Georgia Bulldogs
Overall rank: #29
Conference rank: #7 SEC
Georgia Team Page
To most average baseball fans, Georgia was just that in 2011… average. The Bulldogs were only one game above .500 in overall play and two games above it in the Southeastern Conference. Still, they recorded key victories against SEC foes at the conference tournament in May, and that was enough to get the Bulldogs another trip to the NCAA tournament. The league is loaded with talent once again, as it usually is, so an average finish might not cut the mustard this time around.
2011: 33-32, 16-14
2011 Postseason: Eliminated in Corvallis regional (lost to Creighton, beat Arkansas-Little Rock and Creighton, lost to Oregon State)
Coach: David Perno
Field Players:
Infielders Levi Hyams and Kurt Farmer (see Who to Watch) anchor what could be a fairly deep hitting lineup. The two were the only regular hitters to go over .300 on a regular basis, but there are plenty of backups behind the duo. Top home run hitters Brett DeLoach (.263-5-27) and Jonathan Hester (.243-6-25, 10 doubles) return, giving heft to a class that was already young in 2011. Also returning is senior outfielder Peter Verdin (.258-1-15, 13 stolen bases).
Pitchers:
You thought the Georgia hitting lineup was impressive? Take a look at the pitching rotation. The top two pitchers from a year ago, Michael Palazzone and Alex Wood, both return. Palazzone is a senior who posted a 10-5 record, 3.14 earned run average and amazing control on the mound. Palazzone walked only 11 batters and fanned 78 in 120 1/3 innings. Wood (6-7, 4.44) did not have the best record on the mound but his pitching performance was pretty impressive as well. Wood walked just 25 batters and struck out 79 in 101 1/3 innings of work. If the two can combine for another solid campaign and get some help from a third party Georgia may have a strong 2012 campaign. Tyler Maloof posted a 2-2 record and 7.16 ERA, but he managed to save 18 games. His ERA might have been maddening, but there’s no question Maloof helped the Bulldogs earn over half their wins.
Who to Watch:
Hyams and Farmer are the two top hitters on the Georgia roster and there’s no question both are key to future success Georgia will have in 2012. Hyams batted .332 with five homers and 38 runs batted in a year ago and also led the team in hits (86) and doubles (17). As for Farmer, he hit .308-8-58 with eight doubles and 78 hits among his totals. Hyams stole eight bases, but Farmer wasn’t particularly fleet on feet. Whatever the case, the Bulldogs need the bats now more than anything, and both players will be heavily counted on.
Final Projection:
With a good portion of its hitting lineup intact and the top two pitchers back, not to mention a successful closer, Georgia could improve by leaps and bounds. As it stands the Bulldogs will likely make the NCAA tournament, but how well they do from there depends on how newcomers fit into the lineup along with the veterans. The SEC may be a stacked conference, but there is no question it prepares players and teams for postseason play.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At bats: Levi Hyams, IF, 259
Hits: Levi Hyams, IF, 86
Home Runs: Kyle Farmer, IF, 8
RBIs: Kyle Farmer, IF, 58
Runs: Levi Hyams, IF, 49
Stolen Bases: Peter Verdin (OF), 13
Wins: Michael Palazzone, P, 10
Innings Pitched: Michael Palazzone, P, 120.1
Strikeouts: Alex Wood, P, 79
Saves: Tyler Maloof, P, 18
