The DII Report: SAC baseball fall report
Wingate is the reigning DII baseball national champions. Here is an early look at the Bulldogs' conference.
THE DII REPORT
Welcome to the first issue of The DII Report newsletter. Each week, we will delve into the world of NCAA Division II sports, focusing on the teams and student-athletes to watch. Be sure to check out the DII Nation Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Anchor and YouTube for more insight on the world of DII sports.
The 2021-22 NCAA Division II sports year is well underway. As we enter the heart of the DII football season and prepare for the tipoff of the DII basketball season, let’s not forget that DII baseball fall sessions are also in — excuse the pun — full swing. Over the next few weeks, the DII Report newsletter looks to bring you some insight on some of the rumblings from fall camp.
Flashback to June of 2021. The Wingate Bulldogs shocked the DII baseball world and took down Central Missouri to win its first-ever national championship. Since the Bulldogs are defending champs, let’s start our look around the world of DII baseball in the South Atlantic Conference.
DII baseball fall report: The SAC
Wingate may be the defending champions, but the Bulldogs finished fourth in their conference last season. Behind a 20-10 record in SAC play, the fourth-seeded Bulldogs rumbled to the SAC tournament title in a 13-4 victory over Newberry. The rest as they say, is history.
Catawba had another strong season, finishing with a 33-11 record and first in the SAC. That’s simply what to expect from the Indians under head coach Jim Gantt. Since he took over in 1996, Catawba has posted 21-straight 30-win seasons with numerous runs to Cary, N.C. in the DII baseball finals. Tusculum, Newberry, Carson-Newman and Lenoir-Rhyne were all above .500 and should be teams to watch in 2022.
Now, it was too early to make a prediction for the 2021 season, but it isn’t too early to look ahead. I spoke to some coaches and SIDs to get some players for you to watch as the season approaches. Let’s go around the SAC in this week’s DII Report.
Wingate
Head coach: Jeff Gregory | 2021 record: 39-13
Hitter to watch: Logan McNeely — C. McNeely hit in the middle of the order last year and really took off during the middle of 2021. He is building on a tremendous DII baseball championship, showing signs of continued improvement during the fall. He makes a lot of contact to all fields — Gregory says he’s ‘as consistent as a hitter that I have had,’ — with some power and the ability to drive in a lot of runs.
Pitcher to watch: Brody McCullough — RHP. McCullough was used in several different roles last season and he really flourished both out of the bullpen and in the rotation. Gregory cites continued improvement in his breaking ball this fall which will pair nicely with his fastball that sits mostly 90-92 mph… and rising this fall. He has MLB-draft prospect potential as a bulldog with three pitches and a fourth in progress this fall.
Newcomer to watch: Cal Riehl — RHP.
What Coach Gregory says: “We return just about our entire team from the national championship run in 2021. We do return one of our better hitters that did not play last year due to an injury in Ricky Clark. Based on what I have seen so far, I like the way the team has worked and is preparing for the upcoming season. We do seem to have the guys in our program that will be able to fill the holes that we lost at first base, second base, two starting pitchers and a bullpen arm to graduation and [the MLB draft]. I am excited about the possibilities of another successful season with this group.”
Catawba
Head coach: Jim Gantt | 2021 record: 33-11
Hitter to watch: Luke Spiva — OF/1B. Spiva is a consistent contact hitter who uses the whole field, has gap power and occasional home-run potential. He will be tough to strikeout after slashing .333/.440/.598 last season.
Pitcher to watch: Greg Brown — RHP. Brown will be the veteran presence after making nine starts in 2021. He has a simple, compact delivery. Brown’s fastball (both a two- and four-seam variety) sits 88-90 mph, but he spins his breaking ball very well and boasts a plus-change up.
Newcomer to watch: Dawson Painter — OF/RHP. Painter comes from the JUCO circuit, playing previously at Louisburg College. Gantt expects him to contribute substantially both on the mound and in right field. He has some power at the plate.
What Coach Gantt says: “We have a very different look due to graduation of many starters. We’ll have good team speed on the bases and be solid defensively. The question will be development of pitching, especially starting pitching.”
Carson-Newman
Head coach: Tom Griffin | 2021 record: 27-16
Hitter to watch: Henry Jackson — OF. Jackson is a gap-to-gap hitter atop the Eagles’ lineup. He runs well, plays hard and bring lots of energy to the lineup.
