SPOKANE, Wash. - Its a fresh start for the 2009 Whitworth baseball team. The Pirates will have several new faces on the team and the Bucs will be playing for new head coach Dan Ramsay. Whitworth hopes to improve on a 2008 season that was beset by injury and stunted by poor weather that prevented the team from actually practicing outside until mid-March.

“We will be young all over the field and sure to experience some ups and downs, but we have the talent that might allow us to surprise some people this year,” said Ramsay, who finished his playing career with the Pirates last spring and moved directly into the role as head coach.

“We should be very solid all the way through the lineup in terms of our offensive production. It’s a very versatile group, which will allow us to experiment with line-ups early in the schedule to find which will be our best,” Ramsay continued. “We are very deep defensively, having a number of guys that can play a number of different positions, and we’ve also made some improvements to our pitching staff this year.”

On the mound Whitworth will return three of four starters from 2008. Chad Flett (Sr., RHP, Spokane, Wash.) was granted an extra hardship year based on an injury he suffered during his time with the Community Colleges of Spokane that cost him an entire season. Flett went 4-6 last year and was named First Team All-NWC as a utility player. Colin Gibbs (Jr., LHP, Lewiston, Idaho) and Nathan Johnson (So., RHP, Colfax, Wash.) each started eight games for the Pirates last season.

The fourth starting spot should be up for grabs. Brent Flyberg (Sr., RHP, Brier, Wash.) and Liam O’Brien (So., LHP, Prosser, Wash.) are the only other returning players with experience from last season. Stephen Baranowski (So., RHP, Camas, Wash.) showed promise as a freshman in 2007 before not playing last year. Peter Birdwell (Jr., RHP, Spokane, Wash.) is a transfer from California Lutheran University with strong collegiate experience and his younger brother Scott Birdwell (Fr., RHP, Spokane, Wash.) threw well at Mead High School. Ryan Reitmeier (Jr., RHP, Medical Lake, Wash.) has two seasons of experience with the Community Colleges of Spokane.

Dillon Knighton (Fr., RHP, Tacoma, Wash.), James King (Fr., RHP, Issaquah, Wash.), Travis Todd (Fr., RHP, Odessa, Wash.) and Tom Banta (Fr., RHP, Lake Oswego, Ore.) could all see time on the mound out of the bullpen.

One of Ramsay’s biggest challenges will be filling his own spot behind the plate. Ben George (So., C, Vancouver, Wash.) is the only returnee with any experience with the Pirates. Newcomers include Chris Bartenhagen (Jr., C, Gilbert, Ariz.), a transfer from New Mexico Military Academy, and Taylor McMahon (RS Fr., Spokane, Wash.).

Competition for starting spots throughout the infield are intense. The only position that seems likely to look a lot like last season is first base, where Flett should start when he is not on the mound.

Matt Monahan (Jr., IF, West Linn, Ore.), who started 32 games at third base for the Bucs last spring, could have an inside track on returning to that role this season, but he will certainly be pushed hard for the job.

Several newcomers should challenge for starting spots around the infield. Luis Tovar (Jr., IF, Yuma, Ariz.) is a transfer from Riverside CC (Calif.). Andrew Durant (Fr., IF, Spokane, Wash.) and Landon Scott (Fr., IF, Kennewick, Wash.) are highly-regarded first year players from Rogers High School and Kennewick High School, respectively. Michael Takemura (Fr., IF, Bellingham, Wash.) and Nick Combo (Fr., IF, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho) give Ramsey extensive depth and flexibility throughout the infield.

Whitworth returns plenty of experience in the outfield. Mitch Ramsay (Sr., OF, Spokane, Wash.) led the Pirates in batting average (.336) and runs batted in (23) last season. He will return to start in right field. Dan Belet (Jr., OF, Missoula, Mont.) spent most of last season in center field, where he led Pirate outfielders in putouts (97) and hit .293. But he should move back to his normal starting position in left field, thanks to the return of Kevin Valerio (RS Fr., OF, Kennewick, Wash.), who was hurt the first weekend of the season and missed the rest of the spring. Mitch Nelson (Jr., OF, Wenatchee, Wash.) ended up starting 34 games for the Bucs and gives the team a strong fourth outfielder.

Ben Price (So., OF, Richland, Wash.) and C.J. Perry (Fr., Newman Lake, Wash.) should give Whitworth solid depth in the outfield.

Kyle Krustangel (So., Spokane, Wash.) should see plenty of time in Whitworth’s line up as a designated hitter. He is another player who was slated to fill a starting role last season, but was lost to injury early in the year. JR Jarrell (Fr., Brewster, Wash.) is another player who gives Ramsay plenty of flexibility to use him at DH, first base or outfield.

The Pirates will be put to the test early, competing at a tournament in Peoria, Arizona February 19-21. The first Northwest Conference series follows the next weekend at Puget Sound, with the home opening series coming March 7-8 against Linfield.

Ramsay sees a bright future for his group, but he also understands it will be a learning process that every player has to buy into.

“I want my guys to understand we’re a team and that no one guy is necessary, but every guy is needed,” he said.