Bass encouraged going into 2019 season

With a new scoreboard ready to go to work in center field, the Wayland Baptist baseball team begins its 28^th season -- and 20th at Wilder Field -- with a pair of weekend doubleheaders. The Pioneers host Central Baptist (Ark.) at 2 p.m. Friday then again at noon Saturday.

A dedication ceremony for the scoreboard – recognizing donors Delbert and Marc McDougal of McDougal Properties – will precede Friday's games, which, along with most WBU home baseball contests, can be watched for free at www.wbuathletics.com/watch.

Brad Bass, about to start his 24^th campaign as head coach of the Pioneers, said he's encouraged with what he's seen so far in the preseason.

"They've looked good. The defense seems to be solid, and for the most part offensively we return most of our bats, so we should be similar to what we've done in the past. I think we'll be faster on the bases and be able to do a few things there," said Bass, whose career win-loss record at WBU is 690-610-3, while overall in 27 seasons it stands at 780-751-3.

A couple of glaring omissions from the lineup from last season – when the Pioneers finished 34-19 and 16-11 in the Sooner Athletic Conference for fourth place, and were ranked the equivalent of 35^th in the NAIA – are two-time NAIA All-American and three-time all-conference third baseman Gregg Veneklasen as well as shortstop/pitcher Matt Flores. Veneklasen was voted team MVP while Flores earned the team batting title (.402).

"Obviously, Gregg and Matt are big losses, but they weren't the only ones who hit well last year," Bass said.

Also graduated is Kevin Torres, a former team pitcher of the year and last season's strikeout leader (67) who will join "Voice of the Pioneers" Dan Zeigler in the broadcast booth in 2019.

Speaking of pitching, Bass plans to employ a stable of capable arms this year.

"My goal is to limit our stressful innings, and we have a pitching staff that allows me to do that. I have no intention of wearing a seat belt; I'm coming out and coming out fast. (It's) not that I don't think they can get out of their own mess, I just don't want them to have to."

Earning the opening day pitching assignments, Bass said, likely will be junior transfer Andrew Manier, a left-hander from Spring Arbor University (Mich.), and last season's pitcher of the year and SAC Gold Glove member as a freshman, Tanner Solomon.

"Tanner was really good for us last year (5-1). He's improved and will get a lot of innings," Bass said. "And Andrew has looked really good."

Two more sophomores, southpaw Chris Lacher and Deric Trevino, return after promising freshman campaigns, including a team-high six wins for Lacher. "He looked really good in the spring," Bass said. "Deric is much improved."

The pitching staff will benefit from the return of several arms who missed all or parts of last season, including 6-foot-4 lefty Kyle Eifert, Bryson Calaway, Juan Arroyo and Nic Vasquez. "Nic looks like somebody who will help us. He has been really good with his opportunities. Bryson is back and looks really good." Eifert went 5-4 his freshman season in 2017. "His freshman season he got better and better and better, and Juan has really good stuff," Bass said.

One pitcher Bass is hoping the best for is senior Jordie Henry, whose career has been plagued by arm ailments. Henry made six starts last season, going 3-0 with 27 strikeouts, before being sidelined with an injury that recently recurred. 

Besides Manier, other new faces to the staff include a pair of 6-4 freshman in Jack McMillan, a mid-term transfer from Hill College, and redshirt lefty Noah Warren. "Noah has worked really hard for a year and will give us some quality innings," Bass said. Other newbies are Ty Jackson of Shallowater, lefty Cesar Paz, and a pair from El Paso, Irving Munoz and Jacob Damian.

Like the pitching staff, the Pioneers also are stocked in the outfield where sophomores Austin Moya and defensive replacement Andy McEachern return in center, senior Nick Rucker in left and senior Bryan Nunez in right. Rucker and Moya were All-SAC second-team picks a year ago.

"Both our centerfielders have been really good, and Moya will run more often," Bass said.

Also back in the outfield is sophomore Jacob Adams. "He played defense last year, and now his offense is much improved, so his playing time will go up." After redshirting with a shoulder injury last season and then another injury last fall, Dalton Westbrook hopes to stay healthy. And freshman Justin Taylor "has looked really good in the outfield.

"We're piled up in the outfield. They're all good players. I'm looking forward to seeing what they do."

Returning in the infield are seniors Yaniel Vargas at second and Devlin Smith at third, while taking over at shortstop where Veneklasen ended the season after mostly playing third will be junior Gregory Ozuna of the Dominican Republic, a transfer from Luna Community College (N.M.) who arrived last spring. "He's really fast," Bass noted.

Another Dominican and Luna transfer, Dawin Santos, will be at first base as junior Brendon Foust, a second-team all-conference pick, recovers from injury and likely will DH. At 6-5, 275, Santos "fills the door," Bass said. "He was our MVP in the fall and appears to be a guy who will hit for average and power."

Also at designated hitter and pinch hitter is lefty sophomore Paxton Covel, while returning at catcher are senior Jonathan Ottenwalder and junior Derek Farmer, backed up by redshirt freshman Jake Green.

The Pioneers are at home three of the four weekends in February to face Central Baptist, Peru State and Wiley, while traveling to Houston-Victoria.

"I don't see any soft spots. Everybody has postseason history," Bass said. "The February schedule is just like the conference schedule; they all count, so you have to be ready. The first game matters just as much as your last game."

SAC play begins March 1 at Mid-America Christian. The conference features Oklahoma City ranked eighth followed by USAO at No. 11. Texas Wesleyan also received Top 25 votes.

Bass is ready to get the season started.

"I like us, I really do. We've played a lot of intrasquad games, so the guys are excited to play somebody in different colors than blue and gold.

"I like our enthusiasm and energy, and I like the way they interact. I think it's going to be a good year."