Georgia
2012 record: 31-26 (finished 5th in SEC East)
Coach: David Perno (11 seasons, 369-303-1)
Gone: The Bulldogs lost the ace of last year's staff, Alex Wood. The big left-hander, who went 7-3 last year with a 2.73 ERA, was a second-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves after his redshirt sophomore season and actually is starting out in their big-league camp. Also, right-handed starter Michael Pallazone and second baseman Levi Hyams graduated. Both were leaders and front-line players who had inexplicably poor senior seasons.
Returning: Shortstop Kyle Farmer said no to the Yankees, who drafted him in the 35th round after he established a UGA record last season for fielding percentage at his position (.970). Farmer spent last summer as the starting shortstop for Team USA. Also back is second-team All-SEC third baseman Curt Powell, who hit .355 last season, and 2012 freshman All-American Hunter Cole in center field.
Quotable: "It's not a whole lot different than my first season. Because of our league, you're always a little bit terrified by how competitive it is from top to bottom. Obviously I'm not as paranoid and I'm more confident and some of that is a reflection of what you have. We have really good leadership mixed in with a really talented influx of young guys. That makes you feel at ease because you know you're in really good hands and running a good lineup out there."
-- Perno on coaching a 12th season at Georgia
Three big ifs for success
● Utilize pitching depth: Georgia's staff ERA average of 3.86 last season was the lowest of the aluminum-bat era. The Bulldogs hope to duplicate that success but through a different means. Perno believes he can establish "great pitching depth" by mixing young talent – such left-hander Sean McLaughlin of Johns Creek, who will start the season opener – with versatile veterans such as Luke Crumley and Blake Dieterich and turning to middle relief regularly.
● Generate more offense: Georgia struggled to score runs last year, hitting .279 as a ream and scoring an average of 4.9 runs per game. In particular, the Bulldogs were not good with runners in scoring position. So the aim is not only hit better this season but to show dramatic improvement in the area of situational hitting.
● Play strong defensively: Strong defense has always been a hallmark for Perno's teams. Last year, the Bulldogs set a school record with .978 fielding percentage. Indications are defense should be a strength again with Farmer and Powell manning the left side of the infield and J.T. Phillips, the shortstop of the future, playing first base. Losing the sure-handed second baseman Hyams is the main area of concern as is the throwing arms of Georgia's catchers.
Schedule
February: 15-17 at Georgia Southern; 20 vs. Kennesaw State; 22-24 vs. Belmont; 26 at Georgia State.
March: 1-3 vs. UAB; 5 vs. Western Carolina; 8-10 vs. Liberty; 12-13 vs. Appalachian State; 15-17 at Texas A&M; 19 vs. Furman; 22-24 vs. Alabama; 26 vs. Clemson; 27 at Clemson; 29-31 at Kentucky.
April: 2 at Kennesaw State; 5-7 vs. Missouri; 9 vs. Georgia Tech; 12-14 at Auburn; 16 vs. Presbyterian; 19-21 vs. Vanderbilt; 23 vs. Georgia Tech (at Turner Field); 26-28 vs. Arkansas;
May: 3-5 at Tennessee; 8 at College of Charleston; 10-12 at South Carolina; 14 at Georgia Tech; 16-18 vs. Florida; 21-26 at SEC Tournament (Birmingham)
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