MUSCATINE, Iowa – Until this week, the weather has been unkind to the Muscatine Community College baseball team as it began its 2007 season recently.

Under the direction of Dave Barb, who is in his first season with the Cardinals, MCC is 0-4 in the early going, but Barb says he chalks that up to his team’s lack of practice time outside.

“The biggest problem is we haven’t had the opportunity to work on things we need to because of the crappy weather,” Barb said. “We haven’t been able to do the things we need to have done like those who aren’t in the Midwest.

“Yesterday was the first day we were able to get any work in on the infield at Tom Bruner Field. We’ll know more when we get back from South Carolina (spring trip).”

MCC will be playing eight games from March 19-23 in South Carolina, but has also added an unscheduled game at   3 p.m. today, weather permitting, with Madison Area Tech at Tom Bruner Field.

The game is to replace a doubleheader that was scheduled against Quincy University JV, which didn’t have enough players to field a team.

The one thing Barb is sure of, he has plenty of pitching to work with – one aspect of the game his team has been able to work on indoors.

“Pitching has been OK,” Barb said. “We have a lot of pitching. We don’t have a lot of speed, but a fair amount of power. Our overall hitting will be good.”

Barb inherits eight players from last year’s team, five of whom are currently everyday starters for the Cardinals.  Another is a starting pitcher.

Among newcomers for MCC, Barb says he has “some pretty good kids.”

An international flavor continues to grace the Cardinal squad, including three from Canada and three from Puerto Rico. Barb also mentioned four players who are new from the Ankeny area who should help out as well.

“We don’t have a lot of area kids,” Barb said. “At least none who are within a 30-minute drive of Muscatine, anyway.”

Barb isn’t too familiar with the conference, but he says he knows it is a good one.

“It is nationally recognized,” Barb said. “As far as quality goes, Iowa Western and Indian Hills will probably be the two favorites.

“I’d like us to finish in the top two or three in the division. Finishing above .500 is a goal that should be attainable, but I don’t know enough about our team and our competition to say that’s going to happen.”

Barb said he is going into the season cautiously optimistic.

“With a few breaks here or there, we can be pretty good,” Barb said.

Contact Kristi Nixon at 563-263-2331 Ext. 328 or kristi.nixon@muscatinejournal.com

2007 Schedule

March 15 – Madison Area Tech, 3 p.m.

March 19-23 – South Carolina Spring trip

March 28 – Kirkwood CC, 3 p.m., DH

March 31 – North Iowa Area CC, 1 p.m., DH

April 1 – North Iowa Area CC, Noon, DH

April 4 – at Kirkwood CC, 2 p.m.

April 6 – at Southwestern CC, 1 p.m., DH

April 7 – at Southwestern CC, Noon

April 11 – Southeastern CC, 4 p.m.

April 16 – Culver-Stockton JV, 5 p.m.

April 19 – Augustana College JV, 4 p.m., DH

April 21 – at Marshalltown CC, 1 p.m., DH

April 22 – at Marshalltown CC, Noon, DH

April 24 – at Southeastern CC, 1 p.m., DH

April 25 – Iowa Central CC, 4 p.m., DH

April 28 – Indian Hills CC, 1 p.m., DH

April 29 – Indian Hills CC, Noon, DH

May 2 – Sauk Valley College, 4 p.m., DH

May 5 – at Iowa Western CC, 1 p.m., DH

May 6 – at Iowa Western CC, Noon, DH

May 11-14 – Region XI Tournament, TBA

———

2007 Roster

Kevin Andal, P, Fr., Saskatoon, SASK

Spenser Atwood, INF, Soph., Libertyville

Jessy Beley, C/1B, Fr., St. Albert, Alberta

Chad Berg, P/OF, Soph., Grafton, ND

Shane Bray, OF, Fr., Rapid City, SD

Jared Chappelear, 3B, Fr., Ankeny

Remo Costagno, INF, Fr., Snoqualmie, WA

Jordan Cottrell, P, Soph., Keota

Jake Dooley, OF, Fr., Norwalk

Stephen Dowding, OF, Soph., Mississuaga, ONT

Tim Easter, INF, Fr., Ankeny

Tom Erpenbach, OF, Fr., Sioux Falls, SD

Jose Hernendez, P, Fr., Naranjito, PR

R.J. Jerrick, 1B, Soph., Iowa City

Chris Kessinger, OF/P, Soph., Sioux Falls, SD

Sean McCarty, P, Fr., Ottumwa

Kody McCauley, INF, Fr., Ankeny

Casey Potter, OF, Soph., Grand Forks, ND

Sean Potter, P, Fr., Grand Forks, ND

Luis Rodriguez, C, Fr., Cayey, PR

Omar Rosada, P, Fr., Aibonito, PR

Thomas Rosin, INF/P, Fr., Ankeny

Nick Tweiten, INF/P, Fr., West Fargo, ND

John Waylock, INF, Soph., Fox River Grove, Ill.

Pat Young, C, Soph., Prophetstown, Ill.