Baseball’s back.
East Tennessee State took the field for the first time this year Wednesday at its annual media day to practice for this weekend’s game against Xavier.
Head coach Tony Skole said he’s looking forward to this weekend and the season.
“We want to compete at a national level, with the best programs,” Skole said. “We’re not going to back down from that. Our kids our looking forward to it.”
The Bucs returned some key players including junior Tim Turner, who will be the starting pitcher against Xavier on Saturday.
“The coaches in our league are going to know who Tim Turner is,” Skole said. “After seeing what he could do this summer I think he can compete with anyone in the country. His confidence exploded this summer and he got a lot of recognition from pro scouts.”
Turner played for the Wilson Tobs of the Coastal Plains league this summer and is a double threat that can pitch and hit.
“I learned a lot over the summer,” Turner said. “The more baseball you play, the better you get. It’s the best thing you can do for your career.”
The 6-2, 185 right hander has a 87-90 mph fastball and will be first in the Bucs rotation.
Turner will also see time in the outfield but Skole said he expects a lot from him on the mound.
“I want him to harness the athleticism in to his pitching,” Skole said. “That’s where he’s really excelling. He has more interest in this game than any kid I’ve ever coached.”
Filling the closer role this year will be Willie McKenzie, a big transfer from Louisville.
“We’re lucky we got a uniform to fit him,” Skole said. “He’s in the best shape of his life. He can throw the ball as hard as ever.”
The 6-7, 225 senior graduated from Sullivan South in 1999, and came to ETSU hoping to see more playing time.
“I wasn’t getting the playing time I thought I could here,” McKenzie said. “I hope to get a chance to play and pitch. I believe I’ll do real well this year.”
He pitched 17-1/3 innings at Louisville.
McKenzie throws a 92-94 mph fast ball and said he’s in good shape and that “my arm is better than it’s ever been.”
Seniors Chad Boruff and Jarrod Hyder will also be leaders for the Bucs.
Boruff will play first base for the Bucs. He said he’s improved a great deal since last year. He also competed in the Coastal Plains League last.
“I’m a 100 percent better athlete than I’ve ever been,” Boruff said. “I hope to do whatever is needed to help the team. I’ve got a great supporting cast around me.”
Boruff batted a .269 last year, with five home runs and 26 RBI.
Hyder will return to mound in a relief role. He led the Bucs with a 1.89 ERA and struck out 16 batters in 33-1/3 innings.
Besides Boruff on first, Skole said Mike Giroud will start at third and the middle infield could be a number of players. Either Justin Clear or newcomers Troy Moock, Andy Howdeshell or Shane Byrne will fill that spot.
Skole said Byrne, a local player from Science Hill, has “really come strong since coming onto campus.”
The Bucs lost outfield Matt Traylor after knee surgery at the first of the year. Traylor will sit out on medical redshirt this year and return with three years eligibility next season.
“That’s a big loss for us,” Skole said. “We’ll be glad to have him back.”
The vacancy put five players to fill his role. Kevin Brotherton, Bo Calloway, Steven Calicutt, Jordan Abromovitz or Beau Alford will battle for the spot.
Turner will play center when he’s not on the mound.
Skole said he will use this weekend’s games to determine the lineup.
“This weekend we’ll give everybody a chance to play,” Skole said. “We have 22 players and all of them can play. There’s no one on the lineup I’m scared to put in there.”
Xavier went 27-27 last season and will return every position player and every starting pitcher.
Skole described Xavier as “a veteran ball club with intensity and enthusiasm.”
Turner will start on the mound Saturday and Calicutt, who will also vie for a spot in the rotation, will start in Saturday’s second game. On Sunday Josh Kite and Jeremy Hall will open for the Bucs.
Sophomore Michael Bauer will start against Vanderbilt on Tuesday.
This weekend’s doubleheaders against Xavier start at 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. The Bucs travel to Nashville on Tuesday for series against Vanderbilt at 3 p.m.

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