The Panthers kick off the 2012 season next Friday, Feb. 17, beginning a four-game home series against Western Illinois. First pitch for Friday's game one is slated for 4 p.m. at the GSU Baseball Complex. Click here for ticket information.

Leading Off

            The Georgia State baseball team will look to blend a mix of veteran leadership and promising young talent in 2012 as it seeks a fourth straight CAA postseason appearance.           

            After the loss of 15 seniors from last year's 37-win club, GSU brings into the fold a skilled group that Panther fans will be cheering on for years to come. With many departures from the lineup and the mound, GSU must replace nearly three-quarters of its scoring offense and over two-thirds of its innings pitched from 2011.

            Thirteen players return from last year's squad to anchor the cause, while GSU welcomes 19 new faces- 10 freshmen, three sophomores, four juniors and two seniors- into the mix for 2012.

            Greg Frady enters his sixth year as head coach and looks to continue his unprecedented success at the school. His 169-121-1 record gives him the highest winning percentage among GSU's eight all-time coaches and already puts him in second for most wins.

            Frady has taken the team to four postseason appearances in his first five years, including GSU's first-ever NCAA Regional appearance after capturing the 2009 Colonial Athletic Association crown.

            Frady is joined by second-year pitching coach Jason Arnold, who led the Panther staff to immediate success in his first year. The former collegiate ace and professional hurler helped GSU to a record-low 4.29 ERA and seven shutouts in 2011.

            The offensive staff is bolstered by first-year assistant Willie Stewart, a former head coach at UNC Asheville that set many school records in his five seasons with the Bulldogs. Also working with Panther batters is first-year volunteer assistant Tim Burgess, one of the best hitters in GSU history, who still holds the Panther single-season batting title with a .413 average in 2004.

            As a nod to the consistency of the program under Frady, the Panthers have once again been picked to finish in the thick of the CAA postseason race. League coaches have slotted GSU fourth in preseason voting. The Panthers have not finished below fourth since 2008 and GSU is one of just two CAA schools to reach each of the last three conference tournaments, joining UNC Wilmington.

            This year welcomes changes to both the CAA postseason format and venue. The top six schools in the conference standings will reach the league tournament this year, as it was played until 2009. Meanwhile, the target shifts from longtime-host Brooks Field at UNCW to James Madison University's Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park. The Dukes' turf-field facility opened in 2010 and the Panthers are 2-1 in their brief history at the park.

Infielders

            While much of the GSU defensive lineup has left from 2011, the Panthers have the luxury of all-conference infielders at both corners in senior Brandon Williams and junior Drew Shields.

            Williams, a Marietta, Ga. native who continues his assault on the school record books, figures to anchor first base in his final season in a Panther uniform. The senior was named to the 2012 preseason all-conference team after taking first-team all-CAA accolades in 2011. Williams batted .342 a season ago with 36 RBIs, 12 doubles and 43 runs scored. He stands tied for fourth in school history with a .359 career average at the plate and ranks in the top 10 of five additional GSU career categories.

            Shields joins Williams on the league's 2012 all-preseason team after taking home second-team all-CAA accolades in his first year at GSU. The junior college transfer became a fixture in the Panther lineup in 2011, racking up a .321 average over 45 games with 20 RBIs and 35 runs scored. He will likely man third base for the Panthers this year and is also available as a designated hitter.

            Senior Daniel Blaustein returns as the team's lone veteran middle infielder. Blaustein has made 79 career appearances- mostly at second base, including 18 starts. He can start or be used as a valuable pinch-hitter off the Panther bench and will help bring along GSU's talented young group of middle infielders.

            GSU's trio of freshman newcomers up the middle have the coaching staff very excited about the future and will compete for playing time right away.

            Caden Bailey, an all-region player from nearby Lambert High in Suwanee, can step in at either shortstop or second base. Roy Seltenrijch, who comes to GSU from Redderkerk, Netherlands, will also compete for a starting job up the middle. Seltenrijch has played the last three years in the Dutch Major Leagues and exhibits skill beyond his years. Meanwhile, Caleb Gore, an all-state selection at North Forsyth High in Cumming, is another talented freshman that figures to earn playing time immediately. Gore has also been worked out as a pitcher to provide the Panthers with multiple options.

            Junior Greg Bowder also offers depth at either shortstop or second base, having starred at Harrison High in Kennesaw then playing one season for Young Harris College before coming to GSU.

            Freshman Alex Prescott from nearby Marietta's Walton High swings a big bat and can play a variety of positions for the Panthers, including first base.

