THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 10, 1995 TAG: 9502100632
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Long : 139 lines
First-year Old Dominion University baseball coach Tony Guzzo must feel like Aladdin.
He's been handed the equivalent of a magic lamp. The challenge is getting everything he can out of it.
When former ODU head coach Pat McMahon bolted to return to Mississippi State's baseball program, he left a wealth of talent.
Seven position players return from a team that went 40-14, won the Colonial Athletic Association regular-season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA tournament's East Regional.
``He left us in pretty good shape,'' said Guzzo, who coached at Virginia Commonwealth University the previous 12 years.
Some might say great shape.
Junior All-American outfielder Kevin Gibbs returns for what could be his last season. If major-league baseball doesn't collapse in light of the current strike, Gibbs is expected to go as high as the first round of the amateur draft in June.
The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder hit a CAA-best .436 and stole 41 bases last season. He'll move from rightfield to center, but it won't be anything new. He played center for Team USA last summer.
Gibbs will most likely be flanked by senior Ray Russin in left and junior Brian Fiumara in right, although senior Maika Symmonds and junior Quentin Lindsey should also see time.
Russin is nursing a pulled quadriceps muscle and Lindsey could start in left in the season opener Saturday at Coastal Carolina.
Symmonds, a lefthander, will also pitch and will begin the season as designated hitter as he rehabilitates a pulled left tricep muscle.
The infield is experienced with seniors Robert Morgan and Jason Riley at first and second and junior Dan Almonte at shortstop. Touted recruit Ron Walker, out of Shawnee High in Indian Mills, N.J., will start at third base, when he isn't pitching.
``Ronnie is a very talented freshman,'' Guzzo said. ``There were people who were trying to get him to go to junior college this year so he'd be eligible for the draft this summer. He's a top recruit and an outstanding hitter.''
Sophomores Tony Koch and Tommy Staples, a Granby graduate, will be used as spot utility infielders.
Matt Quatraro, who played left last season, will move to catcher. Quatraro's bat provided much pop for the Monarchs last season as he hit .413, with nine home runs and 66 runs batted in.
``Matt caught in high school so it's not like we're just plucking him out of the outfield and giving him a crash course,'' Guzzo said. ``I just hope the wear and tear behind the plate doesn't take away from his bat.''
Junior Michael Henderson will back up Quatraro.
Sophomore Brett Wheeler, who was 9-0 with a 1.51 earned run average as a freshman, is the Monarchs' opening-day starter; junior John O'Reilly (4-2, 2.44 ERA) and Walker, who was the player of the year in Southern New Jersey, round out the starting rotation.
Junior Anthony Eannacony (8-4, 3.10 ERA) has assumed the role of closer.
All are righthanders, so Guzzo hopes Symmonds mends fast. Jesse James, a lefty from Bayside who redshirted last season, should see time in a relief role.
Although Guzzo didn't build this team, it is similar to those he designed at VCU.
``Running, pitching and defense have always been points of emphasis for me,'' Guzzo said. ``So I've decided to adjust to them rather than having 25 of them adjust to me. I've been leaning very strongly on (assistant coach) Tim Parenton and he's been a great help.''
Guzzo said the primary goal is to defend the CAA title.
``The toughest thing for this team is getting back to the regionals,'' Guzzo said. ``Once a team like this gets back to the regionals, that experience can really help a team go a long way.''
NORFOLK - First-year Old Dominion University baseball coach Tony Guzzo must feel like Aladdin.
He's been handed the equivalent of a magic lamp. The challenge is getting everything he can out of it.
When former ODU head coach Pat McMahon bolted to return to Mississippi State's baseball program, he left a wealth of talent.
Seven position players return from a team that went 40-14, won the Colonial Athletic Association regular-season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA tournament's East Regional.
``He left us in pretty good shape,'' said Guzzo, who coached at Virginia Commonwealth University the previous 12 years.
Some might say great shape.
Junior All-American outfielder Kevin Gibbs returns for what could be his last season. If major-league baseball doesn't collapse in light of the current strike, Gibbs is expected to go as high as the first round of the amateur draft in June.
The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder hit a CAA-best .436 and stole 41 bases last season. He'll move from rightfield to center, but it won't be anything new. He played center for Team USA last summer.
Gibbs will most likely be flanked by senior Ray Russin in left and junior Brian Fiumara in right, although senior Maika Symmonds and junior Quentin Lindsey should also see time.
Russin is nursing a pulled quadriceps muscle and Lindsey could start in left in the season opener Saturday at Coastal Carolina.
Symmonds, a lefthander, will also pitch and will begin the season as designated hitter as he rehabilitates a pulled left tricep muscle.
The infield is experienced with seniors Robert Morgan and Jason Riley at first and second and junior Dan Almonte at shortstop. Touted recruit Ron Walker, out of Shawnee High in Indian Mills, N.J., will start at third base, when he isn't pitching.
``Ronnie is a very talented freshman,'' Guzzo said. ``There were people who were trying to get him to go to junior college this year so he'd be eligible for the draft this summer. He's a top recruit and an outstanding hitter.''
Sophomores Tony Koch and Tommy Staples, a Granby graduate, will be used as spot utility infielders.
Matt Quatraro, who played left last season, will move to catcher. Quatraro's bat provided much pop for the Monarchs last season as he hit .413, with nine home runs and 66 runs batted in.
``Matt caught in high school so it's not like we're just plucking him out of the outfield and giving him a crash course,'' Guzzo said. ``I just hope the wear and tear behind the plate doesn't take away from his bat.''
Junior Michael Henderson will back up Quatraro.
Sophomore Brett Wheeler, who was 9-0 with a 1.51 earned run average as a freshman, is the Monarchs' opening-day starter; junior John O'Reilly (4-2, 2.44 ERA) and Walker, who was the player of the year in Southern New Jersey, round out the starting rotation.
Junior Anthony Eannacony (8-4, 3.10 ERA) has assumed the role of closer.
All are righthanders, so Guzzo hopes Symmonds mends fast. Jesse James, a lefty from Bayside who redshirted last season, should see time in a relief role.
Although Guzzo didn't build this team, it is similar to those he designed at VCU.
``Running, pitching and defense have always been points of emphasis for me,'' Guzzo said. ``So I've decided to adjust to them rather than having 25 of them adjust to me. I've been leaning very strongly on (assistant coach) Tim Parenton, and he's been a great help.''
Guzzo said the primary goal is to defend the CAA title.
``The toughest thing for this team is getting back to the regionals,'' Guzzo said. ``Once a team like this gets back to the regionals, that experience can really help a team go a long way.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MOTOYA NAKAMURA/Staff
ODU coach Tony Guzzo, left, with pitcher Jesse James, from Bayside
High. Behind them is Mike Bowers, an assistant coach.
by CNB