Upper Iowa will open their 2011 season this weekend in Rolla, Missouri. The Peacocks are headed south to compete against the Miners of Missouri S&T in a three game series. The teams are both cutting their teeth on the new season with these three games.
On Friday, the teams are scheduled to lock up for one nine-inning game, while a seven/nine double header is on the slate for Saturday. Friday’s action will start at 1 p.m., while Saturday’s games will begin at noon.
Scouting the Miners...
For the past three seasons, Missouri S&T’s baseball team has been knocking on the door as far as making the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, but was knocked out on the final weekend on each of those occasions. With a revamped squad in place for the 2011 season, the hope around the squad is that this is the year the Miners break through to continue the season well into May.
The Miners figure to be competing with division favorite Drury, Rockhurst, Quincy and improving teams at Missouri-St. Louis and Maryville for the available playoff spots.
The Miners had a great start to their conference season a year ago, winning eight of their first nine GLVC contests. However, a slump in April sent S&T back to the middle of the pack in the GLVC West standings and it was unable to overtake Rockhurst on the final weekend to see its playoff hopes come up short.
The Miners, 19-33 overall and 14-18 in the GLVC a year ago, return their top two hitters from that squad in designated hitter Will Morrison and third baseman Zach Carter. Morrison earned first-team All-GLVC and all-region honors as a sophomore after hitting .391 with six home runs and 33 runs batted in, but is expected to miss the early part of the season as he is recovering from an injury.
Looking Ahead...
The Peacocks will return to the "Show Me" state of Missouri next weekend for a three game series with the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist. The games are scheduled for one nine-inning affair on Friday and a double header on Saturday in Bolivar.
