Rodriguez (Orlando, FL), freshman Ivan Rodriguez (New York, NY) and freshman Matt Harkness (Walnut Cove, NC).

“We have a lot of depth in the infield and they will be pushing each other each day at practice, which will make us better,” expressed Chaffinch.

Mehling, a CVAC All-Tournament and CVAC Player of the Week in 2005, will led the Knights outfield as a senior. Mehling will maintain right field when not pitching. Junior Ritchie Priest (Elizabethtown, NC) is coming off his best fall and returnees’ Andrew Hoffner (Ellicott City, MD) and Adam Stemple (Holly Springs, GA) will see time as fly-chasers. Newcomers Cargile and Jordan Scott (Tarboro, NC) will also be buying for time.

“The theme to this year is our depth,” articulated Chaffinch. “…battling each other at practice will only make us a better team.”

St. Andrews will be tested throughout the season with a tough schedule. The Knights non-conference schedule features games against preseason nationally ranked USC Aiken (8th), Francis Marion (11th), Armstrong Atlantic (14th) and Catawba (24th). SAPC also plays other Peach Belt Conference schools UNC Pembroke, Lander, and Columbus State (who received 22 votes). Wingate, Chowan, St. Augustine’s, Bloomfield, Benedict, Methodist, and North Greenville round out the non-conference schedule. The Knights host CVAC rivals Mount Olive (four votes), Anderson, Erskine (preseason 30th), and Pfeiffer while visiting CVAC foes Limestone (18 votes), Belmont Abbey, Coker and Barton. The 2006 CVAC Tournament will be hosted by Barton in Wilson, NC.

“The CVAC will be competitive from top to bottom as always with Mount Olive and Limestone at the top,” uttered Chaffinch. “Our schedule will test our team and our abilities on the field.”

“I am looking forward to the season and am anxious to see what we can do,” concluded Chaffinch.

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