Though it seems long way off, the 2016 baseball season will surely spring upon us before we know it and the USF baseball team will be primed for a competitive campaign thanks to a productive fall. The Dons recently wrapped up their fall workouts with their annual fall World Series, which saw Team Camo take home the title in seven games.

USF head coach Nino Giarratano, who is entering his 18th year at helm, reflected on the team's progress this fall - one that forced the Dons to practice on the soccer pitch at Negoesco Field and hold their intrasquad scrimmages at Skyline College due to ongoing construction of the new Benedetti Diamond (slated to open well ahead of the Feb. 23 home opener versus Cal).   

"In the fall we are trying to figure out the character of the team," said Giarratano, who has had to sort through a roster of 17 newcomers and only three returning starting position players this offseason. "The fall helps us gather a lot of information when we put our guys in very competitive situations. When we have them play a seven-game series we see guys have success and we see guys fail at times, but it helps us build the strength of the team which really comes from our character."

Giarratano and his staff were impressed by much of the progress made during the fall season, which included official full team practices starting Oct. 16 and concluded with the World Series right before Thanksgiving.

"Individually there were some super stars when you look at the statistical breakdown," explained Giarratano. "Team Camo really had three guys that carried the load for them: Michael Perri hit .520 in the series, Blake Valley hit .400 and Manny Ramirez Jr. hit .345 and had five RBI in the final game to help them win.

"Gold had four pretty good performers: Nico Giarratano lead the Gold with a .387 batting average for the fall and had the most home runs and RBIs for the series. Harrison Bruce hit .370 and led the team in on-base percentage for the fall, which was around .500. Dominic Miroglio hit .357 in the series and then you look at Kyle Norman, who hit .304 in the series."

Giarratano and first-year pitching coach Matt Hiserman also came away impressed with the development of their relatively inexperienced pitching staff, which features only one returning starter (RHP Anthony Shew) and nine newcomers.

"Anthony Shew pitched really well in the series," said Giarratano. "Thomas Ponticelli (Newbury Park, Calif. / Newbury Park HS) pitched very well, James Kannenberg (Littleton, Colo. / Cuesta College) had some great appearances, and then there were other guys chipping in and out the whole time. It was interesting to push them and see how they responded."

Now with the official fall offseason in the books, Giarratano is tasked with crafting a lineup to put the Dons in the mix for 2016.

"I was really pleased with the team's offensive production this fall," added Giarratano. "The defensive part of it fell into place and guys competed to win their spot in the lineup. Dan James (Portola Hills, Calif. / Saddleback CC) is going to be a great addition at third base. Manny Ramirez Jr. really improved at first base. Matt Sinatro moved into center field and I think that is a good position for him.

"Nico is back at short. Second base has been highly contested - Michael Perri (Alameda, Calif. / Pepperdine), if he is eligible by NCAA standards, will probably be our starter there. Allen Smoot coming off an injury and Aaron Ping both played great, so it gives us a lot of options.

"I am very excited to see Matt Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario / Leamington District Secondary) develop as a young player. Harrison Bruce was a great surprise this fall. He recommitted himself to the game and looks like he is going to be a great leadoff hitter for us.  

"Anthony Shew is going to be a wonderful Friday starter for us, and we have some young players competing for the starting jobs on the weekends. We need Grant Goodman to be healthy and I think he is (after Tommy John surgery). I think with Shew, Goodman, Ponticelli, maybe Chase Gardner (Novato, Calif. / Novato HS) as likely starters, and then I think Kannenberg is going to be a great closer for us as the season starts - all signs are showing we will be ready. I think if we can find our depth in our pitching staff we will make a pretty good run at this thing. Guys have worked very hard and I feel that they are very competitive, but we need to go out there and execute pitches and make plays."

The Dons are wrapping up finals this week before heading off to a well-deserved holiday break. Giarratano's squad is excited about getting their first taste of the newly-renovated Benedetti Diamond when official spring practice kicks off on January 26. In the build up to Opening Day, former Dons are invited out to Benedetti Diamond for the USF Alumni Weekend, which will be held on the weekend of January 30-31.

The Dons then open the 2016 season on the road against 2015 NCAA Regional-host UC Santa Barbara with a four-game set Feb. 19-21, before christening Benedetti Diamond with their home opener on Feb. 23 against Cal.