A revamped pitching staff and the return of two-time All-Ivy League selection Brian Billigen highlight the Cornell baseball team as it kicks off its 2012 season this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders at Maryland-Eastern Shore.
 
Bill Walkenbach returns for his fourth season as the Ted Thoren Head Coach of Baseball with hopes of orchestrating an improvement from the Big Red's 10-30 record and fourth-place finish in the Ivy League's Gehrig Division last season.
 
Starting Pitchers
The pitching staff has almost a completely new look to it this year. The emergence of several young arms has the coaching staff excited about the future. With so many young and talented pieces to the staff, we will need some more time for things to shake out before we know exactly who will be in the starting rotation for Ivy League weekends. There are a number of guys who will get starts and quality innings early in the season.
 
Following a strong finish to the 2011 season, sophomore RHP Connor Kaufmann has staked a strong claim to be one of the top options in the starting rotation.  His strong command of four pitches and consistency on the mound makes him a very challenging pitcher to face. Showing a quality fastball that he can spot anywhere, a solid change up, and an impressive slider, freshman RHP Brian McAfee has been dominant so far this spring and will be in the mix. Freshman RHP Brent Jones is a powerful right-hander with a low 90s fastball that he can put past hitters. His much-improved off-speed pitches make him a solid option as a starter.
 
Senior RHP Rick Marks had a solid summer in the Coastal Plains League in 2011 for the Gastonia Grizzlies with a 3.96 ERA in 50 innings pitched. With consistent command of three pitches and a knack for getting hitters out, he will make a strong case for starting in 2012. Freshman RHP Roberto Suppa is a big, talented young arm with a low 90s fastball and a power breaking ball. After getting drafted by the San Diego Padres out of high school, he has a bright future as a starting rotation pitcher for the Red.

Junior LHP TJ Parthemer is a transfer from Bellevue Community College who is coming off Tommy John surgery. He has a strong record of being a strikeout pitcher with a solid repertoire of pitches.  If his rehab continues to go well, he could be a factor in the starting rotation. Senior RHP Jeeter Ishida is a transfer from Arizona State who is eligible for the first time this spring due to the transfer rule. He mixes four pitches effectively and can frustrate hitters when the bottom drops out of his split-fingered fastball.
 
On the back end of games will be freshman RHP Kellen Urbon. A hard-throwing young arm with plus command and an impressive breaking ball, he will put pressure on hitters from pitch No. 1. Setting up for Urbon will be junior RHP Houston Hawley. Hawley is a "high Baseball IQ" pitcher who knows how to approach hitters. He has shown exceptional movement on all of his pitches and keeps his infielders busy with a lot of ground balls.

Reliefs Pitchers
In relief this year will be a solid mix of young and veteran arms. Senior RHP Pat Lewicki is coming off arm surgery and will look to bring veteran stability to the bullpen. Lewicki's over-the-top arm slot and deceptive change-up are difficult for hitters to adjust to.
 
Junior RHP Mike Kazley is coming off a fractured throwing elbow. He has the ability to pound the strike zone and challenge hitters from the get-go. Classmate RHP Joe Sinopoli has a good fastball and can give right-handed hitters fits with his low arm slot.
 
When sophomore LHP Chris Cruz is not hitting in the middle of the lineup and playing right field, he will bring his solid fastball and power breaking ball to the mound. Sophomore RHP Jimmy Sikorski brings plus command and a very effective change up to the staff.
 
Freshman LHP Nick Busto does a good job of keeping hitters off balance with three pitches — a Tom Glavine type pitcher who skillfully utilizes his changeup to confound hitters. Fellow freshman LHP Eric Upton walked on to the team this fall and has impressed with the improvements he has made in just a few months. Freshman Alex Smith is a submarine righty who can keep hitters off balance and gives them a different look with his release. 
 
Infielders
Anchoring the infield at shortstop and hitting in the two-hole will be senior Marshall Yanzick. His leadership and talent will be a key for the Big Red throughout the season.  He has been a plus defender his entire career and put it all together in 2011 with an All-Ivy Honorable Mention performance and a team co-MVP award. Junior Brenton Peters will get the nod at second base and hit in the leadoff spot.  Peters has proven to be a very effective table setter for the offense and will look to have a big year.
 
At first base will be veteran Frank Hager. The senior is a great leader for the Big Red who made the move to his current position last season. A four-year starter, he will be leaned on to be a run-producer in the lineup yet again this year. At third base will be sophomore Ben Swinford, who returns to the starting lineup after doing a solid job there in 2011.
 
Freshman Kevin Tatum will find his way into the lineup in some capacity, whether it is in the infield, outfield, or at DH.  He has been the most consistent hitter on the team throughout the entire offseason and has done a good job at second base, third base and left field. His bat will be a factor for the Red this year, and he will see time at the top or in the middle of the lineup. Sophomore Tom D'Alessandro is a versatile player who can play anywhere in the infield or outfield. He has good speed and a knack for getting on base. D'Alessandro will back up Yanzick at short, Peters at second and could see time in left field or at DH. Sophomore Ryan Plantier is a powerful hitter who showed glimpses of promise in 2011. He will back up Hager at first base and could see time in left field or DH. Senior Forrest Crawford will add depth at second base. He is a contact hitter with good hands and feet in the infield.
 
Outfielders
Locking down the centerfield position and the No. 3 spot in the lineup will be senior Brian Billigen — a two-time All-Ivy League selection. Billigen has arguably the best combination of physical tools of any player in the league and will go down in school history as one of the better hitters Cornell has ever had, Walkenbach said. In right field and hitting in the middle of the lineup will be Cruz, who is an impressive athlete with a powerful stroke, strong throwing arm and plus speed.
 
Left field remains a competitive spot with several players in the mix for action. Freshman JD Whetsel has impressed this spring with a consistent bat at the plate and a tenacious approach on the base paths to go along with his plus speed. He is competing with Tatum, D'Alessandro, Plantier, and juniors Spenser Souza, Phil Mullan and Connor McCabe. Souza is a premium athlete with plus speed and power. Walkenbach said if he can find consistency in his game, he could see significant time. Mullan has a plus arm and a solid lefty bat with a very high baseball IQ. McCabe is a solid defender who runs and throws well, and has shown some promise with the bat. 
 
Catchers
Senior Brandon Lee will handle the catching duties for the Big Red in 2012. His veteran leadership will be key for a young staff with many pitchers getting their feet wet in college baseball, Walkenbach said. Lee has a good arm and solid skills behind the plate to go along with a good bat that has improved each year during his time at Cornell. 
 
Junior Chris Burke will serve as the primary backup. He has very good receiving and throwing skills, and will be a solid option for the Big Red this year. Freshman Matt Hall and Mullan will also be available behind the plate. Hall is one of the better hitters on the squad and will spend time in the DH role, while Mullan is a solid lefty option at the plate and will compete for time in left field as well. Freshman Sam Stevens will serve a vital role as the bullpen catcher.
 
Designated Hitters
Hall will be a prime candidate for the DH role on the team this year after having the best February of any hitter on the squad. He is adept at hitting all types and speeds of pitching and will get a chance in the middle of the lineup. Tatum will also see time at DH, as could Lee, Peters, D'Alessandro and Plantier.