USF DONS
Postseason Play Ahead?

Goals and Expectations for 2010

Returning 23 letter winners and 13 pitchers puts the USF Dons in a good spot to jump into postseason play, especially after finishing just one game out of second place in the WCC last season. Head coach Nino Giarratano wants to lead his team to another NCAA Regional, but knows it's the day-to-day things that will get them there.

Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American LHP Matt Lujan returns to lead the Dons in the West Coast Conference. Photo: courtesy USF.

"I think the goals and expectations of the year are to play up to our capabilities and pitch and play defense and be competitive every day out," said Giarratano. "I don't know if you can equate it into 35, 36, 37 wins on the field, but this team has the capability of putting up enough quality wins to get us into another Regional. I think we're capable of winning a conference championship and going into a Regional and going into a Super Regional. Our goal, obviously, is to play in Omaha and it'd really be nice to chase that dream down and give it to the kids and the university, and the city of San Francisco."

Different Look for the New Season

Over the past few years the Dons have stolen a lot of bases, including 107 last season. USF also focused a lot on pitching and defense, but this season it may be a different team. The 2010 team is built as more of an offensive club with pitching depth. There won't be as many stolen bases, but Giarratano doesn't feel that is a detriment with this squad.

"We really like the pitching depth we have with this group, but as far as team speed, we aren't going to be running as much as we did last year," Giarratano said. "That's one commodity that's tough to recruit, just plain speed. But all in all, I think this team will hit more home runs, so the speed isn't going to be as much of a factor. We still have quality team speed, we just don't have the burners we've had in the last few years, who could just out and out steal bases."

Two Dons were drafted after the season, with the Cincinnati Reds taking shortstop Derek Poppert in the 23rd round and the Oakland A's calling on junior catcher Ryan Lipkin in the 43rd round. Both players returned to the Dons lineup for this season.

Pitching

Pitching will be the team's biggest strength going into the season. Three starters return: senior right-hander Doug Murray, junior left-hander Matt Lujan and sophomore right-hander Cameron Love. Right-handed junior Matt Hiserman will possibly see some starts, but will most likely transition into a closing roll. Top bullpen guys like junior righties Jonathan Abramson and Garrett Luippold return to the mix.

"The pitching staff definitely knows what's ahead of them and what they need to do to sustain," said Giarratano. "Their experience is invaluable, but they need to go out and pitch well, and that should equate to wins for us over the course of the season."

Team USA

Giarratano will once again serve as an assistant coach for USA Baseball's National Collegiate Team this summer. He previously assisted in 2008, and helped lead the team to a gold medal in the FISU world championship in the Czech Republic. Lipkin was also a part of the 24-0 U.S. team.

"I'm extremely humbled by the opportunity to wear USA on my chest and coach the best players in the country," said Giarratano. "I'm excited to return."

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