Kingston, RI (U-WIRE) -- Following their sensational season and NCAA tournament appearance last year, the University of Rhode Island men's baseball team has their work cut out for them this season after losing their head coach and eight important senior contributors.

The Rams lost their skipper of 13 seasons, Frank Leoni, after he left URI for the College of William and Mary in Virginia. During Leoni's head-coaching career at URI, he totaled 266 wins, won the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year award in 2003 and won the New England Coach of the Year award in 2004.

Pitching coach Jim Foster will replace Leoni. Foster, who was born in Warwick, R.I., was a finalist for the NCAA Pitching Coach of the Year award. He was an All-Big East and two-time All-New England selection at Providence College and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles as a catcher.

Foster was in the Orioles organization for seven years before spending an additional three years in the minor leagues with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Anaheim Angels and Chicago White Sox.

Before coming to URI, Foster spent two seasons at Brown University serving as a hitting coach and working with the team's catchers. According to Athletic Director Tom McElroy, Foster's extensive resume was one of the key determinations which lead to his promotion to head coach.

"Coach Foster has gained a tremendous amount of respect from not only the players, but also other members of the staff," McElroy said. "He has a tremendous knowledge of the game and an uncanny ability to evaluate talent. Although we are sad to see Frank [Leoni] leave after so many years of great service, we are confident that Jeff [Foster] is the best candidate for the position of head coach for our program."

When asked if he believes the team could continue their climb to the top of the A-10 and establish themselves as a powerhouse in the conference, McElroy said he would not guess about the team's success yet.

"It would be unfair to judge a team based on wins and losses, but it is more appropriate to evaluate a team on whether or not they are utilizing their resources and putting them to their best possible use," he said. "I like the direction in which the team is going."

In addition to the loss of Leoni, the Rams must deal with eight graduating seniors and the loss of starting pitcher Zach Zuercher, a ninth-round draftee of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The seniors lost to graduation include closer Mick Lefort, starting pitcher Dan Frederick, and four-year contributors Mike Rainville (IF) and Matt Sullivan (OF). There will be a major gap in offensive production without Sullivan, who ranks second all-time in games played (202), RBIs (127), extra base hits (61) and total bases (707), and third in hits (229), home runs (20) and doubles (39).

This season the Rams need support from their young pitching staff, which includes juniors Steve Holmes and Adam Perkins. The duo had a combined record of 16-4 last year.

The Rams will also need production from senior Wayne Russo, last year's Atlantic 10 tournament Most Outstanding Player, as well as seniors Daryl Holcombe, Tom Venedam, Josh Nestor, Gil Pina and Dave Lipson.

(C) 2004 The Good Five Cent Cigar via U-WIRE