Photo by: Baldwin Barnes, Davidson Athletics
'Cats Confident, Focused Through Fall Workouts
11/11/2022 3:16:00 PM | Baseball
As successful, record-breaking and memorable as the 2022 season was, the Davidson baseball team has shifted its focus this fall.
The Wildcats, fresh off a school-best 43 wins and the program's first outright regular-season conference title, have their sights set on the present, while working toward the future.
"We've had a good fall to date," says coach Rucker Taylor, whose teams are 112-62 in four years. "This team realizes last year is over and this is a different team with a new mix of people. Hopefully some of the great traits from last year are brought forward. Some guys have shown growth, and that's encouraging.
In a six-week span, the Wildcats held 27 team practices and played fall games against the Ontario Blue Jays, Erskine and Queens. The fall has been about taking the positives from a breakthrough year, while also implementing new pieces into the puzzle.
"Last year doesn't matter for this year," says senior outfielder Henry Koehler. "It's 'Learn from what we did well and fix what we didn't.'"
If there's one key carryover for the Wildcats, in terms of intangibles, it's confidence. Winning at a .768 percentage certainly helps that, but individual buy-in has boosted it as well.
"In our fall scrimmages, we've had guys come off the bench and also had guys pitch in seemingly big spots and perform well," says pitcher Jacob Peaden, a senior. "I think seeing everyone exhibit the confidence they have in these positions has stood out."
The Wildcats' team chemistry is also noteworthy. It's a team that knows how to have fun, while also putting in the work.
"Just how much we enjoy being together, competing and having fun," says senior shortstop Jacob Hinderleider. "I think that enjoying the game is something that can get lost when you're in an ultra-competitive environment, so we've done a good job of enjoying it."
The mindset hasn't really changed, either. The goals are lofty but realistic.
"Our goal is still to win the A-10 and make a regional," says pitcher Will Schomberg, another of the team's 10 seniors. "We do have a lot of new coaches and players, but the transition has gone smoothly."
Roster turnover is always part of any offseason, and the Wildcats are tasked with replacing nine graduated players. They've added seven freshmen and two transfers, and aside from Taylor, the entire coaching staff is new.
But Taylor likes what he's seen as the 2023 team takes shape. The veterans have progressed, while the newcomers have hit the ground running. The hopes are high.
"I don't think many of the new guys have had a big adjustment curve off the field," he says. "You can see the upside and talent with this group. The next few months will be important to reach our ceiling."
Asking the 'Cats
On Oct. 30, returning All-American MichaeI Carico hit two home runs against Queens at the Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis. One clanged off the top of the batter's eye, while the other landed in a construction site in right field.
In the words of some of his teammates, the home runs were: "sensational, unreal, launched, unsurprising."
Another head-turner on the home run front was sophomore infielder Jack Cotrone, who hit two grand slams in two innings of an intrasquad scrimmage.
• What about pitching? Who had the nastiest stuff?
"Ryan Kutz, Nick Shedleski, Bennett Flynn."
• Who is a newcomer to watch?
"Infielder Nick Calero, catcher Anthony Torreso, pitcher Brycen Champey."
Who's back? By the numbers
• Earned A-10 postseason recognition (6): Carico, Ryan Feczko, Flynn, Ryan Wilson, Hinderleider, Jacob Friend
• Hit over .300, started at least 52 games (4): Carico, Wilson, Hinderleider, Koehler
• Logged 38-plus innings on the mound (4): Feczko, Schomberg, Kutz, Flynn
The Wildcats, fresh off a school-best 43 wins and the program's first outright regular-season conference title, have their sights set on the present, while working toward the future.
"We've had a good fall to date," says coach Rucker Taylor, whose teams are 112-62 in four years. "This team realizes last year is over and this is a different team with a new mix of people. Hopefully some of the great traits from last year are brought forward. Some guys have shown growth, and that's encouraging.
In a six-week span, the Wildcats held 27 team practices and played fall games against the Ontario Blue Jays, Erskine and Queens. The fall has been about taking the positives from a breakthrough year, while also implementing new pieces into the puzzle.
"Last year doesn't matter for this year," says senior outfielder Henry Koehler. "It's 'Learn from what we did well and fix what we didn't.'"
If there's one key carryover for the Wildcats, in terms of intangibles, it's confidence. Winning at a .768 percentage certainly helps that, but individual buy-in has boosted it as well.
"In our fall scrimmages, we've had guys come off the bench and also had guys pitch in seemingly big spots and perform well," says pitcher Jacob Peaden, a senior. "I think seeing everyone exhibit the confidence they have in these positions has stood out."
The Wildcats' team chemistry is also noteworthy. It's a team that knows how to have fun, while also putting in the work.
"Just how much we enjoy being together, competing and having fun," says senior shortstop Jacob Hinderleider. "I think that enjoying the game is something that can get lost when you're in an ultra-competitive environment, so we've done a good job of enjoying it."
The mindset hasn't really changed, either. The goals are lofty but realistic.
"Our goal is still to win the A-10 and make a regional," says pitcher Will Schomberg, another of the team's 10 seniors. "We do have a lot of new coaches and players, but the transition has gone smoothly."
Roster turnover is always part of any offseason, and the Wildcats are tasked with replacing nine graduated players. They've added seven freshmen and two transfers, and aside from Taylor, the entire coaching staff is new.
But Taylor likes what he's seen as the 2023 team takes shape. The veterans have progressed, while the newcomers have hit the ground running. The hopes are high.
"I don't think many of the new guys have had a big adjustment curve off the field," he says. "You can see the upside and talent with this group. The next few months will be important to reach our ceiling."
Asking the 'Cats
On Oct. 30, returning All-American MichaeI Carico hit two home runs against Queens at the Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis. One clanged off the top of the batter's eye, while the other landed in a construction site in right field.
In the words of some of his teammates, the home runs were: "sensational, unreal, launched, unsurprising."
Another head-turner on the home run front was sophomore infielder Jack Cotrone, who hit two grand slams in two innings of an intrasquad scrimmage.
• What about pitching? Who had the nastiest stuff?
"Ryan Kutz, Nick Shedleski, Bennett Flynn."
• Who is a newcomer to watch?
"Infielder Nick Calero, catcher Anthony Torreso, pitcher Brycen Champey."
Who's back? By the numbers
• Earned A-10 postseason recognition (6): Carico, Ryan Feczko, Flynn, Ryan Wilson, Hinderleider, Jacob Friend
• Hit over .300, started at least 52 games (4): Carico, Wilson, Hinderleider, Koehler
• Logged 38-plus innings on the mound (4): Feczko, Schomberg, Kutz, Flynn
Players Mentioned
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