VCU, Richmond baseball previews

Coach: Paul Keyes
2008 record: 15-30 (8-17, 10th in Colonial Athletic Association).
Starters returning: 6, including OF Justin Wright (.311), slick-fielding 2B Richard Gonzalez (.305, 24 RBI).
Starters lost: 2, including 1B Jared Bolden (.355, 12 HRs, 44 RBI), 3B Chris Jackson (.302, 17 steals), both of whom entered the major-league draft after their junior seasons.
Players to watch: Southpaw closer Aaron Morgan (1.40 ERA, 0-3, 2 saves) out of Dinwiddie
High, sophomore 3B Joe Van Meter, who hit .350 over the last 20 games in 2008 and finished at .275 with 24 RBI.
Top newcomers: SS Doug Otto, who is coming off an All-American season at Johnson County (Kan.) CC, where he batted .424 with six HRs and stole 30 bases. OF Andrew Diminio, another JUCO transfer, who has speed and can swing the bat.
Strengths: Even without Bolden and Jackson, Keyes should be able to put together a fairly potent lineup, and the veteran coach (who needs seven wins to reach 500) is hoping to increase the number of stolen bases (59 last year).
Weaknesses: Other than Morgan, the pitching staff needs to produce an about-face for the Rams to return to their winning ways. That will depend on the contributions of right-handers Phillip Deane and Howie Deemer, who missed last season with an arm injury. The bullpen is young and will be tested early.
Quotable: "I'd say we're in a rebuilding mode, where we're just trying to play the best we can. Our motto has always been to be the best team at the end of the year, and I think this team has a chance to be a pretty good team by then. It'll be a work in progress." - Keyes.
Predicted finish: Seventh in CAA
Schedule: Feb. 20, at Central Fla., 6:30 p.m.; 21, at Central Fla., 4 p.m.; 22, at Central Fla., 1 p.m.; 23, at Central Fla., 1 p.m.; 27, Long Island, 3 p.m.; 28, Long Island (DH), 2 p.m.
March 1, Long Island, 1 p.m.; 3, Liberty, 3 p.m.; 6, Fordham, 3 p.m.; 7, Fordham (DH), 1 p.m.; 8, Fordham, 1 p.m.; 10, Seton Hall, 2 p.m.; 14, Stony Brook (DH), 1 p.m.; 15, Stony Brook, 1 p.m.; 17, Canisius, 6 p.m.; 18, Massachusetts, 6 p.m.; 20, at UNC Wilmington, 7 p.m.; 21, at UNC Wilmington, 4 p.m.; 22, at UNC Wilmington, 2 p.m.; 25, at Va. Tech, 5:30 p.m.; 27, at Western Kentucky, 7 p.m.; 28, at Western Kentucky, 1 p.m.; 29, at Western Kentucky 1 p m., 31, VMI, 7 p.m.
April 3, Hofstra, 7 p.m.; 4, Hofstra, 2 p.m.; 5, Hofstra, 1 p.m.; 7, at VMI, 6 p.m.; 10, James Madison, 7 p.m.; 11, James Madison, 2 p.m.; 12, James Madison, 1 p.m.; 15, at Richmond, 3 p.m.; 17, George Mason, 7 p.m.; 18, George Mason, 2 p.m.; 19, George Mason, 1 p.m.; 21, Virginia, 7 p.m.; 24, at Northeastern, 2 p.m.; 25, at Northeastern, noon; 26, at Northeastern, 1 p.m.
May 1, at Ga. State, 6 p.m.; 2, at Ga. State, 6 p.m.; 3, at Ga. State, 1 p.m.; 5, Richmond, 6 p.m.; 8, Old Dominion, 7 p.m.; 9, Old Dominion, 2 p.m.; 10, Old Dominion, 1 p.m.; 12, at Virginia, 6 p.m.; 14, at Delaware, 3 p.m.; 15, at Delaware, 1 p.m.; 16, at Delaware, 1 p.m.; 20-23, CAA tournament, Wilmington, N.C.