FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Wednesday, February 1, 2017 2017 MSUB Baseball Season Preview
Coming off back-to-back GNAC regular-season titles, MSUB’s baseball team is set to pursue another title with the 2017 season starting Feb. 11. BILLINGS, Mont. – Back-to-back regular-season Great Northwest Athletic Conference titles have elevated the status of the Montana State University Billings baseball team to not only the top of the conference but in the conversation among the best teams in the NCAA Division II west region. Setting a new program standard with 30 wins a season ago, the Yellowjackets (30-20, 23-15 GNAC) again embarked on a dynamite run by winning 11 of their final 12 conference games to share the league title with Northwest Nazarene University. Building off the best two records in program history, after a mark of 27-23 in 2015, the Yellowjackets have their sights set on sustaining the level of success as the 2017 season quickly approaches. “Looking at this group, these guys have a
lot of ability and they have high expectations for themselves,” commented first-year head coach Aaron Sutton, who arrived at MSUB in the fall after five successful years as the head man at Treasure Valley Community College (Ore.). “This is a senior-heavy group leadership wise, and they want to finish off their careers with a bang, which is something we are excited about.” The ‘Jackets were selected fourth in the GNAC preseason coaches’ poll, receiving 21 points. Northwest Nazarene earned 4 of 6 first-place votes and was favored to repeat with 33 points, while Western Oregon was second (30 points), and Central Washington third (22 points). Concordia University (Ore.) and Saint Martin’s tied for fifth in the poll with 10 points apiece. MSUB begins its 2017 season with a three-game series at Colorado School of Mines running Feb. 11-12 in Golden, Colo. The ‘Jackets will then play a four-game series at Colorado Mesa University Feb. 17-19 in Grand Junction, Colo., before wrapping up their nonconference schedule at Dixie State University Feb. 24-26 in St. George, Utah. The 40-game GNAC schedule begins in Monmouth, Ore., at Western Oregon University March 4-5, as the ‘Jackets take on each of their five conference opponents in a pair of four-game series running into the first week of May. The 2017 GNAC Baseball Championships will run May 11-12 in Portland, Ore., at Concordia University, and for the first time ever the top-four teams in the final regular-season standings will earn berths into the tournament. Dehler Park will open its doors on March 18 for the first of five GNAC series, as the Yellowjackets kick off their home slate by hosting Concordia University and Northwest Nazarene University on back-to-back weekends. The ‘Jackets will then host Western Oregon April 14-15, and Saint Martin’s University April 21-22, before its final home series against Central Washington from May 5-6. Tickets are $5 for the general public, $3 for seniors (ages 65+), students in grades 7-12, and MSUB faculty and staff, and free admission for all MSUB Junior Adam Cox was picked as an NCBWA preseason Allstudents and children in grades six and under. All-sport ticket American after a stellar 2016 season. packages, which are good for admission to both MSUB baseball and softball in the spring, are also available at 10 tickets for $45 and 25 tickets for $100. For tickets, call 406-657-2369 or email sports@msubillings.edu. Sutton’s roster features 21 returning players, in conjunction with 15 newcomers as the ‘Jackets have a balanced squad from top-to-bottom. The team was second in the GNAC with 309 runs scored (6.18 per game), and batted .288 with 135 extra-base hits. Sutton is confident in this season’s team to replicate the strong offensive performance, citing multiple layers of proficiency at the plate.