Catchers

            GSU has replenished its catching unit with two experienced junior college standouts and one true freshman from metro-Atlanta, and it's a tight three-way race for starting time.

            Junior Landon Anderson is a strong candidate the for job, joining the Panther club after earning all-conference honors behind the plate a season ago at Gordon College. He batted over .300 in each of his first two collegiate seasons.

            Fellow junior Scott Sarratt flashes a terrific glove behind the plate, one that earned him national Gold Glove status as a catcher last season for Georgia Perimeter College. He finished with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 2011 after converting all 285 defensive chances.

            Also a quality option despite his youth is freshman Joel Van Asch, an all-county selection out of Whitewater High in Fayetteville. He batted .437 from the left side of the plate a year ago in leading his prep squad to the state finals and figures to see action quickly due to his all-around ability.

Outfielders

            The Panther outfield crew will be another brand new unit that includes one veteran returning from injury, a standout youngster and two football stars.

            The one returning letterman is Jonathan Kolowich, a talented player from Kennesaw who redshirted last season with a back injury. Kolowich is a career .309 hitter with 11 home runs and 66 RBIs over three seasons, and he looks to regain his form in 2012. He is currently tied for seventh all-time at GSU with nine sacrifice flies.

            True freshman Kody Adams excites the GSU staff as much as any player, as his scholastic resume is as strong as any recruit in program history. Adams finished seventh all-time in Georgia high school record books with 182 career hits at Pike County High in Williamson. His 65 hits last season were the fourth-most in state single-season history and earned him Georgia Dugout Club AA Player of the Year honors as he batted .550 and took his squad to the state finals. Adams bats left-handed and flashes great speed around the bases, giving the Panthers a talented all-around option for the top of the order.

            A star at linebacker on the gridiron for GSU, prep baseball standout Mark Hogan joins the Panther outfield for the 2012 season. Hogan has two years of eligibility on the diamond as he adds great athleticism and talent to the outfield unit. Hogan starred for four high school seasons at Lincoln-Sudbury in Massachusetts, boasting a career .363 average and claiming all-conference honors his senior year.

            Another player trading in the pigskin is outfielder Landon Bennett, a three-year kicker on the Wofford College football team who also played baseball for the Terriers. He has one year of eligibility at GSU and is an early starting option after having a strong fall. On the diamond, Bennett drove in 73 runs over three seasons at Wofford after an all-region career at metro-Atlanta's Greater Atlanta Christian school.

            Gabe Shivers is a fellow senior who joins the Panther squad as a speedy outfield option from Emory University. He is another left-handed hitter who earned all-conference honors for the Eagles and boasted a terrific fielding percentage roaming the outfield. He can be used in many different ways for GSU.

Designated Hitter

            Redshirt-senior Joey Wood, who coaches call one of the best hitters in program history, will mainly be featured at DH in 2012.

            Wood's numbers back up the acclaim- he boasts a career .355 average, just 17 points off the school record, and stands in the school's top 10 all-time for slugging percentage (.558).

            Before being sidelined by injuries last season, Wood batted .309 with 20 RBIs and 40 total bases in just 20 games. Many of his 112 career appearances have come in the outfield, but the coaching staff will likely keep Wood in the DH role in 2012.

Pitchers

            The revamped Georgia State pitching staff looks to continue the momentum of a unit that boasted the best ERA of any CAA team during the regular season (4.23) in 2011. While many newcomers are on hand this year, a core unit of veterans will be relied upon throughout the season. A couple of key injuries however will hamper some returning fire power.

            Right-hander Justin Malone, the school's all-time ERA (3.79) and win percentage (.857) leader, will miss the early part of the season after having knee surgery over the winter break. The senior from Abingdon, Va. boasts a career 12-2 record and also holds the all-time GSU saves mark (12). Coaches hope to have Malone in top shape for the CAA season beginning in late March as he looks to duplicate a terrific 2011 campaign. In his first year as a starter, Malone earned a school-record three CAA Pitcher of the Week honors last year and picked up seven victories over 85 innings.

            While Malone figures to return later this year, the Panthers won't be as lucky with another top right-hander. Senior Nick Squeglia had offseason Tommy John surgery performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews and will redshirt the 2012 season. He will be one of the Panthers' top options in 2013, having earned 11 career wins.

            Luckily for the Panthers, an All-America standout headlines the group of arms who are healthy and ready for action this spring.

