Vanderbilt
Baseball Begins Corbin Era in South Carolina 2/12/03
 Vanderbilt
baseball begins the Tim Corbin era Friday, Feb.14, at 9 a.m.
CT, against Old Dominion in the first of three games at the
three-day ESPN Radio 1340 Shootout in Charleston, S.C. The Commodores
also play The Citadel, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. and James Madison,
Feb. 16, at 1:30 p.m.
Vanderbilt’s appearance in the shootout marks the return
of Corbin to South Carolina. He coached the previous 15 years
in the Palmetto State before taking the head coaching position
at Vanderbilt in June 2002. Corbin served as an assistant coach
at Clemson from 1994-2002, helping guide the Tigers to four
appearances at the College World Series and nine consecutive
Top 25 finishes. Before his stay at Clemson, Corbin restarted
the baseball program at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C.
from 1988-1993. At Presbyterian College, Corbin directed the
school from NAIA to Division II status, posting a 106-138 overall
record as head coach.
This weekend marks the start of Vanderbilt’s 105th season
of baseball. Preseason second team All-American Jeremy Sowers
takes the mound for Vanderbilt in its season opener on Friday.
Sowers finished atop the Southeastern Conference among freshmen
pitchers with 85 strikeouts last season. Junior right-hander
Robert Ransom and freshman left-hander Ryan Mullins are also
scheduled to start this weekend, though their order is not yet
determined.
Outfielder John Kaye is the lone senior on the Commodore 27-man
roster. He ranks first among all Vanderbilt returners with nine
home runs in 2002. Catcher Jonathan Douillard and outfielder
Worth Scott, both juniors, each have 64 career starts at their
positions. Douillard battled injuries throughout the 2002 season
while hitting .277 with seven doubles, a home run and 14 doubles.
Scott struggled as a sophomore, hitting .186 with a home run
and 16 RBI. Sophomore Tony Mansolino, who hit .280 with 15 doubles,
three home runs and 20 RBI last season, will start at third
base.
Key Commodore newcomers include transfer Ryan Klosterman, who
redshirted last season at Clemson but will start this weekend
at shortstop. Cypress Community College transfer Ryan Godfrey
should start at first base while freshman Rucker Taylor gets
the nod at second base. Freshman speedster Warner Jones will
start in left field.
Fellow Southeastern Conference foes South Carolina and Tennessee
will also participate in the shootout, but will not face Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt plays its home opener against East Tennessee State,
Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m.
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