Post by D1Baseball on Feb 7, 2019 19:31:11 GMT
Northwestern State
The Demons made a statement last season by reaching the NCAA Tournament. Now, they hope to return to the postseason despite losing their only two hitters with averages over .300 last season. First baseman Peyton Davis hit five home runs last season and is ready to take another step forward this spring, while outfielder Lenni Kunert is a disciplined hitter who’s ready to have a strong season. He played very well in the Corvallis Regional last year and that should serve as a springboard for this season. Speedy Caleb Ricca is expected to improve on his .265 average last season, while J.P. Lagreco and juco transfer Marshall Skinner are wild cards. Lagreco hit four home runs last season, but has power to all fields and should have better numbers, while Skinner hit 11 home runs at Blinn (Texas) College last season and hopes to do the same with the Demons.
Experience on the mound certainly is important and the Demons have plenty of that with a trio of seniors in the weekend rotation. Lefty Ridge Heisler will get the starting nod on. Friday nights and is coming off a campaign where he showed good command. He creates some deception with his delivery and has a three-pitch mix he challenges hitters with. Righties Nathan Jones and Jerry Maddox have solid stuff, too. Jones has improved velocity and will sit in the low-90s with his fastball, while also throwing three pitches for strikes and having an ability to hold his velocity deep into games. Maddox was the SLC Newcomer of the Year last season and does a terrific job of changing speeds with his four-pitch mix. .Two more seniors — Jose Vasquez and Tyler Pigott — will anchor the bullpen. Vasquez is a hard-nosed competitor who has good pitchability and can take on different bullpen roles, while Pigott is a lefty who has good sink on his fastball from a three-quarters slot. He should have more success in the bullpen after transitioning from starter to reliever last spring.
The Demons made a statement last season by reaching the NCAA Tournament. Now, they hope to return to the postseason despite losing their only two hitters with averages over .300 last season. First baseman Peyton Davis hit five home runs last season and is ready to take another step forward this spring, while outfielder Lenni Kunert is a disciplined hitter who’s ready to have a strong season. He played very well in the Corvallis Regional last year and that should serve as a springboard for this season. Speedy Caleb Ricca is expected to improve on his .265 average last season, while J.P. Lagreco and juco transfer Marshall Skinner are wild cards. Lagreco hit four home runs last season, but has power to all fields and should have better numbers, while Skinner hit 11 home runs at Blinn (Texas) College last season and hopes to do the same with the Demons.
Experience on the mound certainly is important and the Demons have plenty of that with a trio of seniors in the weekend rotation. Lefty Ridge Heisler will get the starting nod on. Friday nights and is coming off a campaign where he showed good command. He creates some deception with his delivery and has a three-pitch mix he challenges hitters with. Righties Nathan Jones and Jerry Maddox have solid stuff, too. Jones has improved velocity and will sit in the low-90s with his fastball, while also throwing three pitches for strikes and having an ability to hold his velocity deep into games. Maddox was the SLC Newcomer of the Year last season and does a terrific job of changing speeds with his four-pitch mix. .Two more seniors — Jose Vasquez and Tyler Pigott — will anchor the bullpen. Vasquez is a hard-nosed competitor who has good pitchability and can take on different bullpen roles, while Pigott is a lefty who has good sink on his fastball from a three-quarters slot. He should have more success in the bullpen after transitioning from starter to reliever last spring.