With the 2004 baseball season scheduled to begin on Feb. 6 against Cumberland College, the Lee University Flames have braved the cold conditions to get in as much outdoor work as possible. Also, Coach David Altopp took time to announce the additions of three new players.
Steven Lezcano, Daniel Howard and Joel Posey entered school at the beginning of the spring semester and likely will earn plenty of playing time for the defending TranSouth Conference and Region XI champs.
Posey, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound right-handed pitcher, is a transfer from the University of Memphis. He played his high school ball at Covington High School and junior college baseball at Northwest (Mississippi) Community College. At Northwest, he earned All-State, All-Region and first-team All-American honors.
“Joel is a tremendous competitor with tremendous ability,” said Lee pitching coach Mark Brew. “He has the ability to be one of our top arms and we are looking for a big season from him.”
Posey said he selected Lee “because it is a beautiful place and presents a lot of opportunities. I want to be successful in classroom and help the team win.” He considered Harding University, Central Arkansas, Freed-Hardeman and Union University before deciding to attend Lee.
Lezcano comes to Lee from Lake Sumter Community College in Florida. The 6-foot, 163-pound outfielder/ infielder attended Dr. Phillips High School.
“Steven grew up around Major League clubhouses,” said coach Brew. “His father, Sixto, played in the Majors for several years. Steven will most likely play in the outfielder for us, but he has the ability to play infield as well.”
Lezcano said he selected Lee because of its great academic and athletic programs. “I want to become a better student as well as a better player,” said the new signee when questioned about his goals. “I want to help take Lee to the NAIA College World Series.”
Lezcano will major in accounting at Lee. He looked at attending Oklahoma State before deciding on Lee.
Howard, a former player at Chattanooga Notre Dame High School, is transferring to Lee from Cleveland State Community College. According to coach Brew, the 6-foot-1, 195 pounder has tremendous potential
on the mound. “We are exciting about Daniel deciding to come to Lee,” added Brew. “I look for him to have a good future with our ballclub.”
Howard says he’ll bring a winning attitude to Lee. “My goal is to come out a winner in any game I pitch in,” he stressed.
The season-openers with Cumberland College (Williamsburg, Ky.) are scheduled for Friday (Feb. 6) at 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at noon.