"With Folli at short, Bulls baseball aims for playoffs"

It might still be winter in Western New York, but Buffalo's boys of summer are ready to start their season.

The Bulls baseball team will be traveling to Appalachian State for its opening tournament of 2006, taking the field for the first time in four years without slugger Joe Mihalics. A standout shortstop, Mihalics left Buffalo after last season and was drafted in the 34th round by the New York Mets.

Replacing Mihalics at shortstop this season will be Mike Folli, who was chosen as a Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American last year. In 2005, Folli split time between second and third base, batting .347 with a .430 on-base percentage.

Folli is not concerned about playing a new position. The sophomore said he has had plenty of experience at shortstop in the past.

"I played shortstop in high school for three years and I played 15 games over the summer at shortstop," Folli said. "I think the whole experience of having one year under my belt of Division I baseball is going to be that much more beneficial for me."

With the season opener this weekend, hope springs eternal, as the team and head coach Bill Breene seek their first appearance in the Mid-American Conference playoffs. Buffalo is now in its sixth MAC season and has struggled at the Division I level.

Last season, the team posted a 19-30-1 overall record.

"Coach Breene always tells us that we want to make it to the 20-25-win mark, which we've yet to accomplish," said senior James Kingsley. "I think our ultimate goal is to make the MAC playoffs."

Kingsley had an exceptional season last year for the Bulls. As a junior first baseman, he broke the Buffalo single-season record for RBIs with 50, and tied the single-season homerun record with 12. Kingsley said that although he is happy about last year's success, he hopes to improve his numbers

"I can improve in all aspects of my game," Kingsley said. "Fielding, hitting, power numbers, they can all go up. I worked pretty hard in the off-season working out and stuff. I just hope I keep getting better."

Joining Folli and Kingsley in the infield will be freshmen Jacob Rosenbeck and Brad Agustin. Both players were high school shortstop, but Agustin will be switching to second base while Rosenbeck will take over at third base.

"It's not unusual to have high school kids come in and possibly play a different position," Breene said about the transition. "They were both middle infielders in high school."

Breene believes that both Rosenbeck and Agustin will be able to contribute right away in the field, but admits there may be growing pains at the plate.

"We're very comfortable with them being able to step right in," Breene said. "I think defensively they will do a good job immediately. It's just a matter of time for them to adjust offensively to the different caliber of pitching."

The Bulls will also start three new players in the outfield. Senior David Amaro will start in left field where he played 16 games last season, making the transition from catcher. The fifth-year senior hit .269 with four homeruns and 26 RBIs last year.

Starting in right field will be senior transfer Carl Aquila. Aquila hit .302 with 20 runs scored in his last season at Bellevue University. The centerfield slot will belong to another newcomer as freshman Eric Flynn will get the start.

Senior closer Sean McWilliams will anchor the pitching rotation. Last season, he became the first Buffalo pitcher since the program was reinstated in 2000 to pitch at least 40 innings and have an ERA below 3.00.

Along with McWilliams, the team will be depending on senior starting pitcher Matt Johnson and junior starter Adam Ruszkowski. Last season, Johnson pitched a team-high 66 innings, compiling a 3-6 record with three complete games.

The Bulls will start the season at Appalachian State and will remain on the road for their first 16 games. The team's first home game will be Friday, March 24 against Central Michigan.