MONROE, La.?The defending
Sun Belt champion ULM baseball team opens fall play on Sunday afternoon, when
it hosts Arkansas-Monticello at Warhawk Field. First pitch is scheduled
for 2 p.m. and instead of charging admission, the Warhawks are asking fans to
bring an item for donation to the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana.
A table will be set up at
the gates to Warhawk Field to accept the donations of canned goods or non-perishable
items with original labels in place, or cash. For more information about
the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana, visit www.fbnela.org.
“We are excited about the
opportunity to help the community as the holiday season approaches,” head coach
Jeff Schexnaider said. “Our players are ready to play against someone
else and this will be a good opportunity to see where we stand as a team.
This is also a great chance for our fans to get a preview of the 2009 Warhawks.”
Teams are allowed to play a
total of 56 games during the fall and spring season. However, games
played in the fall do not count to the team's overall record. The
Warhawks have 54 games scheduled in the spring beginning with Northwestern
State on Feb. 20 in the first game of the ULM Warhawk Classic.
The Warhawks return six
position starters from last year's team, including All-American shortstop Ben
Soignier (.394, 16 HR, 46 RBI) and All-Sun Belt utility player Ryan McMillan
(.298, 7 HR, 46 RBI). ULM also welcomes back six pitches, including
closer Derek Ward (5-3, 3.38 ERA, 7 SV).
ULM added 17 newcomers
during the offseason ? six freshmen and 11 junior college transfers.
Among the group is a pair of transfers from the 2008 NJCAA Division II National
Champion LSU-Eunice squad ? infielder Boomer Blanchard and outfielder Perry
Smith.
In addition to the canned
food drive, the Warhawks will maintain their tradition of donating blood at the
end of fall practice. ULM's Fifth Annual Maroon & Gold Blood Series
is set for Oct. 22, 24, 26-28 with the losing team of the best-of-five series
donating blood to an area blood bank.
ULM's other contest of the
fall is on Oct. 12 against Bossier Parish Community College at 2 p.m. at
Warhawk Field.
