Feb. 5, 2007
The following is the third part in a five-part series previewing the 2007 Mizzou Baseball season. In part three, we take a a look at the Tigers' infielders and catchers.
Experience is plentiful in the infield for Mizzou in 2007.
Senior Gary Arndt started 61 of the Tigers' 63 games in 2006 at shortstop and has 163 career starts under his belt heading into the upcoming season. He is among the top defensive shortstops in the Big 12 Conference and came on strong at the plate in 2006. He hit .280 with five home runs a year ago and finished with 43 RBI, which was second most on the team.
Fellow senior John McKee has 102 starts during his career at Missouri, most coming at third base. He will move across the infield in 2007, making the switch from third to first base. McKee has 11 career home runs, including one in last year's NCAA Regional, where he was named to the Malibu Regional All-Tournament Team.
Junior Brock Bond was the MVP of the Malibu Regional last June and led the Tigers with a .338 batting average on the season. He played both second base and third base for MU last season and could be found at either position in 2007.
Sophomore Kyle Mach started five games and played in 32 for MU in his freshman season. He hit a home run in the second game of the series with Mississippi Valley State and followed that with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored in the finale of the series with MVSU.
Junior Lee Fischer joins the Tigers after spending last season at South Suburban College in Illinois, where he was a first team All-American and the Easton Defensive Player of the Year.
Freshmen Greg Folgia and Ryan Allen will also see time in the infield, as well as on the mound. As a senior, Folgia hit .634 for Christopher Dock High and Allen had a .450 average with five home runs at Stillwater.
Frehsman Aaron Senne could see time in the outfield or at first base for MU in 2007.
Junior Dan Pietroburgo is the lone returning catcher on Mizzou's 2007 roster. He has played in 42 games as a Tiger, including 11 starts.
Senior Dan Quinn transfers to Missouri from the University of Buffalo, where he had a .305 batting average with nine home runs and threw out 14 baserunners last year.
Dan Wise redshirted as a freshman last season and adds depth behind the plate for the Tigers.
Freshman Trevor Coleman was a two-time all-district catcher for Dripping Springs (Texas) High School, hitting .347 as a senior. He was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft last summer.
2007 MIZZOU BASEBALL SEASON PREVIEW
PART I- 2006 in Review
PART II- 2007 Pitching Staff
PART III- 2007 Infielders
PART IV- 2007 Outfielders
PART V- A look at the 2007 Schedule
