DII Report: SAC DII baseball 2023 preview
As the new baseball season approaches, let's take a look at the top teams in the South Atlantic Conference.
Since I fell behind on the fall reports, think of these as season previews with the 2023 DII baseball season somehow right around the corner. Today, we turn our attention to the South Atlantic Conference.
The SAC is slowly becoming a quiet little powerhouse. Wingate, which finished atop the standings last year, won the national championship in 2021, while Lenoir-Rhyne and Newberry look like programs that have taken a strong turn in the right direction.
2022 SAC 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. As a note, remember that Queens (NC) is now Division I.
Wingate
Head coach: Jeff Gregory
Returning player to watch: Seaver King, IF. The Bulldogs have a bevy of returners (nine that played significant innings last year to be precise), but King can play several spots on the infield and was the SAC freshman of the year in 2022.
Pitchers to watch: According to Gregory, Mitch Farris, Sam Brodersen and Corey Avant are the guys to watch. Farris is a lefty that has four pitches to work with: fastball, slider, curveball and changeup, with strong command with all four. He was up to 91 mph this fall but will probably be more in the 88-90 range. He pitched out of the bullpen last year but is expected to take on a larger role in 2023.
Brodersen, another bullpen arm who caught fire on the Wingate championship run, worked out the bullpen last year as well but has been working as a starter this past fall. He sits 90-93 and has been a little better than at times. He has been developing a changeup throughout the summer and fall, and according to Gregory has made progress.
Unlike the other two, Avant came out of the pen last year, but expect him to stay there. Per Gregory, “in my opinion he has the best "stuff" on the pitching staff. He has been up to 98 with his FB and mostly worked in the mid 90s.” To go with that electric fastball, Avant adds a curveball, slider and change up, which are weapons for a bullpen arm. With a cleaned-up delivery, Avant is ready for long relief or to be the closer.
Newcomer to watch: Gregory considers Sean Barnett the guy to watch here. He was a freshman for last year and mostly threw on the mound, but also plays the outfield. Gregory sees an expanded role on both the bump and the field. Able to play all three outfield spots and up to 93 on the radar gun, expect to see Barnett play a key role in helping close out ball games and shut down defensively.
Under the radar player to watch: Ricky Clark, OF. Clark, a LHH, was injured in the 2021 season and started once again in 2022. He shows a really good combination of power and contact at the plate. Now fully healthy, he could be one of the breakout stars of 2023.
What Coach Gregory said: This is still a veteran team that is coming off a 48-10 season in 2022, but we have several new players as well. I think this is a very athletic team that has depth across the roster, positionally and on the mound. I feel like we have a lot of options that will allow us to try different things throughout the season. I do think we can have some new guys emerge out of the bullpen and I will be looking for that during the early stages of the season. This team has been able to achieve a lot over the past several seasons and we will be relying on that leadership throughout the upcoming season.
Lenoir-Rhyne
Head coach: Chris Ramirez
Returning player to watch: Wade Cuda, CF. Cuda seemed like he opened the season homering in every game, but that heater obviously slowed down. Still, he was one of the breakout stars of 2022 and should only improve this year.
Pitchers to watch: Josh Lanham, RHP. The returning All-American struck out 112 in 90 innings last year. Has what Ramirez calls “elite command” of all four pitches and topped out at 93 this fall.
Newcomer to watch: Blake Bean, OF. Ramirez listed a few nice grad transfers (keep an eye on Cole Bramhall, Tyler McPeak, Parker Kanupp, and Mason Maxwell), but I like the aspects of Bean. The LHH hit .431 with nine home runs and 18 doubles last year. That kind of pop should fit right into this lineup.
Under-the-radar player to watch: Brayden Collett, RHP. A PBR top National Top 301 ranked player, his fastball sits in the low 90s and was up to 95 in the fall.
What Coach Ramirez said: We return nearly 70% of innings pitched from the pitching staff that led DII and set the DII single-season strikeout record. Starting pitching should be the strength of the pitching staff; we bring back four everyday players that have been leaders in our program. Coming off the best season in program history and conference championship, we look forward to continuing the build on the momentum.
Lincoln Memorial
Head coach: Justin Haywood
Returning player to watch: All nine starters return from last year’s lineup so take your pick. This alone could make the Railsplitters the breakout team of 2023.
Pitcher to watch: Patrick Queener, RHP. Queener was last year’s ace. He throws in the upper 80s/low 90s with plus command of a sharp slider.
Newcomers to watch: Matthew Delph, LHP. The community college transfer throws in the upper 80s/ low90s with plus control and competitive spirit.
Under the radar players to watch: Cam Bowen, SS; Kasten Harvey, IF. Bowen is dynamic at shortstop and a threat at the top of the lineup, while Harvey has physicality and athleticism as a versatile corner infielder.
What Coach Haywood said: This program returns a wealth of youthful experience from last year's lineup who was one of the top defending teams in the country. We expect the lineup to put it together to go along with Queener and company on the mound. This group is passionately on fire for one another and hopes to build on the foundation they laid last spring.
Catawba
Head coach: Jim Gantt
Returning players to watch: Dylan Driver, OF; Levi Perrell, SS; and Cameron Mills, 1B. Catawba lost a ton of players and these three are the returners to the lineup. As much as their talent, their leadership will lead the way.
Pitcher to watch: Ryan Street, RHP. Street has very good command of his three-pitch arsenal (fastball, curveball and changeup) and sat 86-88 this fall.
Newcomers to watch: With so much turnover, Gantt gave three names he hopes make an immediate impact.
Austin Fine, RHP. The transfer from USC Sumter CC sits-88-91 with a fastball, slider and changeup.
Cole Hales, 3B/ RHP. The Caldwell CC transfer sits 85-87 and is a strike thrower and bulldog.
Casey Gouge, LHP. The freshman already sits 85-88 with good command of three pitches (FB, CB and CU).
What Coach Gantt said: We are very solid defensively, have team speed and pitching depth, and are dynamic offensively.
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