The question for 2008 is will the new faces in the lineup be able to maintain the success that last year’s team established?

Bobcats’ manager Lee Weber believes so.

“I think we will be better at the end of the season than we will be at the beginning,” said Weber. “In the beginning of the season we are going to be experimenting and I think we are going to be a dangerous team at the end of the year.”

The middle infield will be dramatically changed from a Clarion team that went 16-3 last season. The Bobcats will have to replace second baseman Tyler Schwab and shortstop Paul McGinley.

“Tyler and Paul were starters for a couple of years at shortstop and second, so they had been doing a great job for me the past couple years,” said Weber. “One of the things we improved last year was our defense; we didn’t give up any big innings, and that is probably why we had a 16-3 record.”

Another move that will be made along the Clarion infield will be Eric Grejda moving from the third base position to first base. Last season, Ryan Hritz occupied the first base slot.

“We expect big numbers from (Grejda) this year,” said Weber. “He is definitely going to be the leader of the team.”

Grejda was named to the all-KSAC baseball team last season.

Sophomores Jarrod Carpin and Cody Zacherl along with freshman Corbin Ragley will be competing for the second base and shortstop positions.

“(Carpin) is very athletic and last year he got to split playing time with (Zacherl),” said Weber. “They are both very similar athletes. They both have good hands and decent speed. They both have bat speed. We’re just trying to get them to be more consistent.”

Drew Vandermeer is penciled in to play third base for the Bobcats in 2008. Vandermeer, a senior, played primarily in the outfield in 2007 when he wasn’t pitching, but with the shake-up of the Clarion infield, his experience may be needed at the hot corner position.

“(Vandermeer) may have to move into the infield, possibly at third base, depending on how the younger guys progress,” said Weber. “Drew, last year, was inconsistent with the bat, but when he’s on, he can create big numbers for us.”

Another possibility for the hot corner is senior Garret Whisner. Whisner has been the Bobcats’ starting catcher since his freshman year.

“Due to some knee problems, a knee injury, it looks like (Whisner) is going to have to be moved to another position,” said Weber.

At the plate, Whisner was Clarion’s top hitter last season, batting over .400.

“He works on (hitting) hard,” said Weber. “And since his freshman year, he improved almost a hundred points each year from his freshman year to his junior season. He is obviously going to be one of our big guns.”

With Whisner’s move, there is competition for a new starting catcher for Clarion. Kevin Grejda, Gerret Henry, and Dan Walters are in the mix for the backstop position in 2008.

“It is going to be a young catching crew with a freshman and two sophomores fighting for the position,” said Weber. “None of them have the experience (Whisner) does, but what they do have is talent. The game experience is what I am most concerned about because they haven’t had a chance to catch our veteran pitchers yet, where (Whisner) has first hand experience with them.

“These younger kids, knowing they have a chance to start back there, you can see them pushing each other. They are much more focused than typical freshmen and sophomores coming in because they know the opportunity is there.”

All-KSAC centerfielder Jon Kemmer will be returning to anchor the Bobcats’ outfield in 2008.

“Jon can hit the daylights out of the ball,” said Weber. “Jon and (Eric Grejda) are probably our two most powerful hitters.”

Another senior, Ryan Smith, will be playing left field for Clarion this year.

“(Smith) is probably the fastest guy on the team,” said Weber. “He gets better every year, and with him being a senior, I think he is going to be more confident this year.

“Seeing him in the preseason, his bat has definitely improved from last year.”

Right field for the Bobcats is still up in the air. Vandermeer started in right last year, but as mentioned earlier, he may be needed elsewhere.

“(Vandermeer) may end up playing (right field) again,” said Weber. “But it is going to come down to who is the most productive with the bat.”

Corbin Ragley, Joel Matticks, Bryan Biertempfel, and transfer Cole Walker are all in the running to be Clarion’s right fielder.

“(Biertempfel) has impressed me so far with his bat and his glove and his arm also,” said Weber. “And it looks like he has decent speed.

“I am anxious to see how all of these guys pan out.”

The pitching staff for the Bobcats is very solid heading into 2008 with Kemmer and Vandermeer slotted to be the top two pitchers on the Clarion roster.

“(Kemmer) brings in a big intimidation factor,” said Weber. “He is a big lefthander who brings some heat, and when Jon’s on he’s as tough as there is.

“In the past, (Kemmer) was just a thrower, but with the help of coach (Rob) Jewett, he’s learning to think like a pitcher when he is on the mound.”

The Bobcats will be replacing Paul McGinley, who made the majority of Clarion’s starts on the mound last season.

“(McGinley) had a rubber arm,” said Weber. “It didn’t matter how many innings you threw with him, but we are going to have to be careful with Drew and Jon because they don’t have the same elastic arm that Paul had last year.”

In the coming season, Weber believes that his key reserves from last year will play an important role in the Bobcats success this year.

“We are going to be dependent on Cody Zacherl, Jarrod Carpin, who have been part of the program,” said Weber. “Do they believe they belong in there as full-time starters?

“Some of these younger players who are just coming in, do they believe in themselves that they are good enough to play on a solid team?”

Time will only tell what happens with the Clarion baseball squad in 2008.