FanNation - The Republic of Sport

This is a fall preview for the Ole Miss baseball. I got the story from thedmonline.com. I decided to copy and post the story here instead of sending you to their web site.

Ole Miss baseball begins its fall camp Friday with Scout Day, and the team has 45 days to get in 33 official practices.

It is a longer fall session than before, thanks to the uniform start date that is being implemented in college baseball this season.

In an effort to level the playing field between teams with different weather situations, the NCAA has mandated that all teams start later than they have in the past.

The result is more midweek games in the spring and a longer practice window during the fall.

The fall practice period will be used by the Ole Miss coaches to hash out the players' roles and determine possible redshirts for 2008.

The Rebels return seven position starters and two of the three weekend pitchers from the group that won 40 games last season. Also, all incoming commitments reported to campus, including pitcher Drew Pomeranz, who was a 12th round draft pick of the Texas Rangers.

Ole Miss is attempting to break the streak of three straight losses in the Super Regional round.

Heading into the fall, these are a few story lines to watch unfold.

Who will replace Zack Cozart?

Evan Button has been billed as the "shortstop of the future" since arriving on campus, but the utility junior faces two newcomers for the opportunity to replace Zack Cozart.

Junior Sean Stuyverson, who played at Florida State in 2006, and incoming freshman Tim Ferguson are both highly touted and will challenge Button for the position.

Stuyverson hit .280 in junior college last year and provides an above-average glove in the field.

The Tallahassee, Fla., native chose Ole Miss over offers from Alabama and LSU.

Ferguson is projected as more of an offensive force and was ranked as the No. 55 position player nationally coming out of high school. The Beaumont, Texas, product signed with the Rebels over Rice and LSU.

Button is the favorite and established himself as a leader last season.

He has the ability to play anywhere on the field, so he will push for playing time elsewhere if someone else emerges at shortstop.

Scramble for

Sunday starter

The only thing certain concerning the Ole Miss pitching staff is that Lance Lynn will replace Will Kline as the Friday night starter.

Past that, Cody Satterwhite will most likely move into the rotation and a scramble will ensue for the final starting spot.

Sophomore Nathan Baker and junior Brett Bukvich tossed the role back and forth last season and will be the top contenders again this time.

Also entering the mix will be Pomeranz.

The 6-foot-6-inch southpaw was the jewel of the 2007 signing class and could emerge as the Sunday starter or a viable option out of the bullpen.

It will be an interesting competition among the three left-handers.

Baker was named a freshman All-American last season, while Bukvich has postseason starting experience from two years of work.

Pomeranz is the unknown but has the tools with a fastball in the low 90s and a 12-to-6 curve.

Backstop battle

Alex Kliman decided to forego his final year of baseball eligibility, so a two-way battle seems likely for the starting catcher position between junior Brett Basham and JUCO transfer Kyle Henson. Basham started 47 games in 2007 before Kliman received the majority of the playing time during the postseason.

Basham features superb defensive skills but struggled offensively last season.

However, the Tennessee native thrived in the Cape Cod League over the summer and is over a hand injury that hampered him last year.

Henson experienced success with two trips to the junior college World Series with San Jacinto and gives Ole Miss an offensive option behind the plate. Henson picked up an all-tournament team nomination at the World Series in 2007 after hitting .397.

He was a 17th-round selection by the Los Angeles Dodger in 2005.

Injury update

The Rebels are in relatively good health, but a few players are getting over nagging injuries.

Lynn left Team USA early to rest the nagging groin injury that flared up, and while the injury isn't a major concern, the coaches will most likely be cautious with him during fall camp.

SEC Freshman of the Year Jordan Henry discovered stress fractures in his shins during the summer, but the injury is healing with rest.

The sophomore right fielder is the fastest player on the team and will be given all the time necessary to overcome the ailment.

Bukvich spent the early part of the summer pitching for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in Alaska but returned home because of bone chips in his elbow.

Bukvich had surgery to clean his arm up during the first week of August and is expected to be fully recovered by opening day.