Pitcher to watch: Brayden Coe — RHP. Coe is a returning All-Conference pitcher. He has a four-pitch arsenal with an upper-80s fastball, slider, curve and change. He’s a strike thrower, striking out 63 and walking just 17 in 63 innings last season.
Newcomer to watch: Hunter Harritan — RHP. He transfers in from Marshall. He has an upper-80s fastball with a slider and change. With solid off-speed stuff, he is expected to work out of the bullpen.
What Coach Griffin says: “We have a veteran lineup; our offense should be the strength of the club along with the defense. We are solid behind the dish with four catchers who can play. Pitching will be the key — finding consistency and the ability to be in strike zone.”
Lenoir-Rhyne
Head coach: Chris Ramirez | 2021 record: 23-18
Hitter to watch: Drew Yniesta — UTL. A grad transfer from Erskine, Yniesta is a four-year starter who hit over .370 the each of the last three seasons. He’s a stocky strong corner outfielder with a proven hit tool that has produced double-digit doubles and home runs. Ramirez also says to watch catcher Nick Clarno who has ‘crazy arm strength’ and played for the Savannah Bananas with a standout MLB pro day this fall.
Pitcher to watch: Josh Lanham — RHP. The 2021 SAC freshman pitcher of the year posted a 2.25 ERA while going 6-1. He struck out 90 in 60 innings while only walking 10. He has a three-pitch mix with a fastball that sits upper-80s but touches 90 mph and a plus change up. Per Ramirez, his mound presence ‘off the charts, fun to watch pitch.’
Newcomer to watch: Austin Edwards — RHP. Grad transfer from Western Illinois. Edwards sits 92-95 mph with an easy arm. He has been really good this fall and should have a high impact on a good pitching staff.
What Coach Ramirez says: “The pitching staff should lead the way for us as we return 237 of 323 innings (73%) on the pitching staff that led SAC in pitching (including Andrew Patrick, RHP, low-90s fastball with a plus-slider and sophomore LHP Joey Cobb who came on late last season with his upper-80s heat). Our starting shortstop, Luis Atiles, broke his ankle two weeks prior to 2021 season and is back and healthy. Him, plus a handful of new position players, should strengthen our defense.”
Others to watch:
Cory Busse, Limestone: A 6’4, power righty that looks to be the ace of the Saints’ staff, able to pitch up and down the zone effectively. Has a fastball that sits 88-92 mph and can locate his slider and splitter.
Joe Cottone, Anderson (SC): The LHP junior knows the game and knows how to pitch. He has a three-pitch mix but is a BULLDOG on the mound.
Reilly Hall, Coker: The left fielder has some nice pop with nine home runs and 29 RBIs in the 2021 season.
Cole Harness, UVA Wise: The first baseman has plus pop and bat speed for the college level. Mechanically, he still has some work to do, but when he can get the barrel out, he can do some damage.
Andrew Hazell, Mars Hill: Hazell is part of the Lions’ rotation plans in 2022. The right-hander sits 89-92 mph with his fastball and has three off-speed pitches to mix in as well.
Tyler Lala, Mars Hill: Lala, and infielder, looks to build on his Second Team All-Conference season in 2021. He will be the anchor in the middle of the Lions’ lineup throughout the year. Lala has gap-to-gap power and can hit to all fields.
Andrew Keene, Lincoln Memorial: The utility outfielder has power and can hit for average, too. His strengths are his two-strike approach and competitiveness.
Shyhiem Pannell, UVA Wise: An outfielder that transferred from Patrick and Henry CC. He’s physical, has plus speed and has good pop for this level, plus he can play all three outfield positions.
Garrett Stiltner, UVA Wise: An over-the-top RHP that gets down the mound well. Working on improving the cutter and two-seam fastball. He has become a leader on the pitching staff.
Nick Vella, Anderson (SC): The left-handed hitting outfielder has barrel awareness with some power but will use all fields. Look for him to have a big year after a tough year as a junior.
Bryce Woody, Lincoln Memorial: He is a power right-handed pitcher sitting in the low to mid-90s with his fastball and has mid-80s secondary stuff. He throws strikes and competes in the zone with multiple pitches.
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