by Trey Fowler
Now that all the Christmas gifts have been opened and a college football national champion has been crowned, the calendar turns to a different time of year -- a time when the sound of shoulder pads cracking together give way to the ping of aluminum. In Cleveland, Ga., that distinctive ping signifies the same thing as it does all around the country: the beginning of the college baseball season.
For the Truett-McConnell College Bears, it signifies year 18 under the direction of Head Baseball Coach Jim Waits and the third year as a member of the NAIA and NCCAA. The Bears have posted .500 or better records in each of their first two years competing at the 4-year level. In 2012, the Bears hope that a more experienced group can build off that solid foundation and find even more success in the NAIA's toughest baseball conference, the SSAC.
The 2012 Bears will be led by a talented group of talented arms that should pitch the team toward a tremendous season. The Bears are led by returning conference starters, junior Matt Hill and senior Kyle York, who won 13 games a year ago and will build on that success this year. Joining Hill and York in the rotation is University of Maryland transfer, senior Chuck Ghysels. The Springboro, Ohio, native is a former Junior College All-American who has won more than 15 games in his college career while averaging one-plus strikeouts per inning. Adding depth to the staff will be junior transfer Landon Adelman, juniors Ross Roberts and Chase Nunnally, along with freshman Chris Stevens. In addition, the Bears return two key pieces from the bullpen in 2011 in sophomore Jacob Brewster, who led the SSAC in saves in 2011, and sophomore Kirby Alls.
Handling the pitching staff once again will be the primary responsibility of junior catcher Buck Harris, who has started more than 80 games in his college career. Helping Harris with the catching duties will be freshman Sam Eure, a 2011 Sprayberry High graduate, who had an impressive fall and will add depth to the catching position.
In the infield, the Bears return several players who gained valuable experience a year ago as junior Jonathon Wilson and sophomores Hayden Fleming and Cole Godwin return. In an effort to compensate for the losses of graduated senior sluggers Brian York and Brad Mills, the Bears added several junior college transfers, including Brandon Dhue and SeDale McKenzie. In addition, sophomore Ryan Farmer, who led the team in hitting in the fall, along with transfers Garrett Hix, Brett Clifton, and Steven Florence should all see significant time in the infield this spring.
The outfield is anchored and led by 2011 NCCAA All-American Nick Fryman. The senior from Acworth, Ga., is on track to repeat his 2011 season in which he led the Bears in batting average (.371), homeruns (7), and RBIs (48). The Bears also return starting leftfielder Ross Roberts – a multi-talented player who also will pitch and cover first base. Returning as well are sophomores Taylor Herndon and Chad Fulton, who combined to start more than 80 games a year ago. California junior college transfer Dylan Reichenberg will also add depth to the Bears' outfield.
The designated hitter role will be a competitive one as any of the above players along with senior Matt Powell could stake claim to the role with an impressive showing in pre-season practice. Powell started 41 games for the Bears in 2011 and was second on the team in homeruns.
"The key to the success of any season is staying healthy and not beating yourself," said Trey Fowler, the Bears' assistant coach now in his eighth year. "If we can do those two things, I am confident that the season will be a successful one."
Waits expanded on Fowler's comments, saying, "Our primary goals are to glorify God through our actions on and off the field while pursuing both academic and athletic excellence. The 2012 season will be a tough one with seven conference opponents ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Poll; but I am confident that this team has the talent and character needed to have a successful and impactful season."
The Bears will open their 2012 campaign at home on Feb. 3 – 4 in a three-game series with Montreat College. First pitch on opening day is set for 1:30 p.m.
