Young Bulldog squad ready for opener

CSM, which finished last year ranked No. 1 in Northern California and No. 3 in the state finished with a 40-9 overall record (22-2 in Coast Conference play). It will take on a Feather River team that was No. 2 and No. 4. The Bulldogs knocked the Eagles out of the state Final Four last year.

"It should be a pretty exciting game with Feather River," said CSM manager Doug Williams. "We eliminated them in the Final Four so they'll probably be looking for some payback."

Williams has composed a rigorous non-conference schedule this season - the toughest in his 10 years as the Bulldogs' manager. With such a young squad this season, he figures it will test his team.

"We have nine games between now and [the opening of Coast Conference play]," Williams said. "Non-conference has a bearing on the post season so we won't take it lightly."

The Bulldogs lost their entire starting outfield from a year ago and one of the top pitchers in the nation in Scott Feldman, but the cupboard is far from bare. CSM picked up a number of the top baseball talent on the Peninsula and got a couple of bounce-back players from Division I programs meaning the Bulldogs are more like reloading instead of rebuilding.

"We got a lot of new faces," Williams said.

The good news for the Bulldogs is that they return their entire starting infield including all-conference infielder Nick Epidendio, catcher Dan Rosaia and pitcher Chris Mezzavilla. Rosaia should be the rock in the Bulldogs batting order. He batted .370 with 41 runs batted in last season.

"He hasn't shown anything to suggest he won't pick up where he left off last year," Williams said.

Pitching not a problem

If not for Feldman's spectacular career at CSM, Mezzavilla would have gotten a lot of publicity. The sophomore out of Sacred Heart Prep went 10-2 last season and has been named a captain this season. Williams expects Mezzavilla to be the staff's ace and will get the season-opening start.

"We're looking for his to be our No. 1," Williams said. "He's the type of player that wants that. He has a combination of power and finesse; walks few people; has a good command of the strike zone."

Williams also expects Jason Piepmeier, a Serra graduate and a transfer from the University of Hawaii, and Moses Kopmar, a transfer from Stanford, to be part of the starting rotation once they get completely healthy. Williams said both are suffering from some arm soreness and the team is just being cautious with their return.

While those two are mending, it opens up some innings for others including sophomore Matt Campbell and freshman Tony Brunicardi. Campbell, a lefty standout at Serra two years ago, saw a lot of innings last season, mostly out of the bullpen. Williams expects Campbell to be more of a starter this season.

"Matt Campbell has really stepped it up," Williams said. "His ability to keep the ball down in the zone has really improved. He has really mastered throwing the ball down in the zone."

Brunicardi was injured for a lot of his senior season at Burlingame last year but he appears to have rebounded and is impressing Williams.

"Brunicardi has had a very good fall and an impressive January," Williams said. "He's going to get a lot of innings."

Early in the season, Williams and pitching coach Steve Schefsky will be cautious with the pitching staff. It's a long season and at this early stage, health is always a concern.

"Certainly the most important thing is making the pitching moves at the right time. Without having played any games it's a bit of an experiment," Williams said. "We'll have a pitch count on each guy. With two guys out there will be a lot of guys getting a lot of innings this weekend."

Freshmen pushing for playing time

Despite having the entire starting infield returning intact, there is still plenty of competition at several of the positions. Robbie McDonald, a freshman who graduated from San Mateo last spring, is vying for time at third base. He proved he can swing the bat with authority at the high school and summer league level, but it remains to be seen if he can continue that at the college level. Williams expects McDonald to see plenty of action this season.

Cody Himes, a freshman out of Mountain View, is battling for time at shortstop along with incumbent C.J. Lang.

Freshmen outfielders Phil Girouard (Woodside), who can hit for power, and Durell Williams (Palo Alto), a burner who can chase down just about anything, are also pushing for playing time in their first year. Sophomore Daniel Nava (St. Francis) has also impressed Williams during the offseason.

Always optimistic

Despite a roster that is nearly half freshmen, Williams likes his team's chances. The Bulldogs have been a top program for a number of years and have enjoyed two of their most successful seasons the previous two years.

"I think we have a talented group. It will take a little while to get this group's feet on the ground because we're so young," Williams said. "It's a great time of year. Something always happens when you put on those Bulldog pinstripes."