After the first two weekends were rained out, the first pitches of the Penn State baseball season will be thrown to a freshman.

Penn State baseball coach Joe Hindelang said Derrick Barr has won the starting spot in right field, and will bat leadoff in tomorrow night's season opener against No. 4 Arizona State.

Even Barr was a little surprised that he has been able to break into the starting lineup so early, but never doubted his abilities. He said that his goal was to make it into the lineup by the end of the season.

He beat out junior Brett Showalter for starting job. Showalter said that recently he has been splitting time in practice in the outfield and at first base. He has noticed Barr's play in practice, which has separated him from the other freshmen on the team.

"He has stepped it up in practice," Showalter said. "He's been real hot with the bat, and he seems to be the freshman that is stepping out of the crowd."

Barr possesses many of the qualities that a coach wants from his leadoff hitter. He gets on base often, takes pitches and runs well. Barr said that he just tries to get on base, not to strikeout and keep the ball on the ground so that he can utilize his speed to his advantage. Tri-captain Wes Reohr said that Barr has shown in the indoor practices a knack to get on base.

"I can't remember a time when he hasn't gotten on base," Reohr said. "He has shown to be a good leadoff hitter."

Hindelang said that he does not put too much pressure on any of his freshmen. He said the pressure and responsibility falls on the shoulders of the upperclassmen that have been around for a while.

"Freshmen will be up and down," Hindelang said. "I just ask them to give me their best effort. I don't count on 'X' amounts of wins or 'X' amount of hits as position player."

Even without Hindelang putting any pressure on Barr, the pressure is still there. Barr said that he is a little nervous anticipating his first collegiate start.

The 5-foot-7, 150-pounder's natural position is centerfield. But with the surplus of center fielders on the team, he has made the switch to right field. Reohr, who is the starting left fielder, played center field much of the 2001 season with starting center fielder Zack Smithlin out with injuries.

Hindelang is very confident with his outfield defensively, as all three members have played center at some point in their careers and can cover a lot of ground.

Barr said that the position change has not been too difficult, and that it's an easier position because there is less ground to cover. Right field is traditionally the outfield position where the player with the strongest arm is in order to make the long throws, but Barr doesn't worry about his arm strength limiting his play.

"I have been working on it," Barr said.

"My arm isn't as strong as Zack's or the outfielders, but I'm hoping in the future I can get it there."

In front of large crowd against one of the national powerhouses, the freshman will get his first chance to show why Hindelang gave him the start.

And he'll never get a second chance at a first start.