Part 1: Infielders, Thursday
Part 2: Outfielders, Friday, Feb. 2
Part 3: Pitchers, Monday, Feb. 5
Part 4: Catchers, Wednesday, Feb. 7

SAN FRANCISCO - Baseball season is right around the corner with the first series of the year slated for 4 p.m., Feb.16 at the University of Texas San Antonio. With that in mind, it's time to start previewing the 2018 Diamond Dons. First up, the infielders.

"In the infield it's a rebuild from where we were a year ago, said Nino Giarratano, who is entering his 20th season at the helm for the Dons. "We got our first baseman back, while a couple of players will be making position changes from last year. We lose the 2016 conference defensive player of the year, leader in assists and putouts, so that's a going to be a tough situation."
 
The projected starting lineup has a mix of veteran talent, as well as a younger crop that will be getting called upon to step in. Seniors Michael Perri and Ross Puskarich will be the leaders of the group, as both had significant playing time in 2017.

Perri will enter the season making a position change from second base to shortstop. Last year, Perri hit .312 while driving in 22 runs. He did this while putting together a strong year at second base, totaling 127 putouts and 159 assists in 56 games last season.
 
"Perri is a wonderful player and we look forward to seeing him make this position change back to shortstop. He played most of his career there, so look for him to be a great player there this season."
 
Puskarich will return to his post at first base after playing in 55 games last season at the position. In the 2017 campaign, he hit .262 while driving in 30 runs, which was good for fifth on the team. On the defensive side, Puskarich boasted a fielding percentage of .993.

At third base, USF will see a newcomer in Jack Winkler. Winkler, a Littleton, Colo. native, comes to USF from Chatfield High school, where he had a standout career. He made an all-conference team in three of his fours years in high school, highlighted by his first-team all-conference honors in his senior year. He hit .431 with 25 RBIs and eight home runs in his final season.

"Third base is a position that sees intense competition each day, as we have three guys at that position that can step in," said Giarratano. "Jack looks to be the one that will get the nod. He will be our future shortstop the next three years after Mike (Perri) graduates, and we're really excited about Jack's future."

Riki Urata and Matt Campos return to the fold for the Dons, with Urata slated to play back up to Aaron Ping at second base. Campos on the other hand will provide depth in multiple spots as a utility man this year.

"Riki will lead with some stability defensively behind Ping at second base, or at short or third," said Giarratano. "Matt is very interchangeable, playing second, short, third and catch, so he is a valuable utility guy."
 
Rounding out the depth chart for the Dons will be a host of newcomers, including a pair of freshmen and two junior college transfers. Freshman Dominic Grissom will back up Winkler at third base this year along with JC transfer Jordan Barchus. At second base, freshman Kyle Knell will see action as the backup for Ping to provide the senior with a day off or rest. Junior college transfer Jason Kreske will backup Puskarich at first base, bringing in a strong bat as well as being a defensive replacement at times.
 
"We feel confident in what we're doing infield wise, we have some good depth," said Giarratano. "It will really come down to if we can catch it on the road as well as we do at home when we're playing on turf."

2018 PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
C Riley Helland        .308 BA / 3 2B / 13 RBI
1B Ross Puskarich    .262 BA / 3 HR / 30 RBI
2B Aaron Ping          .172 BA / 2 HR / 7 RBI
3B Jack Winkler^     .431 BA / 8 HR / 25 RBI
SS Michael Perri    .312 BA / 17 2B / 22 RBI
LF Jonathan Allen* .316 BA / 7 HR / 40 RBI
CF Tyler Villaroman    .194 BA / 21 R / 16 steals
RF Brady Bate    .277 BA / 4 HR / 23 RBI
DH Robert Emery"  .275 BA / 2 HR / 18 RBI
    RJ Cordeiro'         .322 BA / 3 HR / 27 RBI

*- 2017 Stats from Los Medanos CC
' – 2017 Stats from Yavapai College
" – 2016 stats from Dartmouth
^ - 2017 Stats from Chatfield High School