Baseball has Depth, High Hopes as 2019 Season Opens Friday

Davidson takes on Fordham in A-10 baseball action at Wilson Field on Sunday, March 25, 2018 in Davidson, North Carolina.

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Baseball has Depth, High Hopes as 2019 Season Opens Friday

2/13/2019 11:46:00 AM | Baseball

2019 Quick Facts
DavidsonPhotos.com

Rucker Taylor is entering his first season as Davidson's head baseball coach, but he's already spent six seasons in the Davidson dugout as an assistant.

So the new era of Wildcats baseball already feels pretty familiar as the 2019 season gets underway Friday, Feb. 15 when Towson visits to begin a three-game weekend series at Wilson Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.

Having continuity in the program Dick Cooke spent the past 28 seasons leading is key, considering the Wildcats have been trending in the right direction. That includes five straight seasons of at least 28 wins and the magical 2017 campaign that included 35 wins and the program's first conference title and NCAA Super Regional appearance. Last year, the Wildcats won a program-best 32 games in the regular season.

Now it's on to 2019, and Taylor likes what he sees when he looks at the roster or gazes out on the field.

"On paper and from what we've seen in practice so far, it's the deepest team we've had since I've been here, both positionally and on the mound," said Taylor. "I think we'll use a lot of different lineups early on because a lot of guys have earned opportunities."

In the field
The Wildcats return a group of seasoned veterans to lead the way, including senior catcher/infielder Eric Jones, who earned Atlantic 10 Second Team honors last season. He led the Wildcats in most offensive categories, including batting average (.333), on-base percentage (.443), slugging percentage (.577), hits (67), doubles (14), home runs (11) and RBI (60). Taylor believes he's poised for another standout season.

"Eric, like the other seniors, has done a great job of setting a positive example this year, and we believe he will have another great year," said Taylor.

Jones spent most of last season behind the plate after starting at third base on the Super Regional team. Three other starters from that 2017 team remain, including senior shortstop Max Bazin, senior outfielder Justin Lebek and junior utilityman Brett Centracchio, who served as designated hitter during the memorable postseason run.

Bazin joins Jones, his former South Mecklenburg High teammate, as the team's only returning .300 hitters (.301), while Lebek tied Jones for the 2018 team lead with 11 home runs, and Centracchio hit 10. Centracchio and Lebek combined to drive in 79 runs.

Redshirt junior infielder Ward Coleman and redshirt sophomore outfielder Alex Mardiney also return to the regular lineup. Mardiney was an A-10 All-Rookie Team selection last year after hitting .272 with 11 doubles, and he is the team's top returning base stealer with nine in 2018. Coleman was one of four Wildcats to start all 54 games (also Centracchio, Jones and 2018 graduate Alec Acosta) and hit .260.

Junior Zach Nussbaum gives the Wildcats a solid defensive option behind the plate and the ability to move Jones around, while fellow returners Alex Fedje-Johnson (Jr. IF), Ruben Fontes (Soph. C/DH), Matt Frey (Jr. IF), Walker Imwalle (R-Jr. 1B/OF) and Greg Lowe (R-Jr. OF) should see increased roles. Imwalle, a 6-5, 254-pound redshirt junior, hit five home runs in just 53 at-bats last year, and Fontes has had one of the hottest bats in preseason practice.

Freshmen Trevor Candelaria (OF), Parker Nolan (OF), Matthew Gravely (IF) and John Hosmer (C/IF) are promising newcomers. Sophomore utilityman Alex Jobe returns to add depth.

On the mound
The Wildcats have experience and depth on the rubber, too.

Senior right-hander Casey Sutherland transitions to a starter role after flourishing out of the bullpen last year, when he led the team with six saves. He finished 2018 with a 2.47 ERA in 43.2 innings, with one start, but he will be counted on to be part of the rotation in 2019.

"He's been preparing for it the whole year," said Taylor. "He wants to do it. He wants to be the guy. He just has some presence about him."

Senior right-handers Allen Barry and Josh Hudson return after filling starting roles last year. Both pitched in the 2017 postseason – Hudson earned the clinching win at the Chapel Hill Regional, and Barry pitched in relief in both Super Regional games. Barry led the way in wins last season, going 8-2 with a 3.83 ERA over 14 starts and 80 innings. Hudson was 4-4 with a 6.55 ERA.

Senior right-handed reliever Austin Leonard, is back after going 2-1 with two saves and a 2.86 ERA last season. In 2017, Leonard threw three scoreless innings in the A-10 Tournament championship win.

"We have a lot of guys with experience, which I think matters," said Taylor. "We have guys who want to be in pressure situations and have been in pressure situations."

Junior Jaret LaCagnina (LHP) returns after posting a 3.97 ERA in 45.1 innings and starting five games – mostly against top-tier non-conference opponents — last year. Sophomore Pete Bloomberg (RHP) had a 3.34 ERA in 29.2 innings.

Taylor said seniors Dan Spear (RHP) and Sam Reinertsen (LHP) might be the most improved Wildcats on the mound and have earned more opportunities this spring. Luke Burton (RHP) has made strides as well, and fellow sophomore Jake Biederman (RHP) is working to return from a season-long injury.

A number of newcomers will get shots on the mound as well, including freshmen right-handers Gabe Levy, Alex Fenton and Blake Hely and redshirt sophomore Kieran Casey (RHP), a former University of Miami commit. Others providing depth are junior Charlie King (RHP) and freshmen Casey Kruger (LHP) and Noah Takac (RHP).