New era begins in WBU baseball

A new era in Wayland Baptist University baseball officially begins this weekend when the Pioneers take the field for the first time under new head coach Todd Weldon.

Weldon, the former WBU player and pitching coach who took over as head coach after Brad Bass resigned after a 26-year career, takes the Pioneers to southeast Texas to face the University of Houston-Victoria in a four-game, 2022 season-opening series. The teams face off for doubleheaders beginning at 2 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.

The Pioneers play four more road games against Huston-Tillotson the following weekend before a home-opening series against Peru State (Neb.) Feb. 11 and 12.

With a limited number of veterans – but enviable experience on the mound – complimented by a number of promising newcomers, the Pioneers will mix some of what Bass infused into the program over the past quarter of a century with Weldon's own offensive and defensive philosophies.

"I feel like this group of guys has done a really good job of preparing in a way that allowed them to come back in shape, healthy and ready to compete. We've had a productive three weeks of practice," Weldon said.

Weldon, who played at WBU in 2009 and '10 then served as pitching coach from 2013-18, said associate head coach Brett Cook – himself a former Pioneer player who has coached the Pioneers the past 12 years – challenged the team after Bass's departure and the death of longtime assistant coach Tommy McMillan and prior to the arrival of Weldon from his previous job in Pennsylvania.

"He asked the guys to take ownership in their routines and practices, and they did a good job of that. So now you see a group of guys you don't have to push along to go to work. They know exactly what to do," Weldon said.

A former academic All-American who was drafted by the New York Mets, Weldon said fans can look for the same integrity the Pioneers displayed under Bass.

"Expect a group of guys who play the game the right way and represent Wayland the right way and who handle themselves in a positive way. That will be very much consistent with what Wayland baseball has been under Coach Bass. That part of it will be the same, for sure."

That said, Weldon said the Pioneers will have "a little bit of a different look offensively" from the past handful of years when Wayland ranked as one of the NAIA leaders in home runs. Part of that philosophy change may have resulted when Luis Vargas, a two-time All-American and Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year who led the NAIA in home runs in 2020 and 2021, decided to leave school and take care of his family.

"We'll still hit some home runs, but maybe not to the quantity that you saw last year." Instead, the Pioneers will look to manufacture runs on a more consistent basis. "We want to get on base, steal bases, whatever it takes to get into scoring position and push runs across."

Weldon is very excited about his pitching staff to the point he thinks the Pioneers may have unprecedented depth.

"This is probably the first time we went into the Christmas break not thinking we needed another pitcher or two," the coach said. "I've been really encouraged by the pitching staff. There's a lot of diversity. We have a good group of starters and relievers who throw a lot of strikes."

The pitching staff will be anchored by veteran right-hander Tanner Solomon, now in his fifth season on the mound for Wayland. Solomon has compiled a career record of 20-12 with 242 strikeouts (including 98 last season) and is anxious to put last season's uncharacteristic 3-6 mark behind him. "What he's been able to accomplish the last four years is impressive," Weldon said.

Two other veteran right-handers joining the starting rotation are Ty Jackson and Deric Trevino. Jackson made a team-high 21 appearances last season, mostly as a reliever, while Trevino, like Solomon, is in year five having compiled a 12-5 career record with 112 Ks.

A couple of new arms on the roster belong to two imposing transfers in 6-foot-3, 245-pound sophomore Victor Feliz and 6-4, 248-pound junior Garrett McClain. Weldon said he's encouraged by both Feliz, a transfer from Western Oklahoma State, and McClain, a well-traveled transfer from George West, Texas. "I'm excited about what Victor can accomplish, and impressed with what I saw from Garrett in the fall. He competes really well and has some good stuff as well."

Others on the staff include senior veterans Chase Jones and Jose Suero, who combined to make 36 appearances in 2021. "Chase has gained strength and we'll count on him to throw strikes, and we'll count on Jose as our closer. His fastball has touched 98 mph," Weldon said.

Other arms in the mix belong to a trio of left-handed relievers in senior Chris Lacher and freshmen Brooks Browning of Plainview and Zephron Ortiz of Slaton.

Defensively in the field, the Pioneers mostly will be sporting a new look, with only first baseman Dawin Santos joining veteran catcher Jake Green as regulars from a year ago. Both Santos and Green, both playing their fourth seasons at WBU, are "anchors" for the Pioneers, according to Weldon. Green is a second-team all-conference and SAC Gold Glove honoree. "He plays the game with a lot of passion and is one of the best catchers in the conference if not the nation. We'll also count on him offensively." Once again relieving Green behind the plate will be Brock Webber, who will DH when not being the plate.

Weldon said the Pioneers will be "very, very fast and athletic" in the outfield. Described by a previous coach as a "next-level player," Tyler Latham, a senior with three years of junior college experience who spent last season at Kansas Wesleyan, will be in left. Junior Justin Porter, who spelled Vargas in center last season, takes over full-time this year. Second-year (due to COVID) freshman William Flowers and sophomore Cesar Lopez of Mexico, who was with Weldon at Scotland Campus in Pennsylvania, "will battle it out" in right.

On the infield, where Wayland lost all-conference Carlos Collazo at second and Gregory Ozuna at short, Weldon said the Pioneers "will be a little young up the middle." Sophomore Hayden Ingram takes over at short. "Hayden is really good on defense and will do some good things on offense as well," said Weldon, adding that the starting nod at second is "up for grabs between three guys."

Thanks to a pair of natives from the Dominican Republic, the Pioneers will be "really good on defense with big-time bats at the corners." Dawin Santos, a 6-foot-6, 285-pound senior, will take the field at first for the fourth season while Arturo Disla, a junior college all-American in Iowa last season when he hit close to .400 and 19 homers, takes over at third.

After finishing last season with a 26-25 record, including 8-13 in conference for sixth place, the Pioneers once again were picked sixth in the SAC Preseason Coach's Poll. Weldon expects much more than that.

"We'd like to make some noise and win a conference championship. If these guys buy into who they are and what we can be as a team, we have a good chance at it," he said. "Wayland has never hung a conference championship or NAIA champion banner, so we're going to chase after that."