AUM coach Q.V. Lowe has led the Senators to nearly 900 victories in his tenure. (Photo courtesy AUM Athletic Dept.)

Contributed
(Jan. 29, 2010)

The Auburn University at Montgomery baseball team will open the 2010 season, Saturday when it will host Martin Methodist College in a doubleheader.

The Senators are coming off a 37-23 season which saw them make an appearance in the program’s fourth NAIA World Series.

“We are going to have an athletic team,” Head Coach Q.V. Lowe said.  “I just don’t know how good of a team we are going to be, like always, it will depend on how the pitching staff performs.”

Lowe, the only coach in the program’s history, knows a thing or two about winning.  He enters the season with 1,075 career wins, including 896 at AUM.

This season, the Senators have four returning starters and seven other returners who have seen significant playing time.  AUM will also return two pitchers who brings plenty of experience on the mound.

After missing the first half of the 2009 season, Jeffrey Van Fossen finished his freshman season with a 6-0 record, appearing in 11 games with five starts and one complete game.  He should be a conference starter this season if he can stay away from the injury bug.

Robby Davis returns for his senior campaign.  He was 2-2 on the mound last season and had a solid fall season.  He has plenty of ability and could find himself as a conference starter.

The coaching staff has brought in several talented but inexperienced pitchers.  Ben Francis brings a sidearm delivery to the mound and could be used as a starter or out of the bullpen.  Brent Amburn is a left-handed pitcher the coaching staff is planning to bring out of the bullpen.  Matt Ford will be used as both a pitcher and as a catcher.

Other pitchers that will have a chance to play are Tanner Gordon, Craig Miller and Aaron Elmore.

AUM has Michael Dugan returning behind the plate for his junior season.  Dugan has always been a solid defensive catcher, but last year he provided a big bat for the team.  He hit .341 and was named second team All-SSAC.

Fletcher Wilkinson has been a solid utility infielder for the Senators and was moved to catcher during the fall as a back up behind the plate.  Wilkinson was able to use his athleticism and made the transition very effectively.

AUM has a solid nucleus of infielders returning this season.  Bruce Alter returns for his senior season after hitting .359 last season.  He led the team with 18 doubles and in RBI with 50.  He was tied for the team-high in home runs with seven and had four triples.  Alter came to AUM as a shortstop but was moved to third base when he got to AUM.  The coaching staff was looking to shore up the middle of the infield, so Alter was moved to second base where he will spend his senior season.

Justin Williams played four different positions last season and did not commit an error at any of those positions.  He was named to the SSAC Gold Glove team and second team all-conference.  This season he will settle in at third base, where he performed well enough for the coaching staff to move Alter to second base.

Cody Chizmar and Anthony Kopacz return this season at first base.  Chizmar hit .324 last season and was named to the all-conference second team.

The Senators will have a new shortstop this season.  Jorden Johnson is a transfer who had a nice fall, and freshman Branden Kelley, who redshirted last season, may be one of the best defensive players on the team.

Other players who may see action around the infield are Tanner Williams and Matt Arrighi.  Williams made several starts last season and hit .341.  Arrighi has played his entire career in the outfield and was named to the SSAC All-Freshman team in 2007.  Last year, he appeared in only four games before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.  He will see action in the outfield again this season, but will also be used on the infield.

AUM will have several outfielders returning with several having plenty of experience.  Along with Arrighi, who has several starts in left field during his career, Jacob Salter will also see some time at an outfield position.  He started 27 games in the outfield last year.

Brooks Glover may be the best athlete on the team.  He started 2009 very well, but had some trouble over the final third of the season.  He started 42 games in the outfield and hit .301.

 David Barnett has a chance to work his way into the starting lineup.  He has several starts in right field under his belt during his first two seasons, but this could be the season he takes control of a position.  He is the best defensive outfielder on the team and has a solid arm from right field.

The coaching staff has brought in plenty of talented players to compete for outfield positions.  One is Sam Judah, who, like Glover, is one of the better athletes on the team.  He was moved to centerfield during fall and could be the opening day starter there.  He will also be used on the mound as a reliever.

Charles Lester has good speed and could be a lead-off hitter for AUM.  He will compete for a starting position as will Will Sellers, who saw some time as a back up last season.  Other possible outfielders are Aldris Castillo, Chris Clements, Matt Ingram, Tyler Jordan and Will Stillwell.  Ingram and Stillwell had off-season surgery and may redshirt this season.

The Senators will once again play a tough schedule.  AUM will play 22 games against teams that are ranked nationally in the preseason polls in either the NAIA or NCAA Division II.

“I don’t know who makes out the schedule, but they must be out to get me,” Lowe said.  “Seriously, we always play a tough schedule, and we have a lot of strong teams not only in the conference, but in our area as well.  Our fans always get to come out and see some excellent baseball teams.  Hopefully, this year, we can give them some excellent games to watch as well.”