DII Report: LSC DII baseball 2023 preview
Let's head to the Lone Star State and check in with some of the top teams from the LSC for the coming DII baseball season.
I hope you have been enjoying the DII baseball fall reports and season previews. With the season already creeping so very close, today, we turn our attention to the Lone Star Conference.
The South Central Region has become a fun rivalry between Colorado Mesa and Angelo State. One of the two teams has represented the region in the DII baseball championship finals in all but one year since the 2015 season. The Rams will have some very tough competition this year, as West Texas A&M, Lubbock Christian and St. Edward’s all look improved.
2022 LSC DII baseball final standings
Here’s a quick look at each of the teams that took time to respond to my information request. It gives a little insight on what to expect at the top in 2023.
Angelo State
Head coach: Kevin Brooks
Returning player to watch: Austin Beck, UTIL. The All-American was mostly a second baseman last year, but Coach Brooks expects to use him in an OF/SS/2B role this year.
Pitchers (and as it turns out, newcomers) to watch: Kade Bragg, LHP and Mason Bryant, RHP. Brooks made it no secret that he made pitching a priority this offseason, bringing in a pair of arms that will make an instant impact in Angelo, Texas. Bragg is a Weatherford JC transfer who sits 88-92 mph with a plus slider and changeup. Bryant, Temple JC transfer, spent his first two years at Texas then transferred to Temple last year. He’s a big hard-throwing righty with an above-average fastball (92-96), a good slider, and an improving changeup.
Under the radar player to watch: Kam Kelton, 3B. Brooks feels he plays Gold Glove defense with a plus arm. He hit well last year but has really improved strength and approach.
What Coach Brooks said: Not exactly sure what type of team this team will be, but I think it has the pitching, defense, speed, and depth to give us a chance to win every game. If we can get roles established and developed by end of year, we have a team capable of making a good run.
West Texas A&M
Head coach: Matt Vanderburg
Returning players to watch: Adam Becker, IF and Ryan Johnson, OF. Becker, who transferred in from Houston last year, had a monster campaign, earning Lone Star Conference player of the year honors. Johnson is coming off two big seasons with the Buffs, hitting .403 with 30 extra base hits in a first-team All-LSC campaign last year.
Pitcher to watch: Reese Miller, XHP. Miller looks to be fully healthy, now recovered from injury a couple seasons ago. Last year he was used mainly out of the bullpen last year just to keep his innings down. This year, Vanderburg expects him to be one of the top guys. Miller sits 90-93 with a heavy two seam fastball and a 3000-rpm slider that is wipeout.
Newcomers to watch: Douglas Rojas, LHP and Kory Schmidt. Rojas has a chance to be a dominant lefty this year, sitting 88-92 with great pitch ability this fall. The Indian Hills CC transfer has plenty of big innings on his resume and should be an immediate impact guy on the mound. Schmidt had a huge fall and should be a guy that can protect Becker. The Dodge City CC transfer broke the programs all-time home run record and led the Buffs in homers this gall.
Under the radar player to watch: Seth Ochoa, SS. Due to a season ending injury the week before season started, Ochoa had to take off last season. Expect him to be fully healthy this year and a guy that cannot only do it defensively but will add a lot of offense to the lineup as well.
What Coach Vanderburg said: This team has a chip on their shoulder and is working harder than any other team I have ever had. I believe with the depth we have on both offense and on the pitching staff this team has a chance to be special.
Lubbock Christian
Head coach: Nathan Blackwood
Returning player to watch: Eduardo Acosta, 3B. Acosta earned All-Region honors last year as a hitter that can do it all. He hits for high average (.398 a year ago) and can find the gaps (14 doubles, seven triples) and has over-the-fence pop (seven home runs).
Pitcher to watch: Marcos Escalera, RHP. Escalera comes from Vernon College and sits 92 mph with great pitch ability.
Newcomer to watch: Nate Van Maanen, 1B and Chris Shull, CF. Van Maanen transfers from Odessa College and is described as a “big-time hitter.” Shull comes in from Western Texas after playing at UTSA. He can put it all together in streaks, as evidenced by a four-game home run streak last season.
Under the radar player to watch: Jacob Gutierrez, OF. Another transfer, Gutierrez comes in from New Mexico where he showed he could make solid contact.
St. Edward’s
Head coach: Bryan Faulds
Returning player to watch: Davis Drewek, OF. Drewek has big power in his bat, finishing second on the team in home runs a year ago. If he cuts down on the strikeouts just a bit, his average should improve as well, as he is very good getting the bat on the ball.
Pitcher to watch: Wesley Gafford, RHP. The returning Lone Star Conference pitcher of the year and All American is a monster 6-foot-7 with a loose arm. He pitched 103 innings last year striking out 101 and walking 29. Gafford will command the zone with all of his pitches and always wants the ball. He has a fastball (90-93), slider (82-83), changeup (78-80).
Newcomers to watch: Lance Little, 1B and Jack Engelman, RHP. Little is a strong and physical transfer from Western Texas Junior College. He can drive the ball to all fields, and with a good approach is tough to strike out. Engelman throws from a 3/4-arm slot. The transfer from ULM has an 88-92-mph fastball with good command of a sharp slider.
Under the radar players to watch: Josh Graham, IF, Trevor Sebek, IF, and Jared Schaffer, RHP. All three are coming off solid freshman seasons and are expected to take on expanded roles with Schaffer competing for as spot in the rotation.
What Coach Faulds said: Really excited to see what this group can do this season. We have a good core of returners back from last year's team, which lost in the regional final, and we have a great group of newcomers who are excited to get on the field. We have a lineup that will be tough to strike out and will compete at the plate, and we got depth on the mound which we have not had in recent years. The best part of this team is they all like to compete and will do whatever it takes to help each other succeed.
THE DII NATION PODCAST
Have you subscribed to the DII Nation Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, or wherever your favorite platform is to listen to podcasts? I’m sharing our most recent episode once again, as we were joined by a pair of former Wayne State (MI) alum that have made it to the big leagues. World Series champion Hunter Brown and 11-year veteran Anthony Bass join Bethany Bowman and I to tell their story and show the right way to make big-league dreams come true.
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