Happy Valley Hardball with a sabermetrics twist

The High Point Panthers and Penn State Nittany Lions have something in common other than a similar looking mascot. Both are coached by sons of major leaguers. Penn State’s Robbie Wine is the son of longtime Philadelphia Phillie Bobby Wine, while High Point’s Sal Bando, Jr’s dad toiled in the Oakland age organization for years. Both coaches are also graduates of Oklahoma State University.

High Point was a preseason pick for fifth place in the Big South Conference poll of athletic directors and coaches. High Point finished last season at 27-30 (10-11) and return starters at all nine positions.

They were the third best hitting team in the league last year so some early fireworks wouldn’t be too surprising even if pitchers are normally ahead of hitters this time of year.

The potential star of this team looks to be All Big South returnee junior infielder Jeff Cowan. College Baseball Insider named Cowan the Big South’s “Most Underrated Hitter” last season.

The Panthers also return five .300 hitters from last year’s starting lineup. In addition to Cowan (2B, .339), Randy Schwartz (3B/1B, .338), Bill Manion (OF, .337), Alfie Wheeler (SS, .320), and Big South Freshman of the Year Robbie Kuzdale (OF, .330) all topped the magic .300 mark.

On the mound the Panthers lost two pitchers to the draft but return two-year starter Bubba O’Donnell. O’Donnell will receive help from incoming transfer Ryan Basham.

Basham is expected to get the season opener start this afternoon against Mike Wanamaker for PSU. The second game will likely feature Matt Schlanger for the Panters opposing the Nits’ Mike Lorentson. Tomorrow should see the aforementioned Bubba O’Donnell or Jamie Serber facing either Seth Whitehill, Ryan Stobart, or TJ Macy for the Lions.

Following this series, the Nits will travel to Dothan AL for a set of games next weekend against Troy, Kennesaw State, and Wake Forest.