New-Look Infield Set For Civil War
05/09/19 | Baseball, @GoDucksMoseley
The Oregon baseball team has tinkered with its personnel this week as the Ducks prepare to host OSU beginning Friday (7 p.m., Pac-12).
After two weekends of Pac-12 play on the road, the Oregon baseball team is back in its comfort zone at PK Park, and UO coach George Horton has tinkered with his infield to get a couple players back in their comfort zones, as well.
In Tuesday's win over Portland, the second victory in 11 games for the Ducks, Horton moved junior Spencer Steer from shortstop to third base, where he spent the first two years of his career, and shifted freshman third baseman Sam Novitske to second. Freshman Kyle Froemke entered the lineup at shortstop.
Horton said after the game he was inclined to keep that alignment going forward, beginning Friday when the Ducks kick off a three-game Civil War series against visiting Oregon State (7 p.m., Pac-12).
"Spencer's been an awesome shortstop, but (at third) he's a whole other level," Horton said. "He's as good a third baseman as I've ever coached. Sammy I think is better at second, and now we have Froemke at shortstop. I think we're going to stick with that; I like the way it looked."
The Ducks began the season with Steer at short in part to avoid playing two freshmen up the middle. With the Ducks this deep in the season, Horton's comfortable shifting the infielders to their more natural positions.
The timing of the move could be perfect, with Oregon entering a critical juncture of its season. After a tough stretch on the road with some hard-luck losses at California, San Jose State and Arizona, the Ducks have put themselves in a hole as they try to earn a postseason berth.
Winning a series – or even securing a sweep – against the defending national champs could make up for those losses. Oregon State enters the weekend at No. 20 in the RPI, and tied for the Pac-12 lead at 17-4 in conference play, 31-14-1 overall.
Oregon, meanwhile, is 24-22 overall, and 8-13 in the Pac-12. For the Ducks, who were swept last weekend in Arizona before bouncing back Tuesday, there's no time like the present.
"Obviously Arizona didn't go as planned," Novitske said Tuesday after the win over Portland. "We've definitely gone through a rough stretch the last couple weeks. This definitely is going to give us momentum going against Oregon State. I still think we're a confident bunch."
Eugene native Robert Ahlstrom will return to the Friday night role against Oregon State, after returning from a two-week absence due to illness and starting last Saturday's game at Arizona. He grew up attending Civil War baseball games, and now takes the ball to kick off this weekend's series Friday.
Sophomore Cullen Kafka also will move up in the rotation, taking the ball Saturday. Sunday's starter for Oregon is to be announced, after senior lefty Cole Stringer appeared in relief Tuesday against Portland.
