The South Dakota baseball team will open its 2004 season this weekend when it travels to Denver, Colo., for a four-game series with Regis University. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to start at noon (CST), while Sunday's twin bill will also begin at noon.

Sixth-year Head Coach Brian Atchison returns 12 letterwinners from last season's squad that finished with a 23-23 overall record (10-14 NCC).

Leading the way at the plate for the Coyotes will be the trio of senior Bryan Hohenthaner, junior Robin Chute and sophomore Brian Boyer.

Last season, Hohenthaner (Sioux Falls, S.D.) hit .271, had a team-high 16 stolen bases, smashed three home runs and drove in 19 runs as USD's starting centerfielder. During his sophomore campaign in 2002, Hohenthaner led the team with a .393 batting average.

"I expect a big year out of Bryan Hohenthaner," Atchison said. "We have high hopes that he will return to his sophomore year form."

Chute led off last season, hitting .323 with three home runs and 26 RBI. A native of Chelsea, Iowa, Chute owned a .946 fielding percentage at second base in 2003 and ranked second on the team with 10 stolen bases. He will likely see time at both middle infield positions this season.

"Robin sets the table for us," Atchison said. "He is a very intense competitor and is coming off a tremendous summer. We're looking for another big year from him."

Boyer (Sioux City, Iowa) had an outstanding freshman season as both a designated hitter and outfielder with the Coyotes, hitting at a .311 clip, ranking fourth on the team with five home runs and recording 29 RBI.

"Brian came up with quite a few clutch hits for us last season," Atchison said. "His relaxed focus gives him an opportunity to be successful at the plate."

Other returning hitters include junior outfielder Bobby Sullivan (Mitchell, S.D.), junior catcher John Quade (Sioux City, Iowa), junior outfielder Vincent Flores (Van Horn, Texas), junior third baseman Bryan Wegman (Elkhorn, Neb.) and sophomore infielder Ryan Bowder (Norfolk, Neb.).

On the mound, South Dakota will have a big hole to fill at the top of the rotation with the graduation of John Brunswold, who was named NCC Pitcher of the Year in 2003 after setting single-season school records for wins (10), strikeouts (105), innings pitched (97.1) and complete games (11).

Junior righthander Justin Carey (Elkhorn, Neb.) is USD's only returning starting pitcher, after going 2-6 last season with a 6.91 ERA in 57.1 innings of work.

A top candidate to takeover the No. 1 starter position will likely be senior lefthander Matt Huggett (Anaheim, Calif.), who played one season at USD in 2001 before playing the last two seasons at Cypress College. As a freshman with the Coyotes, Huggett recorded a 6-3 record with a 4.87 ERA and led the team in innings pitched (64.2) and strikeouts (83).

"Obviously, our big question mark is on the mound because of the loss of John Brunswold," Atchison said. "I think Matt Huggett will be able to step into a role he is familiar with after serving as our No. 1 three years ago. The return of Justin Carey will solidify the top two spots in our rotation."

South Dakota's other returning pitchers from last season's squad include relievers junior Travis Harrison and sophomore Tommy Baryo.

Following this weekend's action in Denver, the Coyotes return to the field Feb. 28-29 for a four-game series with Midland Lutheran in Fremont, Neb. USD's home opener is scheduled for March 21 against Bemidji State.

USD Baseball Quick Facts Location: Vermillion, S.D. Founded: 1862 Enrollment: 7,917 President : James W. Abbott National Affiliation: NCAA Division II Conference: North Central Nickname: Coyotes (KI-YOTES) Home Field: Prentis Park Surface: Natural Grass Dimensions: 305 LF, 357 CF, 310 RF Director of Athletics: Joel Nielsen Assistant SID (Baseball): Jerod Dahlgren Office Phone: 605-677-8813 Office Fax: 605-677-6273 Dahlgren E-Mail: jdahlgre@usd.edu

Coaching Staff Head Coach: Brian Atchison (Sixth Season) Atchison's USD Record: 121-104 Atchison's Career Record: 204-165 (Ninth Season) Baseball Office Phone: 605-677-6259 Atchison's E-Mail: batchiso@usd.edu Assistant Coach: Tom Carcione (Fourth Season) Student Assistant: John Brunswold (First Season)

Team Information 2003 Overall Record: 23-23 2003 NCC Record: 10-14 2003 NCC Finish: Sixth Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/9 Position Players Returning/Lost: 5/4 Pitchers Returning/Lost: 3/5

Probable Lineup (2003 Stats) C - John Quade, Jr., R/R, Sioux City, Iowa (.286, 0 HR, 3 RBI) 1B - Cress Murdock, Jr., L/R, Lakewood, Calif. (Transfer from Long Beach City College) 2B - Robin Chute, Jr., R/R, Chelsea, Iowa (.323, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 10 SB) SS - Todd Schmidtke, So., S/R, Blue Earth, Minn. (Transfer from Muscatine C.C.) 3B - Larry Mahoney, Jr., R/R, Garden Grove, Calif. (Cypress College) LF - Brian Boyer, So., L/R, Sioux City, Iowa (.311, 5 HR, 29 RBI) CF - Bryan Hohenthaner, Sr., R/R, Sioux Falls, S.D. (.271, 3 HR, 19 RBI) RF - Bobby Sullivan, Jr., R/R, Mitchell, S.D. (.254, 0 HR, 4 RBI) OR - Vincent Flores, Jr., L/L, Van Horn, Texas (.154, 0 HR, 0 RBI) DH - Chris Fielder, Jr., R/R, Aliso Viejo, Calif. (Transfer from Cypress College)

Projected Rotation (2003 Stats) 1 - Matt Huggett, Sr., LHP, Anaheim, Calif. (Transfer from Cypress College) 2 - Justin Carey, Jr., RHP, Elkhorn, Neb. (2-6, 6.91 ERA, 57.1 IP, 27 K's) 3 - Brian Kungl, Jr., RHP, Anaheim, Calif. (Transfer from Cypress College) 4- Daniel Sons, Jr., RHP, Moreno Valley, Calif. (Transfer from Fresno City College) 5- Josh Lundin, Fr., LHP, Rapid City, S.D. (Attended Rapid City Central High School)