Fallball rolling to a close

Kristy Mangos Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior catcher Dennis Anderson (26) watches his hit while running to first base during Friday's game against the Dutch National team. Anderson is a transfer from Pima Community College where he hit .389 last season.

With another week available, the Wildcats have more time to get their lineup set for the spring.

"It's not really solid right now," head coach Jerry Stitt said of the lineup. "We know who are the guys who are going to contribute at certain positions."

Going into "fallball," as the players call it, Stitt said only one position was set, that being shortstop, where sophomore Keoni DeRenne returns.

DeRenne hit .349 with five home runs and 55 RBI last season and spent his summer on the USA national team.

As for other positions, Stitt said that first base is still wide open, with sophomores Brad Fendley and Josh France competing for playing time with freshman Ben Diggins.

"Diggins will be in there somewhere," Stitt said. "Whether it's at first base, designated hitter or pitcher."

Two freshmen who are locked into starting jobs are Ken Huff in left field and Shelley Duncan in right.

Joining them in the outfield will be junior transfer Troy Gingrich, who played for Central Arizona College last season.

"He's as good a player as we've ever had out there," Stitt said.

Gingrich said the jump from junior college ball "has not been too big of a change.

The talent has gone up, but I can't say much till we start play in the spring," he said.

Stitt said that because of the strength of Arizona's JC teams, the transition for players like Gingrich isn't all that hard.

Another JC transfer expected to start for Arizona next year is junior catcher Dennis Anderson. "Dennis Anderson is a really accomplished player," Stitt said. "He was really swinging the bat well last week." Anderson was prided on his defense last year at Pima Community College. This fall he has had some struggles, but he said he expected it joining a new team with a young pitching staff. "I'm starting to get a little of my rhythm back," he said.

In terms of offense, Anderson hit .389 last year and said that with Stitt, whom he calls "the best hitting coach in America," he said he feels he can continue to swing the bat well, even against Pac-10 foes.

As for the other starting roles, sophomore Erik Torres is the favorite to start at third base, while second base seems to be senior transfer Andy Juday's to lose.

Freshman infielder Brad Hassey has impressed Stitt and could work his way into the line-up against left-handed pitchers. Others who have impressed with their defense include freshmen infielders Ben Winslow and Kelsey Osburn.

As for the pitching staff, Stitt said that aspect of the team has yet to come into focus.

"It's a little bit better," said Stitt, in terms of figuring out who would be in which roles. "But we're still not fully settled yet. We're as deep as we've ever been, but we still have to define some roles."

Senior Rob Shabansky, who was 5-1 last year before an elbow injury landed him on the bench, and junior Tony Milo, who started last year 7-0 before slumping to 8-5, are the leading candidates to start.

Others who have emerged include junior transfers Josh Pearce and Michael Crawford, freshman Brian Pemble and Diggins.

As for Shabansky, Stitt said they are "taking him slow right now. He won't be back up to full speed until January.

"He feels really good right now," Stitt said.

Arizona opens its season January 22 against St. Mary's.

Chris Jackson can be reached via e-mail at Chris.Jackson@wildcat.arizona.edu.