Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 HENDERSON, Tenn. - If the 2012 Lions look like they returned a lot of familiar faces, it is because they did. Coach Jonathan Estes returns starters at eight positions and the top five pitchers in innings pitched from a team that rallied to go 9-3 in conference play the final four weeks of the season to secure its seventh straight conference tournament appearance.


The Lions figure to rely on experience with 11 position players that had at least 15 starts last season and the addition of four transfers that started at their previous institution. The mound will be a place of familiarity as well with well over 600 college innings returning for a pitching staff that looks to be as deep as it is talented.

"We have almost an entire roster of players that have been recruited by the current coaching staff so we feel this year will be a good test of where we are and where we want to go," said Estes. "I think 'experience' is the best word to describe what we have with this team. We won't go through anything this year that hasn't already been experienced by these guys."

After having just two seniors last year, that combined for just three seasons of competition, the Lions look to 14 seniors to help them reach the NAIA Opening Round for the first time in school history.

"Having a bunch of seniors doesn't automatically mean you will be successful. We've talked to these guys and they understand what is at stake. You can feel there is a sense of urgency with these guys and that is good for the entire program," Estes said.

PITCHING
The Lions look to improve upon last season's 4.94 team ERA with a collection of solid returners and exciting newcomers. Hunter Newby, Roberto Ferguson, Andy Southard, and Charlie Overturf all return as weekend starters. Junior College transfer Daniel Wallace figures to pitch meaningful innings on the weekends to round out a solid rotation of arms. Amos Bingham has also started weekends during his career and could provide valuable depth if any of the top five go down.

"Newby has been a weekend guy the last three years and has gotten better every year. Andy is a guy that really steps his game up against better teams. His best starts last year were against the top teams in our conference. Roberto has ace quality stuff. He showed that down the stretch last season when he went 3-0 in his last four starts with a 1.08 ERA. Overturf won six games as a sophomore and battled through injury last year so we are excited to have him back at full strength. Wallace brings a different dimension that we haven't had the last two years. All five of these guys could be our No. 1 by the middle of the year," Coach Estes said.

Drew Suttles returns to anchor the bullpen after leading the team in appearances (25), ERA (2.81), and saves (5) as a freshman. The depth of the bullpen is a highlight for the Lions this season. Senior right-handers Bingham and Jonathan Soto along with southpaw Matt Singleton give the staff plenty of middle and late inning support. Left-handers Ryan Wood and Eric Tompkins give the Lions two additional experienced arms after assuming major roles on the junior varsity squad the last two seasons.

Sophomores Jake Francis and Joe Creasy as well as freshmen Ryan Fares and Keith Smith will look to take advantage of early opportunities. Sophomores Mark Malone and C.T. Palmer and freshmen Jackson Lockhart and Jordan Powell round out the pitching staff and will mostly be used to gain seasoning at the junior varsity level.

"We have the luxury of having a great deal of confidence in our bullpen," said Estes. "I have been on and coached teams where that wasn't the case. It had a detrimental impact on the starters and the offense because they tended to put extra pressure on themselves to make up for the frequent late-inning breakdowns. Our guys have great confidence in themselves and each other so that makes for a good feeling going into a 55-game schedule in three months."

CATCHERS
The one position the Lions had to replace from 2011 was behind the plate where only two starts return. Senior Josh Goodwin enjoyed a full fall season with the Lions after transferring in at Christmas break in 2011. Junior College transfer Ryan Seaton earned high praises in the fall from the pitching staff because of his blue collar approach and his ability to negate the running game. Highly anticipated freshman Jake Todd rounds out the catching trio after having a productive fall.

"Our catcher over the past couple of years, Leamond Arthur, is a difficult guy to replace because he was such an emotional presence to our team and a solid bat in the middle of the order. All three of these guys bring different attributes to the position that makes them stand out. Ryan is as good of a throwing catcher that I have had. Josh has the most experience being around our pitchers and going through a grueling Transouth Conference series and can help relate that to some of the younger guys. Jake has great ability and a great work ethic which will allow him to be successful."

INFIELD
The Transouth Conference will be hard pressed to find another infield with as much experience as the Lions in 2012. Joe Mike, Evan Mansell, and Robert Prieto have been fixtures in the line-up over the past three years and Kyle Dearing returns after starting 52 games as a freshman. Senior transfer Ben Ihde has started all three of his previous seasons as well to give the Lions another potent bat and steady glove.

