Review
2012 Season Recap Starts By Position Pitcher GS Corey Walter 14 Marshall Thompson 13 Dan Dierdorff 10 Zach Bargeron 6 Eric Hinkle 6 Caleb Ross 5 Pen Nakazato 1 Catcher GS Alan Filauro 29 Max Nogay 25 Gabe Brown 1 First Base Ryan McBroom
GS 55
Second Base Billy Fleming Brady Wilson Stuart Jeck Justin Fox
GS 29 19 5 2
Shortstop GS John Polonius 41 Stuart Jeck 14
John Polonius With only one senior on the 2012 WVU baseball team and five new position starters, the experience was lacking to say the least. However, the resilient group came together throughout the season and battled for a spot in the Big East Tournament until the final game of the season. Going into the final series of the season against USF, the Mountaineers needed a sweep, managing to win the first two games, before falling in 12 innings during game three to narrowly miss the tournament. The biggest surprise of the season came from freshman Bobby Boyd, who started the final 51 games of the regular season and led the squad in batting average (.321), hits (62) and stolen bases (23). The All-Big East Rookie team member worked into the role of leadoff hitter and had 17 multi-hit performances. Billy Fleming, another freshman, became the everyday second baseman and finished the season second on the team with a .316 batting average. Fleming finished fourth in Big East play with a .354 batting average and struck out just 12 times in 133 at bats. In his second season as the starting first baseman, sophomore Ryan McBroom had a breakthrough season and became a middle of the lineup threat. McBroom hovered at the top of nearly every offensive category, finishing the season with 15 doubles, six home runs and 41 RBIs, while committing just two errors defensively. Coming off a broken ankle, sophomore Matt Frazer led the Mountaineers with a .503 slugging percentage, while batting .294. Frazer smacked 23 doubles, which tied him for fifth all-time in single
season history, while also tying for the team lead with six doubles. The left-handed hitter drove 31 runs while splitting time as the left fielder and designated hitter. A trio of sophomores led the pitchers as Corey Walter progressed tremendously throughout the season, while Josh Harlow and Ryan Tezak controlled the back end of the bullpen. Walter completed 2012 with a 6-5 record and a 4.58 ERA in 14 starts. He pitched three complete games and went into the eighth inning in his last six starts of the season. Walter posted a 3.38 ERA and held opponents to a .264 batting average during that span. Harlow served in the role as the setup man, finishing with three wins and three saves in 15 appearances. Harlow struck out 27 batters in 41 innings with a 4.83 ERA. After having a standout freshman season, Tezak picked up where he left off and led the pitchers with a 1.35 ERA in 18 appearances. He struck out 24 batters in 26.2 innings and led West Virginia with six saves to go with a 3-3 record. The only unexpected loss is that of John Polonius, who signed a free agent contract with the San Francisco Giants, foregoing his senior season. The sure-handed shortstop was third on the team with a .306 batting average to go with nine doubles, two homers, 21 RBIs and four stolen bases. With an experienced team coming back mixing with a new conference, new coaching staff and a number of top recruits, the 2013 squad will be in contention to have a breakthrough season.
84
| West Virginia University
Third Base Nate Antone Billy Fleming Justin Fox
GS 43 10 2
Left Field Matt Frazer Chris Rasky Bobby Boyd
GS 38 15 2
Center Field Bobby Boyd Brady Wilson
GS 47 8
Right Field Brady Wilson Chris Rasky Jon Roszel Bobby Boyd Gabe Brown
GS 28 19 5 2 1
Designated Hitter Matt Frazer Gabe Brown Tyler Steele-Worham Marshall Thompson Pen Nakazato Corey Walter Chris Rasky L.K. Thompson
GS 16 9 9 8 7 4 1 1
Ryan McBroom