            Senior right-hander Jake Dyer, who was named an NCBWA Preseason All-America third-teamer, figures to transition into a starting role after excelling as closer last year. In his first year with GSU after transferring from junior college, Dyer went 3-0 in 2011 with a team-low 1.67 ERA. He finished with eight saves- two shy of the school single-season record- and allowed just six runs and seven walks in 32.1 innings en route to third-team all-CAA honors.

            Dyer will likely be GSU's Opening Day starter, leading a group comprised of seven returnees and seven promising newcomers.

            Returning for his senior season is four-year Panther Ben Marshall, whose 36 career appearances stand second on the team only to Malone. The right-hander has done it all in his time at GSU, having started five times and saving three games.

            Fellow senior right-hander Tyler Claburn also figures to be one of GSU's go-to arms. He saw action in 10 games last year, striking out 11 batters in his first season with GSU after transferring from junior college.

            Junior right-handers Cole Outz and Brandon Bast return after combining for 12 appearances and a 1-1 record in 2011, their first year with the team. Each will have a chance to be prominently featured on the mound this year.

            Redshirt-sophomore Aidan McLaughlin is another strong option for the Panthers in any spot, as he held opponents to a .190 average in his first season of action in 2011.

            Two incoming sophomores figure to play a key role in 2012. Hunter Cash, a left-hander from Buford, Ga., comes to GSU after making seven appearances with Middle Georgia College last season. Jason Boulais, a right-hander from Cocoa, Fla., makes the move to Atlanta after 16 strikeouts in 13 appearances with Indian River State College in Florida.

            Meanwhile, the Panthers welcome four talented freshmen arms who will not only brighten the future, but can help immediately.

            Six-foot-seven Max Schmitz, a right-hander from Bonn, Germany, comes to GSU having already competed for head coach Greg Frady on the world stage. Schmitz appeared with Frady's German national squad at both the 2011 World Port Tournament in Holland and the 2011 Baseball World Cup in Panama, where he allowed just one earned run in eight innings against some of the world's best competition.

            Stateside, GSU brings in three additional freshmen. First is right-hander Jerry Stuckey, a standout homeschooler from Perry, Ga., who once tossed a perfect game in club ball. Then come two players from the Sunshine State: T.J. Sullivan, an all-metro left-hander from Winter Garden, Fla., and Connor Stanley, an all-conference right-hander from nearby Oviedo, Fla. The two combined to go 15-2 with 116 strikeouts last year in their senior high school seasons.

            It's not just the position players who have college football experience. Redshirt-sophomore right-hander Travis Lee will make the move to the mound in 2012 after playing on coach Bill Curry's inaugural team as a defensive lineman in 2010. While a two-sport high school star at Spalding High in Griffin, Ga., Lee earned all-state honors as both a catcher and pitcher. He then played one fall season at Darton College.

            One thing the 2012 Panther pitching staff will have on its side is height. GSU boasts five pitchers who are six-foot-three or taller in Schmitz (6'7"), Outz (6'6"), McLaughlin (6'4"), Claburn (6'3") and Lee (6'3").

2012 Schedule

            The GSU baseball team will tackle a formidable 56-game schedule that features five teams who competed in last year's NCAA tournament- three of whom finished inside the RPI top-20.

            The Panthers will play five in-state opponents, taking on city rival Georgia Tech in a home-and-home two-game stint and locking up once with Georgia in Athens. GSU will also battle in-state foes Kennesaw State and Mercer multiple times and adds Savannah State into the mix.

            Georgia State is slated to play 29 home games at the Panthersville baseball complex during the year.

            GSU adds a host of additional tests to the schedule, including Austin Peay and Stetson, NCAA tournament teams from a year ago.

            The Panthers will play all 10 Colonial Athletic Association opponents once again this season, each in a three-game series, for 30 games.

            "This schedule will be one of the most difficult and challenging of my tenure as coach at Georgia State," says Frady. "We've added some new tests, continue series with the top teams in the state and have our traditional conference foes who always present a challenge. This schedule definitely tests our team and the early-season slate will certainly prepare us for conference play."

Season Outlook

            After re-tooling much of the lineup and facing a stiff 2012 slate, the Panthers will certainly have their work cut out for them as they look to reach a fourth-straight CAA tournament this spring.

            With senior leaders like Williams, Malone, Dyer, Wood and Kolowich, the team still boasts plenty of experience and looks to use that to its advantage throughout the year.

            If the Panther pitching staff can find the right mix of arms to depend on and some young position players contribute quickly, GSU will almost certainly contend in every game it plays, no matter the competition.

            While many of the names have changed, Panther fans can expect another thrilling season as GSU looks to capture its second CAA championship in four years and reach the NCAA tournament once more.