Date: 2/11
Position: Infield (including catchers)

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats):  Jared Barnes (48 G, .240, 7 2B, 1 3B, 22 RBI, 26 R, 4 SB), Matt Bolger (51 G, .276, (10 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 26 RBI, 24 R, 1 SB), Jason Cryar (8G, .375, 4 RBI, 3 R), Ben Gann (43 G, .270, 11 2B, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 21 R), Drew LaBounty (12 G, 1 2B, 5 RBI, 12 R), Danny Martinez (49 G, .288, 9 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 23 R, 4 SB) and Ryan Raspino (56 G, .266, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 33 R, 6 SB)

Letterwinners lost (Key stats):  Bud Collura (57 G, .303, 5 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 38 RBI, 41 R, 16 SB), Connor Hawthorne (10 G, .200, 1 RBI, 4 R), Davis Knapp (21 G, .178, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 10 R)

Newcomers (Yr., Previous school): Brendan Donovan (Fr., Enterprise [Ala.] HS), Adam Wolfe (Jr., Scottsdale [Ariz.] CC), Tanner Halstead (Jr., Northwest Florida State JC), Carter Perkins (Fr., Ola [Ga.] HS), Wells Davis (Fr., New Hope [Miss.] HS) and Eddie Paparella (Jr., Howard [Texas] JC)

Miscellaneous Notes
- Ryan Raspino was named to the 2015 Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team.
- Drew LaBounty played in 12 games before taking a medical redshirt due to injury.
- Danny Martinez was named 2016 preseason all-SBC as a designated hitter.
- Jason Cryar recorded five hits – the most by a Jaguar in a single game last season – in his first collegiate start on March 1 against Brown. He also drove in four runs in that game which tied for the most in a single contest.

Head Coach Mark Calvi
-On the returning experience on the infield:
"We can have a scenario where you have all returners in the infield with Ben Gann having played some third base last season. Brendan Donovan is going to play over there, but it's a case where he may not have to play every day at third because he can play left or right field. We have some interchangeable parts defensively, which is what we set out to do in recruiting and in fall practice. We try to get guys who have some versatility. Last year Gann played some third and first, but came here as a second baseman. Donovan was a shortstop in high school, so we have some guys we can move around. (Ryan) Raspino can play third, shortstop or second base. That's been the mindset as far as recruiting goes; you have to get more than what you need in terms of depth in the infield. You can't be hamstrung if someone goes down, and all you have is one guy at a particular position. That's why we rotate guys at different positions during practice and intrasquads. We've been fortunate and have done a solid job recruiting in trying to fill that need of having depth in the infield. You can never be caught short anywhere on the infield or on the mound. I feel very good with the depth and talent level with the guys on our infield, and that includes the catchers."

-On replacing third baseman Bud Collura:
"It's always a tough task when you have to replace a guy like Bud who played for three years and had been to a (NCAA) regional and been around the block a little bit with the program and understood the league and how we do things here. He had a great year for us. Not only was he our starting third baseman, but he hit in our three-hole and drove in a lot of runs. He wasn't your proto-typical heart-of-the-order hitter in terms of doubles and home runs, but he was very clutch. I think the one thing we will miss the most is how clutch he was; he hit .350 with men in scoring position. That will be the biggest hole. He obviously was part of a defense that finished 10th in the country in fielding percentage, but where I feel good is you have a guy who is going to play some over at third in Ben Gann who played there some last year and is very good defensively. He got to play there along with first base, and I trust him defensively. So even though there is a hole there, you have between Gann and Brendan Donovan, hopefully we can be solid over there defensively. The thing with losing Bud is, can someone duplicate his performance offensively and can we get similar production from his position in the order. We will see, but guys who hit .350 and above with men in scoring position is pretty special. That is a big hole to fill, and I knew that as soon as he left last year. We have capable guys who will fill in there at third base. I feel very confident in Brendan Donovan and Ben Gann to step in where Bud left off."

-On Jared Barnes:
"His experience as a freshman last year was very valuable for him. Any time a freshman can play as much as Jared did, you tend to reap the benefits in his sophomore and junior years. There was a time about halfway through the year where he was tired; we only had two catchers last year so my hands were tied from making some moves during a game. If we had a third catcher, there were times where Jared would have had the day off or I could have pulled him halfway through a game. You can see it now. When guys play as much as Jared did, the smart ones see the areas they need corrections in and how they approach their strength and conditioning. He has put on 12 to 14 pounds. He seems like a better version of himself; he's bigger, stronger and better version of himself. I think he was able to build on the things he did well and the mistakes he made over the summer and in the fall. He's not without fault. Like anyone else, there are areas of his game that still need work but he is really progressing nicely back there. You can see how he works with the pitchers and the little aspects of his game – blocking and receiving – all of those things have improved immensely. We'll be looking for a very good year out of him."

-On the depth at catcher:
"I feel very good about all three catchers that we have. Barnes isn't going to have to catch every day. The good thing with Jared is that he is a good athlete and can catch as well as play both corner outfield positions. He is out there during batting practice every day, and does a really good job. There are going to be some days where he won't be catching, and you will see him in left or right field. There will be days when Tanner Halstead isn't catching but will be in the lineup as the designated hitter. And Carter Perkins, as a freshman, has held his own. He swings the bat really well, and is getting more acclimated with working with college pitchers. I will be able to do some things this year that I couldn't do last year. I feel really good with our catching situation."

Matt Bolger
-On the experience returning on the infield: 
"We are a team that needs to make the routine plays, and we usually do make them. Just having all of these guys back who know what our goal in the infield is drives us there."

-On what he gained through his first two seasons in experience:
"The coaches are awesome; you're learning new things all the time. But just seeing how it works, what needs to be done and what you have to do each day to go out and get better in order for your team to improve – when everyone is pulling that same weight then good things happen."

-On areas he wanted to improve:
"Just my lateral movement and range, along with my speed – just making those harder plays we make seem routine."

-On his role as a leader:
"I think actions speak louder than words, and people just seeing how you work and how you carry yourself is the way I like to go about it."

Jared Barnes
-On what he gained from experience last season:
"That's it, just experience – being out on the college level and with guys who have been here. We had a good team last year, and I think we have an even better team this year. We really have an opportunity this year, but from a personal standpoint it was experience – being out here and getting collegiate games under my belt was huge for me.

-On making the transition from high school to Division I:
"It wasn't a huge jump; I played at a pretty high high-school level. But the tempo of the game is a little faster. Unlike high school, you see quality pitching every time you come out for the most part. Every game here is important; every game counts."

-On areas he wanted to improve:
"A little bit of everything, but mainly offensively. That's a huge part of my game, and it wasn't as good as I wanted it to be last year. I've made a lot of huge adjustments offensively, especially here in the last couple of months; I've made a big jump and feel really good right now. Defensively, I just wanted to get better. I'm playing a little bit of outfield right now as well on my off days. I get to go out there and play a little outfield. It's different for me, but I'm enjoying it."

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