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Southern Miss baseball coach Christian Ostrander talks about 2024 pitcher
The Southern Miss baseball coach outlined his pitching staff for the 2024 season at Thursday’s media day.
HATTIESBURG — For the past two seasons, Southern Miss Baseball has fallen just short of the College World Series.
First, the Super Regional Tournament was held in 2022, and Ole Miss won. And last season, Southern Miss again hosted the super regional tournament, but lost to Tennessee.
Southern Miss has no intention of giving up on its goal of advancing to the College World Series for the first time since 2009.
And the Golden Eagles, led by coach Christian Ostrander following the departure of coach Scott Berry, appear to have what it takes to get there.
But with scrimmage beginning Friday and the season opening Feb. 16 (4 p.m., ESPN+) against Marist at Pete Taylor Park, Ostrander, who is entering his seventh season on Southern Miss’ coaching staff, will He won’t put pressure on the team.
“I’m not thinking about the end,” Ostrander said at media day Thursday. “You think about the next day, you think about today. As for our players, I don’t want to put anything on them. They need to be the team of 2024, establish their identity as a team, build their legacy. I’m worried about leaving behind.
“…We want to continue this tradition and so on, but we’re not going to force it on them. Just play the best nine-inning baseball game of the day and see how it goes. . I think this group has a chance to be a very solid ball club. I’m cautiously optimistic about what we do every year, and we learn a lot as we go, so this I don’t think this is an exception.”
If you survey several players at Southern Miss, they all have different reasons as to why they think this season could be one where they can overcome the metaphorical odds.
Outfielder Slade Wilkes, who led the Golden Eagles in 2023 with home runs (20) and RBIs (58), said he believes this is the hardest-working team he has ever been on. Pitcher Billy Oldham pointed out the depth of pitching and batters.
But 21 of the 41 players on this season’s team weren’t here a year ago. Nine of the added players are freshmen, three are transfers and nine more are junior college transfers.
Name list: Southern Miss Baseball Roster: Who’s returning and who’s new for the 2024 season?
Outfielder Carson Peto said he was encouraged by the team’s chemistry despite the turnover.
“Actually, the coaches talked to me about it yesterday,” Peto said. I remember this summer when a new student and Juco transferred to our school. It was as if we had known each other for years. ”
One of those players is senior infielder Nolan Tucker, a transfer from Valparaiso who is being eyed Thursday more than most as a standout addition to the team.
Tucker and Valparaiso played at Southern Miss last May, going 4-for-11 with two walks and two RBIs in three straight games. It caught the attention of Southern Miss, and the environment at Pete Taylor Park caught the attention of Tucker, who lured him to Hattiesburg.
“I think we have a lot of star players on our team,” Tucker said. “We have a lot of players who can move up and become stars in this league. I think when you combine depth and culture and tradition, you have a team that can be around for a long season.”
Other notes from Southern Miss Media Day
- Ostrander said many starting spots are still available heading into the season.
- Nick Monister is a “very good fit” in center field and will likely only pitch when needed.
- Matthew Adams is still rehabbing from a shoulder injury, but Southern Miss is otherwise healthy.
- Ostrander is impressed by two rookies, Landen Payne and Drew Druckenmiller, as well as outfielder/pitcher Jake Cook, who redshirted last season.
Sam Sklar is the Southern Miss beat reporter for the Hattiesburg American. Email ssklar@hattiesb.gannett.com and follow us at @sklarsam_.
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