6Spring Sports '91 The. DajlTar HeelWednesday Perury?, ,1 99X
.Baseball success i al in the family
UNC counts on Estroff, strong bullpen, but starting hurlers must come through
By Neil Amato
Assistant Sports Editor
"This team has got a lot of growing
up to do. It has a lot of growing up to do
in the aspect that this year it's a new
family. New families have to get to know
each other, have to care about each
other and have to respect one another.
In all of that, you grow up together. The
first third of the season we're really
working toward becoming a close-knit
unit and learning how to care for each
other on and off the field. After we do
that, we can begin to mature as a team."
UNC baseball coach Mike Roberts.
Roberts' family philosophy may be
paramount this season as UNC heads
into the 1991 campaign "relatively"
strong in every phase of the game except
starting pitching.
Starting hurlers Michael Hoog (9-3,
3.72 earned run average) and Jim
Dougherty (12-2, 1.71 ERA) and a
strong bullpen propelled last year's
bunch to a school-record 5 1 victories in
65 games, the Atlant ic Coast Conference
title, and a No. 1 seed in the Northeast
Regional of the College World Series.
Although the primo pen of Brad
Woodall, Rich Fernandez and Paul
Shuey return as favorite sons, Dougherty
and Hoog are ancestors. Juniors Frank
Maney and Derek. Manning, who were
a combined 7-4 with a 3.67 ERA, are the
only two starters with experience.
Roberts, in his 1 4th year, said that the
pair were the clear-cut leaders for starts,
but that he would definitely look at
others to fill in the gaps. Freshman Jay
MacMillan is probably next in line for a
starting spot. The southpaw from
Richmond, Va., has already proven his
worth, pitching five shutout innings to
pick up a victory in his first collegiate
game versus Campbell Feb. 19.
Roberts said a good starting corps
should mean a successful season.
. "Every team that expects to win a
championship and compete in a regional
must have solid starting pitching,"
Roberts said. "Before we can go to
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(postseason play), we've got to develop
that first. If we do, we know we have an
opportunity to be there because we're
solid in all the other areas."
For now, the rest of the rotation is up
in the air. The remainder of the lineup,
however, seems set in stone.
Senior Steve Estroff, the 1990 ACC
Tournament MVP, will start at first
base. The burly Atlanta native hit .389
last season with 1 5 home runs and 73
runs batted in, stats good enough to
garner him a spot on Baseball America's
"Dream Team."
The second-base slot was left vacant
by the graduation of Dave Arendas. It
will be filled by redshirt senior Darren
Villani, who last season played right
field and third. Villani, who hit .313
with nine dingers and 24 stolen bases,
could be erratic in the infield. Redshirt
junior Cy Richardson, who played in 1 6
games, will also see time at second.
Ron Maurer, a first-team All-ACC
selection at shortstop, has graduated.
His shoes will be filled by freshman
sensation Keith Grunewald, a second
round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers.
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Baseball
Head Coach: Mike Roberts (North Carolina
1972)
Career Record: 493-235-3 (1 4th year)
Record at School: same
Assistant Coaches: Mark Halvorsen, Bobby
Cilmore
1 990 Record: 5 1 -1 4, 1 7-4 ACC (first), third in
NCAA regional
Starters ReturningLost: 54
Top Returnees: Rich Fernandez (Sr.), Frank
Maney (Jr.), Derek Manning (Jr.), Paul Shuey
(So.), Brad Woodall (Sr.), Donnie Leshnock
(So.), Chris Cox (So.), Steve Estroff (Sr.), Chad
Holbrook (So.), Mark Kingston (Jr.). Darren
Villani (Sr.), Matt Wooten (Sr.), Rich Griffith
(Sr.)
Top Newcomers: Keith Grunewald (Atlanta),
Jay McMillan (Richmond, Va.)
Facility: Cary C. Boshamer Stadium (3,000)
Scouts obviously think Grunewald, also
from Atlanta, has the ability to play in
the bigs. He hit .459 as a switch-hitter in
high school and was selected by Base
ball America as one of the top five
players who did not sign a pro contract.
Despite Grunewald's accolades,
Roberts said the youngster still had much
to learn.
"He's a very talented young man,"
Roberts said. "I treat all freshmen the
same way they need to work on
everything; you're average until proven
different. Right now, he's average but
blessed with the abil ity to go way beyond
that. Right now, I just want him to relax
and realize that there are a lot of expe
rienced players to help him out."
At third base, sophomore Chris Cox
started only 19 games last season be
cause of a broken thumb. The Winston
Salem native hit .247 in his first year.
Sophomore Donnie Leshnock (. 283,
19 RBI) should shoulder most of the
load at catcher, with senior Rich Griffith
filling in occasionally. Leshnock is
blessed with agun, but he misfired often
last season. Despite his rifle, he threw
out only 12 of 50 runners (24 percent)
attempting to steal.
"Donnie Leshnock has one of the
premier arms in the country," Estroff
said. "I haven't seen an arm like that for
a long time."
The outfield could be a question be-
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Sophomore catcher Donnie Leshnock hit
' cause UNC's only returnee is the versa
tile Woodall, who will play right field.
Senior Matt Wooten, a self-proclaimed
defensive specialist, gets the nod in
center, while sophomore Chad
Holbrook, who started 46 of 65 games
at designated hitter, will play left and
probably bat in the leadoff spot.
Junior Mark Kingston (.24 1 , 22 RBI
in 35 games) will take over the desig
nated hitter duties. The Dumfries, Va.,
product, who now resides in Durham,
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.283 with 19 RBI in 41 starts as a freshman
will be counted on for some punch in the
five spot when pitchers work around
cleanup hitter Estroff.
In fact, Estroff, whose slow develop
ment was similar to Kingston's, said the
DH's time to shine had arrived.
"He hasn't lived up to the expecta
tions and pressures that people put on
him coming out of high school," Estroff
said. "But now he's matured, and I see
great things for him. His swing is great
from both sides. He just needs to get
some confidence going."
Confidence is an item the North
Carolina bullpen should have oodles of.
UNC's three top firemen Fernandez,
Shuey and Woodall combined for a
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