“We have the ability to be good from a lot of different facets, and we definitely have good team speed and some big bats in the lineup,” Sutton said. “We want to put pressure on the defense, and give our players opportunities to utilize their skills.” The top returning bat for the ‘Jackets is junior designated hitter Adam Cox, who took off in his first season as a hitter in 2016 and led the GNAC with 47 RBIs. A .371 batting average, nine home runs, and 22 total extra base hits propelled Cox into a second-team all-region selection, and he begins his junior year as a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason All-American. In addition to his productive year at the plate, Cox doubled as the team’s closer and logged five saves in 27 1/3 innings pitched in relief. Cox had 37 strikeouts against 13 walks, and held an ERA of 4.94 last year. “Adam is a guy who, in the middle of our order, is going to protect a lot of guys because of his threat at the plate,” Sutton said. “He is a five-tool baseball player coming off of a great sophomore year, and he’s ready to have an even better season as a junior.” On the mound, the ‘Jackets ranked No. 2 in the GNAC with an earned run average of 4.94, and MSUB led the league with 370 strikeouts (8.30 per 9 innings). MSUB’s first-year coach likes what he has seen on the mound through the fall and winter as well, with a mix of returners and newcomers who share the common trait of a competitive edge. “We have a staff full of bulldogs, and they are strike-throwers who don’t fear hitters,” Sutton said. “We have a lot of guys who allow our defense to play, and who have good tempo and pace. When they are working at a good pace, they keep our defense and hitters engaged, and that is fun baseball to watch.” Heading up the staff is returning second-team all-region and firstteam all-GNAC selection Cody Cooper, who is back for his senior campaign. A year after leading the entire NCAA Division II west region with 106 strikeouts, the right-hander will be back on the mound as the team’s Game 1 starter.
Cooper led the NCAA D2 west region with 106 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings last season.
Cooper logged a GNAC-high 99 1/3 innings pitched last season, while ranking third in the GNAC with an ERA of 2.81. His single-season strikeout total blew past the MSUB record of 79, and he begins this season No. 2 in program history with 164 career strikeouts (78 behind No. 1 Brady Muller). “Cody is really hungry, and he is carrying himself with a lot of confidence coming off a great junior season,” Sutton said regarding his team’s ace. “He wants to have an even better senior year, and has been putting in the work. He is concerned with putting his team in a position to win a game every time he steps out on the mound.” While Cooper is the unspoken leader of staff, the team features four other senior arms who should all factor into the mix this year. Among them is returning starter Matt Hape, who ate up 49 2/3 innings while making a dozen starts and holding an ERA of 6.89 in his first year after transferring from Salt Lake Community College.
Fifth-year seniors Bryon Baker and Tanner Watson, and fellow senior Corbin Smith all factored into the bullpen last season, with Watson also making three spot starts for the ‘Jackets. “Our senior pitchers have dealt with a lot of adversity throughout their careers, and we know they are going to leave it all out there for us this season,” Sutton said. “All of them have been tremendous leaders for us, and have brought along the younger guys. I’m excited for them to get out and compete, and show what they have worked hard for throughout the fall.” Jared Winslow and Steen Fredrickson are two of the more promising younger arms for the ‘Jackets, with the former holding the third-best ERA on the team last year at 4.72 in 40 innings pitched. Winslow also posted 31 strikeouts against just a dozen walks, and earned one save in 12 appearances. Fredrickson held a strong strikeout-to-walk ratio as well, with 14 Ks and only eight free passes in 19 innings. Junior transfer Tristan Shockley and redshirt freshman Josh Harrington figure to bolster MSUB’s staff as well this season. Shockley led Miles Community College with a 4.61 ERA last year as a sophomore, striking out 43 batters in 56 2/3 innings for the Pioneers. “Our younger guys on the mound really add a lot of depth for us, and they all throw strikes and compete well,” Sutton said. “As a group, they’re picking up the things the older pitchers have been passing down, and we have full faith in those guys to get the job done for us.” Also back for MSUB on the mound are junior Garrett Baldry, and sophomores Brandon Maassen and TJ Andricopoulos. Junior transfers Talon Derrick and Garrett Helfrich and freshman left-hander Sam Muskat will also compete for innings in the bullpen.
Robinson returns to the outfield after batting .272 as a junior in 2016.
