MOBILE, Ala. ? With fall practice underway, South Alabama baseball now looks forward to the 2008 Red and Blue World Series. The first game in the best-of-seven series will be played at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 4 at Stanky Field, head coach Steve Kittrell announced Thursday.

The Jags’ annual intrasquad series will continue with game two on Oct. 5 at either 2 or 4 p.m., followed by game three  at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 8, and game four Oct. 9 at 5:30 p.m.

If necessary, the series will continue with game five set for 11 a.m. on Oct. 11, followed by  game six Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. Should the series reach a decisive seventh game, that game would be played Oct. 14 at 5:30 p.m.

In addition to the annual Red and Blue World Series, the Jags also play a pair of scrimmages against outside competition this fall. USA hosts Meridian Community College Oct. 18 at 1 p.m., then welcomes Northwest Florida State College (formerly known as Okaloosa-Walton College) the following day, also at 1 p.m.

Kittrell’s club welcomes back 20 lettermen from the 2008 squad that went 32-26. The Jags return four starting position players, including seniors David Doss, Ryan Bohanan and Chris Davis, and sophomore Jake Overstreet.

Doss was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 44th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, but elected to return to South Alabama for his senior season. He enters the 2009 season as the starting catcher after playing in 53 games last season in his first full season behind the plate.

New pitching coach Scot Sealy, in the first year of his second coaching stint at USA,  welcomes back 11 pitchers who saw action last season. Brandon Sage, Lance Baxter and Chris LaGrow each return after having seen action as starters in 2008. 

Kittrell, entering his 26th season at South Alabama in 2009, is just two victories shy of earning his 1,000th career win. When he does so, he’ll become the 50th NCAA baseball coach to reach that milestone. Seth Von Behren and Alan Luckie also return for their third seasons as assistant coaches with Jags.

Scrimmages are open to the public and there is no charge for admission. The Jags will also scrimmage throughout the fall as they prepare for the upcoming season.

USA’s 2009 schedule has not been officially announced, but the Jags will start the season by hosting the 19th annual Coca-Cola Classic Feb. 20 at Stanky Field.

2008 Fall Baseball Scrimmage Schedule

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).