UC DAVIS AGGIES
UC Davis baseball, softball look to make noise

Aggie Baseball Preview

With virtually every starter from the 2010 squad returning, the UC Davis baseball team enters 2011 looking to capitalize on the experienced leadership of the Aggie upperclassmen. Head coach Rex Peters, who begins his ninth season with the Aggies, is hopeful that a roster that lists 18 juniors and seniors will be what the team needs to reach its ultimate goal of returning to postseason play.

Alex Holmes is the reigning Big West Pitcher of the Year and received First-Team All-Big West honors as a designated player in 2010. Photo: Wayne Tilcock, Davis Enterprise

"A lot of these guys are in their third and fourth year and they have some experience under their belt," said Peters. "This could be a year when we sneak up on some people and possibly get into postseason play."

Junior Scott Kalush returns as the team's starting catcher and will be backed up by fifth-year senior Alex Dreyfuss, while Eric Johnson and Paul Politi will return to their duties at first and third base respectively. Senior Scott Heylman is projected as the Aggies' second baseman and will combine with junior-college transfer Ryan Allgrove or freshman Adam Young at shortstop throughout the season. Senior Daniel Cepin will anchor centerfield for the Aggies and will be joined by Seth Batty and Scott Lyman.

With Anthony Kupbens back from injury, Peters returns all three weekend starters from 2010 in Kupbens, Dayne Quist and Lyman while right-hander Tom Briner will be looked to as a closer.

UC Davis will play four teams who advanced to the NCAA Division I Championship last year and will host 2008 national champion Fresno State for a three-game series.

Aggie Softball Preview

UC Davis is looking to defend its Big West title and make a return trip to the NCAA tournament in 2011. Last season, the Aggies won their first conference title after going 15-6 in league play and finished up 26-29 overall. The Aggies return a wealth of talent from that championship squad as seven position players, its top starting pitcher and 12 letter-winners return to the diamond. UC Davis also added a competitive recruiting class with seven newcomers and six freshmen.

"There's an excitement to this season, after coming off a Big West championship," said head coach Karen Yoder. "That's also combined with the energy that a new group of players brings. The intensity and desire that the six freshman have brought has been fantastic and they really have been able to integrate with our program. The team chemistry from last year's squad has not missed a beat. I think this is going to be an exciting season."

This year's club is led by 2010 Big West Pitcher of the Year Alex Holmes, who went 16-11 with a 3.01 ERA, 12 complete games and 143 strikeouts. The Aggie talent is also at the plate as Holmes (.345 BA), 2010 Big West Freshman of the Year Elizabeth Santana (.341 BA, 56 H, 31 R, 13 2B) and Kylie Fan (.330 BA, 34 H, 12 R) headline a potent UC Davis offense. Yoder will rely on these and other veterans as the Aggies look to become the first back-to-back Big West champion since 2004-05.