LEXINGTON, Va.- The VMI baseball team will shift its opening weekend series against Bucknell to Prince George High School, located in Prince George, Va., the program announced Friday afternoon.
With the Keydets' home field, Gray-Minor Stadium, currently unplayable due to snow and ice, PGHS has allowed the Keydets to use their home facility for this weekend's series. The schedule currently calls for a doubleheader to be played on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m., while Sunday's single game is also set for a 1 p.m. start.
“We'd like to sincerely thank (PGHS head baseball coach) Mickey Roberts, (PGHS Athletic Director) Bill Russell and community of Prince George for allowing us come down there and play this weekend,” said VMI head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “We're excited to get the season going, and we're very appreciative for Prince George allowing us to do just that.”
The Keydets open the year with a stern test, as the Bucknell Bison come in for a three-game set. The Bison are coming off a season that saw them tie for the regular season title in the Patriot League with a 13-7 mark, though BU fell in the conference semifinals in their bid for back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament. Back in 2008, Bucknell not only won the Patriot League title, but then stunned top-seeded Florida State, 7-0, in the first round of the Tallahassee Regional.
This season, the Bison return three of their four weekend pitchers, while five of the team's six hitters from a year previous also return. Leading the way is Gene Depew, who is in his 29th year at the helm of the BU baseball program, while A.J. Yoder, a 2009 VMI graduate, has joined the Bison coaching staff, joining his brother, Ben, who is a senior second baseman in the program. Bucknell was voted second in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, just behind defending champions Army.
The Keydets, meanwhile, also return a veteran nucleus, including seven of nine position starters, from a year ago. Consider the fact that VMI also returns five of its six hitters from last season and the hitters that accounted for 45 of the 55 home runs the team hit last season. On the mound, nine pitchers return from last season's staff, while three more hurlers that were injured for the '09 campaign also return to the staff.
VMI was picked sixth in the Big South Preseason Poll this season after an eight-place finish in 2009. Among the other preseason accolades for the Keydets this season, senior first baseman Jordan Ballard was tabbed as a First Team All-Conference player at first base by www.SEBaseball.com, while senior Tanner Biagini and junior Sam Roberts earned Second Team honors at third base and utility, respectively, from the website.
The series will also mark a homecoming for Sam Roberts, as he is one of several VMI players in recent years from PGHS. Roberts is slated to start Sunday's contest on the mound, and is expected to play shortstop in Saturday's games.
Saturday's first game is currently slated for seven innings, and will feature Keydet sophomore Adam Lopez against Bucknell junior Trey Frahler. The second contest, set for nine innings, will pit VMI freshman Coby Cowgill against BU junior Dylan Seeley, while Roberts and sophomore Jack Boehm are scheduled to meet Sunday.
Directions to the field from Lexington (approximately a two-hour, 45-minute drive) and the address of the field can be found below. Parking for fans is available at the field, and the facility does feature lights, allowing for play on Saturday evening. Fans can follow the action on live stats, available at www.VMIKeydets.com.
PGHS Address
7801 Laurel Spring Rd.
Prince George, VA 23875
Directions to PGHS Baseball Field from Lexington
Take Interstate 81 North to Interstate 64 East, toward Richmond.
Proceed to Exit 175, and take State Rt. 288 around Richmond.
At the end of State Rt. 288, take Interstate 95 South to Exit 48A (Wagner Rd. E).
Stay straight for 5 miles (Wagner Rd. becomes Courthouse Rd. (VA-106 N)), then turn right at Laurel Spring Rd. (State Rt. 616).
PGHS will be on your right after 1.5 miles. The baseball field is located behind the parking lots.
