Pitchers learn new roles

Brian O’Connor has a new starter on Sundays.

At least for now.

After having to lean on his bullpen in back-to-back weekends long before he desired, Virginia’s coach has penciled in sophomore RHP Tyler Wilson for the third game of a series that opens tonight against Maryland at Davenport Field at 7 p.m.

It was not a knock on previous starter Will Roberts. It was not a complete boost in approval rating for Wilson, the newly-appointed starter.

It was merely something different for a program trying to master a finale that has been lost two straight weeks.

“I don’t know that a lot went into it and it could go back to the way that it was before,” O’Connor said. “I just want to give somebody else a shot on the weekend, and that’s really it.

“I think Will has pitched really good for us, but I just felt like we were having to get too deep into our bullpen too early into games on Sunday. That was really it. We needed to make a change and see how it goes.”

Virginia (24-4, 6-4 ACC) enters the weekend set against the Terps (13-15, 3-5) ranked 10th in the country and possesses the nation’s third-best ERA.

Yet, O’Connor decided to make the switch for the player that would follow rookie Danny Hultzen and crafty veteran Andrew Carraway.

While Roberts will assume a spot in the bullpen formerly linked to Wilson, others may be given a chance to assume greater duties.

One of those pitchers, at least for the time being, is RHP Shane Halley.

The rookie stole the show on Wednesday, as Virginia rallied past Norfolk State to remain perfect in non-league action.

Halley, who has not allowed an earned run in 14.1 innings, has thrust his name into the forefront as a viable option as a reliever.

“He has been a real value to us up to this point and he is going to take a more expanded role on this pitching staff because he has earned it,” O’Connor said.

It was not known months ago, however, whether Halley would see time in the outfield or as a reliever.

“When we recruited him, we thought he was a really good athlete that had a good arm and we definitely didn’t know where he would see time initially,” O’Conner said. “We liked him both ways and it just happened to be the case when he came in that there were four outfielders ahead of him that played a lot the year before.

“He will have to wait his time as a position player and I think he has a chance to have a future here in that area, but right now his real value to this team is on the mound.”

Halley (2-0), a military brat from Lake Braddock High, said he cherishes every moment donning a Virginia uniform and the coaching that he has received from assistants Kevin McMullan and Karl Kuhn.

He also said he is comfortable in any role that he is asked to play the remainder of the season, something he feels confident the rest of the team understands.

“That is the thing, we have so much depth on this team that you can put anybody out there and they will do the job,” Halley said. “It is awesome that you can count on them.”

Offered scholarships by numerous schools, the freshman does not regret taking a back-seat approach out of the gates at UVa.

“I love this school,” Halley said. “The atmosphere here is awesome and to come to a team here where we click and to have the intense coaches that I have always wanted is probably one of my favorites. And I have teammates that are always there to pick you up.

“At first, coming here and never having a coach that gets on you like they do, and then Coach K … it took me a while to realize that he is a genius back there. The more and more that I watched, I could see the calls that he made and the pitch selection and you just know that he is one of the best at what he does.”

For Halley, it goes beyond Kuhn, the highly-regarded pitching coach.

“It is awesome how the coaches work,” he said. “Coach Oak (O’Connor) is genius because he not only trusts his coaches, but he has Coach Mac with the offense and he knows how to prepare us and how to test us, which I have come to enjoy.

“It is truly something special.”