The Yellowjackets said goodbye to first-team all-region centerfielder Luke Reinschmidt, as well as a quartet of allconference infielders who all started in the lineup during the successful 2016 run. Outfield depth will be a plus for MSUB this season, as seniors Zach Robinson and Casey Merritt will lead a wealth of talent both offensively and defensively. Robinson held a .272 batting average while getting on base at a clip of .364 and stealing six bases as a speedy corner outfielder last year. Merritt started 14 games before a season-ending injury, and is looking to return to his 2015 form when he batted .309 and was a second-team all-GNAC pick in left field. As a true freshman last year, Alec Leighton stepped up and batted .286 in 27 games, and posted five doubles and 11 RBIs in just 63 at-bats. Sophomore outfielder Matt Dillon also returns to the lineup, and sophomore transfer Jalen Garcia figures to see significant playing time as he returns to his hometown after a year at Corban University (Ore.). “We have a lot of experience in the outfield, and when you look at guys like Casey and Zach, they are two of our hardest workers who really lead by example,” Sutton said. “Alec is a special talent who had a lot of at-bats as a freshman, and in getting Jalen as a transfer we have a guy with a lot of potential as a player.”
The team will look to fill vacancies left by third baseman Kyle Durbin, shortstop Corey Morris, second baseman Colter Sternhagen, and first baseman Kevin Toon, as all four infield spots will feature new faces this season. Junior transfers Michael Gahan and Conner Linebarger are expected to split time at third base, with each holding promising potential offensively. “Michael is hungry to get on the field, and he has earned the right to be a big part of our lineup,” Sutton said. “Conner is a guy who adds a lot of foundation to the team coming from Hawaii, and the younger guys really look up to him. Both he and Michael have a chance to be some of our biggest threats.” Across the diamond at first base, the ‘Jackets have veteran depth in Cox, Watson, Jarod Paul, and newcomer junior Ryan Myers. Watson batted .321 in a limited capacity in the lineup last year, making 12 starts and driving in 10 runs in 53 at-bats. Paul is coming off a redshirt season in 2016, and Myers last played at Laney College (Calif.) before spending the 2016 season at Washington State University. Redshirt freshman Dakota Tompkins also returns to the squad for his second season. Competition for the middle infield spots will be high as well, as MSUB seeks to replace last year’s double-play combination of Morris and Sternhagen. Sophomore Jacob Foley, and freshmen Max Hartgraves, Caje Golden, and Jake Tallman could all see playing time at the shortstop and second base positions. “We have a lot of young infielders who are inexperienced, but that may be a good thing because they don’t shy away from competition,” Sutton said regarding the youngest facet of his team. “They are going to be excited to be out there and playing, and we know that they have ability. There are going to be a lot of opportunities for guys to win jobs, and it is up to those young guys to make it harder for us as a coaching staff to write the lineup.” The Yellowjackets are in good hands behind the plate with veteran backstop Landon Peterson returning for his third season. Starting 42 of 50 games a year ago, Peterson was tasked with handling MSUB’s pitching staff and excelled defensively as a sophomore. He led the GNAC in runners caught stealing with 19, and posted a stellar .978 fielding percentage in a league-high 358 chances. Watson had an impact both as a hitter and pitcher for the ‘Jackets during the 2016 season.
“We are really confident in Landon, who has a lot of experience behind the plate,” Sutton said. “All of the pitchers have a really good relationship with him, and he has been in this program for three seasons now.” Complementing Peterson at catcher this season will be junior transfer Kade Hall, who is coming off a .271 batting average in 107 at-bats as a sophomore at Treasure Valley CC. Freshman and Kalispell, Mont., native Andrew Schleusner will provide further depth behind the plate and in the infield.
“With Kade coming in, we have a guy who can add an offensive dynamic and who is a leader behind the plate,” Sutton commented on his former player at TVCC continuing under his guidance at MSUB. “We are going to have the opportunity to get both him and Landon into the lineup, and both guys are fully capable back there.” Sutton is joined on the coaching staff by third-year assistant coach Parker Kruckenberg, and first-year assistant coach Ryan Wright. All home games this season will feature live video with play-by-play commentary and live statistics, available through MSUB’s Stretch Internet portal here. Select road contests will also feature live video and statistics, available online through www.msubsports.com. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--