Roster Breakdown -- The Seniors

Here is the first part of the Roster Breakdown. We'll start with the Seniors.

#1 Tim Ernst - Outfielder / Pitcher

If there has been one constant around OU baseball it is Timmay. He has started every game for the Petrels since his arrival and knock on wood he WILL start every game in his career. I'm not sure if I can even fathom our team without him. He's the face of OU baseball, the poster boy. Even though he knows every stat, and calculates his batting average while rounding 2nd during a triple, he does not crave the attention. He would rather win and go 0-4 then lose and hit two HRs. He can do it all....Outstanding leadoff hitter that can hit, draw a walk, steal a base and has the knack for getting that clutch hit. When the game is on the line, I want him at the plate. He holds the school record for batting average and on base percentage in a single season among 20 or so other school records. His defense has saved too many runs to count and he has handled the pressure of replacing one of the best CF ever at OU in the infamous Bloody. Tim has also done his fair share of pitching, even though every year I swear he is not going to pitch....He has played SS, CF and even has done some catching for the Petrels. 2007 will be his farewell tour around the SCAC, believe me teams are not going to miss him. Tim will once again start in CF and leadoff....He is one of the leaders on and off the field. I look for him to have his best year, yet...And that's saying a lot...

# 16 Robert Pavelka - Catcher

Bob came to us last year after hopping around a few schools, building some docks and shooting some deer. Bob is the guy who can build anything out of toothpicks and knows just about everything there is to know about power tools. He has put his hands into every baseball project we have embarked on since he's been here and he's the first guy I call with a building/plumbing/maintenance problem. On the field Bob will open up as the starting catcher and hit somewhere in the middle of lineup. After taking a year off in 2005 from baseball, he started slow in 2006 but came on fast in the second half of the season. He is a mature, well rounded leader who commands instant respect from his teammates. I don't think many players who were infielders their whole lives could transition to catcher in their junior year of college as fast as he has...It really is remarkable on how much hes improved in the last year behind the dish. You really can't put a price on a good catcher. In 2007 I see Bob continuing his hot pace and along with Tim carrying this team to the postseason, and hopefully building a few more things before he leaves....