NSU hopes a Bright start will boost young pitching staff

The pitchers at Norfolk State know they face a daunting task this baseball season.

Gone are Joey Seal and Leon Schabacker, who started 26 of the Spartans' 49 games last year and were a major reason the team posted a 4.07 ERA that ranked 22nd in Division I.

In 2007, Seal and Schabacker started 22 in helping the Spartans post a 3.93 ERA that ranked 39th in the nation.

"Joey and Leon are two very big shoes to fill," said coach Claudell Clark, whose Spartans open Saturday against North Carolina Central in a tournament in Savannah, Ga. "But we do have some pitchers who we feel can fill those shoes."

Primary among those is junior Quinn Bright. The Ocean Lakes High graduate went 6-6 with a 3.43 ERA - seventh in the MEAC - as a sophomore, and tied for sixth in wins.

Bright, the second or third starter in 2008, is eager to take over the role as staff ace.

"I've got to be more of a leader and show the new guys the ropes," he said.

Senior Jason Barker, out of Great Bridge High, figures to be key in the rotation.

Barker pitched mostly in relief last season, going 3-1 with a 3.32 ERA, sixth-best in the MEAC. He came into his own in the conference tournament, throwing 11.2 scoreless innings.

"That helped prove to himself that he's ready to pitch on this level," Clark said.

Bright and Barker combined for 19 starts last season, five more than Seal made by himself. The Spartans also will count on community college transfer Chase Davenport and freshman Ryan Shook (Ocean Lakes).

Norfolk State pitching coach Quentin Jones is confident his new group is ready to pick up the slack.

"I feel real good about what we've got," he said.

"A lot of the teams in our conference haven't seen the good arms we've got."