James Madison will wrap up its fall non-traditional season this week with the annual Purple and Gold World Series beginning Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. at Long Field/Mauck Stadium.
The intrasquad series will stretch over six days ending with game five on Monday, Oct. 5. It will carry a best-of-five format, meaning the final two games on Sunday and Monday will only be played if necessary. Games two and three will be Friday (3 p.m.) and Saturday (1 p.m.).
Following the completion of the series, the team will host its annual Scout Day on Wednesday, Oct. 7, also at Long/Mauck, beginning around 1:30 p.m. The event is a chance for Major League scouts to evaluate JMU players in various drills and will include batting practice. Scout Day and the entire Purple and Gold Series are open to the public at no charge.
JMU returns the bulk of its squad from last year with 23 of 29 returning letterwinners. The Dukes hope to improve upon last year’s 30-24 season, which included a 12-11 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association. JMU missed the six-team CAA tournament by .002 percentage points and was the first team in league history to miss the postseason with a winning conference record.
On the mound, the Dukes return 10 of 12 members of the 2009 pitching staff, led by the junior trio of Turner Phelps (Roanoke, Va./Lord Botetourt), Kevin Munson (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring), and Trevor Knight (Charlottesville, Va./St. Anne’s-Belfield). Munson led the CAA in saves and ranks as one of the top prospects in the league heading into the 2010 season. Phelps was the staff ace for the Dukes and ranks in the top 10 in league history in career winning percentage. Knight saw time both as a starter and a reliever for the Dukes.
In the field, JMU returns all eight position starters from a year ago, highlighted by the quartet of Knight at first base, outfielder Matt Townsend (Lorton, Va./Hayfield), outfielder/third baseman Matt Browning (Mystic, Conn./Fitch), and shortstop David Herbek (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield). The Dukes, who have typically employed a catching-by-committee system, did graduate half their tandem in Chris Johnson, however senior Brett Garner (Burke, Va./Lake Braddock) returns from injury to reclaim his spot.
The 23 returning letterwinners will be joined by 10 newcomers on the fall squad, including seven freshmen, one sophomore, and two transfers.
The Gold Team has 13 out of its 18 players returning from last year, and the Purple Team has 10 out 15 players that played for JMU last season, which gives the Gold Team the slim advantage in experience. The Gold Team also has more power but the Purple Team has more stolen base potential and overall team speed. The pitching lines up fairly evenly with both the Purple (Sean Tierney) and Gold (Kyle Hoffman) featuring significant pitchers who missed all of the 2009 season.
The series will be the final official competition for JMU baseball at Long Field/Mauck Stadium, where the Dukes played their final varsity competition in May. The team conducted all of its fall workouts at the facility while construction of the new Veterans’ Memorial Stadium is scheduled to complete in October. The baseball and softball programs will take occupation of new offices in Memorial Hall over winter break and open spring practices in the new facilities in January.
The complete schedule and rosters for the Purple and Gold World Series are posted below along with first day’s starting lineup.
Fall Purple & Gold World Series Schedule
Game 1- Wednesday, September 30, 3 p.m.
Game 2- Friday, October 2, 3 p.m.
Game 3- Saturday, October 3, 1 p.m.
Game 4- Sunday, October 4, 1:30 p.m. (if necessary)
Game 5- Monday, October 5, 3 p.m. (if necessary)
Purple Roster
Coached by Jason Middleton (Assistant Coach)
Gold Roster
Coached by David Warner & Cole Gettis (Managers)
Associate head coach Jay Sullenger will serve as third base coach for both teams while assistant coach Ted White will be pitching coach for both squads.
Wednesday’s Starting Lineups
Purple
1. Foltz (CF)
2. Shaban (3B)
3. Townsend (RF)
4. Herbek (SS)
5. Bladel (LF)
6. Burford (2B)
7. Tenaglia (1B)
8. Logan (C)
9. TBA (DH)
Phelps (P)
Gold
1. Fabiaschi (SS)
2. Garner (C)
3. Knight (1B)
4. Browning (3B)
5. Lowery (DH)
6. Langston (2B)
7. Villenave (LF)
8. Banglesdorf (RF)
9. McInturff (CF)
Hoffman (P)
Courtesy: JMUSports.com
