Bass opens 25th season at the helm of Wayland Baptist baseball

Brad Bass enters his 25^th season at the helm of the Wayland Baptist baseball program expecting big things from a big team.

"We're big and fast. We have the best pitching staff that I've had in quite some time," Bass said. "We have everything we need to make a run…if we can stay healthy and our pitching comes through."

With Bass 28 wins shy of 1,000 for his career, the Pioneers open the 2020 campaign at 2 p.m. Friday against the York Panthers of Nebraska, a team that's advanced to the NAIA Opening Round four of the past five years. The Panthers fell just short of the NAIA World Series last season as they advanced to the Opening Round championship game and finished with a 32-23 record.

First pitch for Friday's doubleheader at Wilder Field is 2 p.m. The teams reconvene at noon Saturday to play two more.

While York has established itself as a perennial contender for the NAIA Championships, Wayland is looking to continue to build on the momentum of five winning seasons over the last six seasons, which included the program's second trip to the NAIA Opening Round in 2016. In 2019, the Pioneers compiled a 24-21 record, including 13-11 in the Sooner Athletic Conference for fifth place.

Wayland was picked fifth in this year's SAC Preseason Coaches Poll, mirroring the Pioneers finish from a year ago. All forurteams picked above WBU are ranked or receiving Top 25 votes, headed by third-ranked Science & Arts of Oklahoma, which placed third in the NAIA World Series a year ago. Additionally, Oklahoma City is ranked 10^th and Texas Wesleyan 17^th, while Southwestern Christian received votes.

"The Sooner is always tough," said Bass, who owns an all-time record of 972-813-4, which includes a 714-631-3 mark at Wayland and a 258-182-1 ledger at Texas Wesleyan. He ranks among the top 10 in all-time wins among active NAIA coaches and is in the top 25 all-time.

Leading up to his 25^th opening season at Wayland, Bass is optimistic about his pitching staff.

"We have at least three guys starting this weekend who will be above 90 (mph)," the coach said of opening game starter L.J. Diaz, Tanner Solomon and Jose Suero. All right-handers, Solomon is in his third season with the Pioneers, while both Diaz and Suero are transfers.

At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, Diaz, a senior from the Dominican Republic by way of NCAA Division II Tusculum University, Tenn., may be the hardest thrower of the entire staff.

"If circumstances had been different he would have already been drafted, but I believe he's been on a path to get to Wayland," Bass said. "He throws really hard, and his slider and change-up are really good."

The 6-2, 220-pound Suero, also of the Dominican Republic, transferred from Ranger Junior College. "He's mostly a low 90s guy with very, very high energy and high velocity. He also plays good defense," Bass said of the junior.

Solomon, a junior from Phoenix, owns a career record of 11-5, having gone 6-4 with 60 strikeouts last year when he was named Wayland's most valuable pitcher after earning All-SAC Gold Glove honors as a freshman. "Tanner has gotten better. He throws harder and his breaking pitches are better," Bass said. "His command has always been good. We always have a chance when he's pitching."

Other arms on what appears to be a deep staff are junior lefty Kyle Eifert (6-4, 205) of Amarillo and senior southpaw Andrew Manier (5-11, 185) of Sterling Heights, Mich. Eifert posted a 3-2 record last year while Manier went 4-3 with 39 Ks. Other veteran arms back are sophomore Ty Jackson (6-0, 175) of Shallowater and junior Chase Jones (6-1, 230) of Rowlett. Bass said all are "much improved."

Also back but currently injured are juniors Deric Trevino of Lubbock and lefty Chris Lacher of Rowlett. "It could be awhile before they pitch," Bass said.

Overall, the coach said, "I like my pitching, I really do."

Bass said the Pioneers are dealing with some questions behind the plate, mostly due to injuries to senior Derek Farmer of Roswell, N.M., and sophomore Jake Green of Sachse. Farmer and Green both hit just over .300 last season, with Green seeing the most action (17 games) in relief of starter Jonathan Ottenwalder, the team's lead-off hitter who now is a graduate assistant coach for the team.

Another option is freshman Riley Bennett of Plainview, who missed the fall season due to an accident but is making up for lost time due to the injuries that have limited Green and Farmer.

"We're a little thin at catcher," Bass said. "Jake and Derek will split time, but Riley has looked really good, too."

Spearheading the Pioneers' infield is senior shortstop Gregory Ozuna of the Dominican Republic. Ozuna was named all-conference second team last season after posting a .354 batting average, second on the team to graduated third baseman Devlin Smith. Ozuna led the team with eight home runs, 35 RBI, 33 runs and 22 stolen bases.

"Gregory has been moved to the leadoff spot to take advantage of his speed," Bass said.

Returning at first base is 6-foot-6, 285-pound junior Dawin Santos, also of the Dominican Republic, who hit .244 with six home runs. Bass said Santos is "much improved." At second will be sophomore Ramon Cruz of Puerto Rico, who last season played in 30 games with six starts and had 24 at-bats. "Ramon is in his third year here. He's a good talent, a quiet leader and has worked hard. He took a lot of work in the fall."

Taking over at third is first-year senior transfer Marco Rivera, a 6-foot, 210-pounder from Puerto Rico. Bass said Rivera was an all-American outfielder at Vernon College, but has experience at third which is where he'll start "in order to get our best line-up on the field."

Back in left field is Austin Moya, a junior from Canyon who in 2019 hit .347, third-best on the team. Also returning in the outfield is junior Jacob Adams of Tucson, Ariz., who hit .317 a year ago. Adams will start in rightfield while newcomer Luis Vargas, a junior from Boston, Mass., by way of Ranger Junior College, takes over in center. Senior Andy McEachern of Allen, who also played football for the Pioneers, is a solid defensive specialist, according to Bass.

At designated hitter will be 5-11, 225-pound senior Brendon Foust of Amarillo, who last season was fourth on the team with a .345 batting average and second with 28 RBI. Bass said Foust is dealing with some injury issues but should be able to DH.

Bass said he feels good about his team's ability to put up runs.

"They face a pretty good pitching staff every day, so that makes them better. We have a good combination of (players who can hit for) power and average, and we have a few guys who show signs of being able to take a walk. If we can take a walk we'll score a lot of runs.

"We'll see."