(College baseball season is just around the corner and Jonesy kicks off our coverage with a preview of George Fox. Watch for coverage and photos of NW college games including Corban, Concordia, George Fox, Linfield, Oregon State, U. of Oregon and more.)
By Jonesy:
Coming off a 26-12 campaign in 2013 and with a returning lineup of six regulars and 12 pitchers, including all three starting hurlers, the George Fox University Bruins have received votes in both NCAA Division III pre-season national polls as determined by the D3baseball.com website and Collegiate Baseball magazine.
George Fox’s 26-12 record last spring marked the 18th straight season and 25th in the last 26 years that the Bruins have finished at .500 or higher. They were 17-7 in Northwest Conference play, finishing second in the league to eventual national champion Linfield College. The Bruins narrowly missed making the NCAA National Tournament last year when they were ranked fifth in the West Region by the regional ratings committee for two weeks, then inexplicably dropped completely out of the top six in the region despite not playing at all in the final week.
Coaching Staff for 2014 Season:
Head Coach:
Marty Hunter ( 159-86, seventh season)
Asst. Coaches:
Randy Rutschman- Catchers
Kevin Kopple- Catchers/recruting
Trey Watt-Pitching
Chad Jones-Pitching
Taylor Hunter- Infielders
C.J. Watson- Outfielders
C-Josh Rapacz (All-American)
1B-Derek Dixon (All West Region selection, Power hitter, good leader/team captain)
2B-Derek Blankenship (coming off of injury, good fielding and has experience)
SS-Zac Israel or Zach Hegelmeyer
3B-Danny Clifford (All-West Region selection,Good hitter and fielder, leader/team captain)
LF-Kadyn Nannini (young but a good player-solid in the outfield and a good hitter) or Gabe Louthan (young with speed)
CF-Matthew Zeller (senior with speed and a sound hitter at the plate)
RF-Zach Rapacz (transferred in from Columbia Basin, good hitter)
Starting Pitchers:
Clay Gartner ( pitcher with great command and good movement, experience)
Tom Zarosinski (great stuff, electric)
Ian Buckles (excellent command, gets guys out)
Relief Pitchers:
Connor Harris (left-handed, experienced with good command, gets outs)
Sean Eberhardt (has good command and experience-just won a championship with the Corvallis Knights)
Sam Moreland (left-handed, great command and good stuff, gets guys out)
Taylor Dunn (coming off of elbow surgery, looking to bounce back this season)
Nathan Higa (has a good fastball/splitter combo)
Blake Stassi
Christian Jernegan( throws hard)
Michael Hirko
Kyle Albertson (senior that will throw strikes)
Players going to be missed from last year:
P-Alex Keenan (closer)
P-Eric Kittleson (very solid relief pitcher-long relief, went multiple innings)
OF-Timothy Williams (played mainly right field, has speed, and a good hitter)
3B-Zach Miller (solid 3rd baseman)
OF-Jared Chase
OF-Emmett Ackerlund
P-Spencer Eager
The Bruins kickoff their 2014 campaign in the Arizona Dessert Classic Fri.- Sun.
Feb. 7-9
The Bruins first home game at Morse Field will be Sat. Feb. 15th vs. Concordia-Portland @ 10:00 AM and College of Idaho @ 1PM