MU baseball team set for home opener

After three weekends of up-and-down road trips, the Missouri baseball team (6-5) returns to Columbia to host its home opener at 6:30 tonight at Taylor Stadium against Youngstown State. Only 11 games into their 56-game schedule, the Tigers have relied heavily on several freshman to contribute.

Freshman Aaron Senne got his shot early, and didn’t waste time in showing he is ready to see consistent action with the team. Offseason shoulder surgery relegated junior oufielder Jacob Priday to serving as designated hitter, and Senne has filled in for Priday in each game played so far this year.

Senne joined the team after a highly touted high school career, in which he batted a career .505 and was listed as one of the top 50 junior prospects in the nation for 2006. Senne, a Minnesota native, chose to play for Missouri despite being selected in the 13th round of the Major League draft by his home-state Twins.

After getting an early chance to see heavy playing time, Senne started quickly, going 3-for-3 in his first career game and 5-or-12 over the team’s first series Feb. 9-11 against Florida International.

He has since slowed, batting .233 in 43 at-bats.

Trevor Coleman has also earned some starts early in the year as a freshman. The team’s No. 2 catcher, Coleman has started four games this year and appeared in another. He leads the team with a .313 batting average in 16 at-bats and has kept consistent pressure on Dan Peitroburgo, the team’s starting catcher, to keep his grip on the position.

Coleman describes the dynamic among the team’s catchers as one of simultaneous camaraderie and competition.

“The dynamic is competitive every day, but it’s one of those things; we’re like brothers,” he said. “We enjoy each other’s company, and we work hard to push each other every day.”

The Tigers’ pitching staff has seen several freshmen in action early in the year. Kyle Gibson, who leads all Tiger pitchers with 19 strikeouts, is the only freshman to earn a start this season. He has an 0-2 record and 4.02 ERA to go along with one of the team’s two saves.

Freshman Greg Folgia has seen time as a pitcher and fielder.

He holds a 2.45 ERA in 71/3 innings spread over five appearances, but has yet to record his first career hit, having gone 0-for-10 from the plate to this point.

Juggling Folgia’s potential as a pitcher and hitter will most likely lead coach Tim Jamieson to continue to split his time between appearances on the mound and in the field.