"It makes you feel good as a coach when you look out on the field and see guys that have been there before and been successful," Estes said. "If you have a lot of returning players that haven't done very well, maybe that experience isn't a positive. Each of these guys have played at a very high level at differing stages of their collegiate career. If they can duplicate those stretches over the course of this season, we have the chance to win a bunch of games."

Mike returns at first base after hitting a combined .311 in his first two seasons. A summer in the Ohio Valley Collegiate League may have helped push the right-handed swinger over the hump after hitting .301 in the wood bat league. Freshman Sam Lewis will be the everyday guy on the junior varsity squad. Storm Bates returns to the team after injury ended his 2011 campaign before it ever started. Bates has the ability to play either corner infield position and could see time off the bench as a left-handed bat.

"Joe crushed the ball this fall. He has a better approach and knows his limitations as a hitter. He works very hard on his defense as well and has the potential to be a Gold Glove winner there," Estes said. "Storm hadn't swung a bat in a year and his first day back he looked better than before he got hurt. I am looking forward to seeing him healthy. Sam is a very exciting prospect that works hard and gives us pop in our junior varsity line-up."

Prieto returns for his junior campaign after hitting .391 with 32 doubles and 40 stolen bases in his first two seasons. Prieto will make the switch in positions to second base this season after starting the previous two years at short stop. Dearing moves over to short stop after spending 2011 at second base. Dearing led the Lions last season with 35 stolen bases after getting on base at a .442 clip.

Three sophomores and a junior provide depth in the middle infield. Lincoln Lakoff returns after hitting .293 in 17 starts as a freshman, mostly at DH. Dustin Speight appeared in 32 games as a freshman with his ability to play three infield positions and all three outfield positions. Tyler Anderson and Corbin Clark provide depth at second with Anderson having the ability to move to short or third if needed.

"Our middle infield is fun to watch at practice because they work very hard and are very competitive. Robert is affectionately known as 'The Machine' by his teammates because he goes about his work with a very unrelenting attitude," said Estes. "He makes the great play as good as anyone and we are looking for an All-Conference type season from him. Kyle is your throwback type player. He makes all the plays, he can situational hit, he takes the extra bags, he does whatever he is asked to in order to win. Lincoln and Dustin provide great depth because they have been exposed to this level and had very exciting moments."

Mansell figures to return to the clean-up spot after driving in 41 runs with seven home runs and 15 doubles as the starting third baseman. Mansell earned post-season All-Star honors in the New York Collegiate League this summer. Ihde transfers from Lambuth University where he was the starting third baseman for the Eagles. Ihde, a 2006 Cincinnati Reds draft pick, can play either corner position andbrings much needed left-handed pop to the order. Wes Morehead and Taylor DeLong are two freshman that figure to cut their teeth this season at the junior varsity level.

"Evan has the ability and work ethic to have a huge season. He was at the top of the league in home runs this summer in New York and even missed a lot of time with a concussion. Ben had the best offensive fall on the team. He is a big, left-handed bat with pop. He is another guy that knows how to play the game. I can see both of those guys starting at third, first or DH if Joe Mike is in the outfield," Estes said.

OUTFIELD
Justin Mackey returns to center field after a breakout sophomore season that saw him hit .409 with a .504 on-base percentage. Both numbers are among the all-time leaders at FHU. Seniors Kirkland Wheeler, Jesse Hykes and Tyler Wilson all saw significant action in the outfield as well last year with Wheeler making 49 starts and Hykes and Wilson making 28 and 25, respectively.

"Justin really surpassed expectations with the numbers he put up last year and the defense he played," said Estes. "The result is his expectations have gone up. Kirkland and Jesse both provide power bats and the ability to change the complexion of a game in one swing. Tyler really had a good fall and has got us excited to see him carry it over this spring."

Senior Blake Taylor returns after being the primary courtesy runner the past three years. Taylor has 42 career stolen bases in 42 career at bats. Jake Francis will pull double duty this season as a pitcher and position player. Francis hit .250 in 15 starts last year.

Two newcomers figure to see opportunities in the outfield for the Lions. Three Rivers College transfer Ryan Grigaitis has the ability to play in the infield or outfield and should help boost an already established line-up. Freshman Pete Trollinger impressed coaches in the fall with a smooth left-handed swing and plus abilities on defense. Juniors Matt Seevers and Seth Brothers join freshmen Mark Salisbury, Matt Gothard, and Mason Cothren as additional outfielders that will try to crack the rotation.

"Our outfield situation is probably the most competitive on the team. When you have six players back that started at least 15 games last year and add two junior college starters and several freshmen than can really play, it gives you a lot of possibilities and makes for a lot of competition," Estes said.