Baseball 1/30/2018 9:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Ready For 2018 Season

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma baseball team is aiming to build off its best season in 20 years heading into the 2018 campaign with third-year head coach John Martin.

That begins Thursday at 7 p.m. for the Bronchos against Oklahoma Christian in Grand Prairie, Texas at the Air Hogs DII Classic, hosted by Southern Arkansas. The Bronchos will play Arkansas Tech on Friday, Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday, and wrap up the four-day trip with a match-up against the hosts SAU on Sunday.

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Last season, Central Oklahoma made a run to the NCAA Tournament and into the Central Region Final before ending the season 37-21-1. Martin is quick to say every year is different, but the building process is continuing, not starting over.

"Every year is different and every team is different," Martin said. "We're excited about who we have this season, we have a lot of seniors and we're ready to see what they can do. We have a lot of guys back who have played a lot games. They've taken a lot of at bats, they've thrown a lot of innings. So we're excited to see what they can do once we get this season going."

Martin returns 24 players from last season's squad. Of that, 21 played. Martin has one pitcher back from two seasons ago who missed 2017 following shoulder surgery. There are also two players back who took a redshirt season last spring.

Martin has a big group back. He also has a big senior group. There are 25 seniors on the 2018 Broncho baseball team, 19 of which played last season.

A handful of newcomers transferring from Division I and junior college have given Martin a lot of depth on this year's roster.

Here is a position-by-position look at how the Bronchos shape up.

Martin has a solid mix of returners and newcomers in his pitching staff that last season boasted a 4.78 earned run average and struck out 6.9 batters per game. JJ Rogers and Tyler Culver were regular starters last season and will continue in that role this season. J.D. Cameron is a big returning arm that started seven games a year ago, but also played a key role coming out of the bullpen in 14 appearances.

Ben Wusterbarth, Gaylon Viney, Tabor Charles, Connor Sweeney and Drake Harper all have experience as relievers and look to continue helping the Bronchos in that role this season. Ryan McCourt also returns after missing 2017. He will fill a reliever role as well.

Newcomer Landon Bond will fill a similar role to Cameron in a starter/reliever mixed role. Newcomers Ryan Lemoine and Ryan McCollough should both help out in the starting rotation as well. Ty Medina, Junior Obeso, and Will Olds are also in line to work as relievers in some situations.

Dayne Sommer returns to don the catcher's gear for the Bronchos again this season after a stellar junior campaign a year ago. He'll led the way for the Broncho pitching staff and bring some offense with him too.

Sommer hit .304 last season with 52 hits (11 extra-base knocks including eight doubles), 33 RBIs, and scored 31 runs.

Cole Sanderson also returns and Carson Green, who sat out a redshirt season at Central last year, will join Sanderson as a backup. Both will see time in giving Sommer time off. But both will also jump in as pinch-hitters occasionally.

Trae Smith played 36 games for the Bronchos last year, alternating between time at first base and designated hitter. He'll continue that role.

With Smith on first, Paul Kropf and Xavier Freeman will see time at designated hitter. The three will alternate those roles. Kropf and Freeman both bring a solid glove to first base. All three can be strong middle of the order hitters for the Bronchos.

In keeping with the trend, which will continue throughout the lineup, the Bronchos have a key returner at second base, with added depth via newcomers.

Kyle Miskovsky played in 41 games, starting 38 at second base last season. He was top-five on the team in six offensive categories including second on the team in home runs. He also had a .932 fielding percentage.

Glenn Reeves also returns at second base after appearing in 36 games a year ago. He started 23 of those and hit .250 with 14 RBIs.
D.J. Gasso is a Division I transfer who will also jump in at second base from time to time.

Anthony Alvarez heads up a group of infielders playing at third base. Alvarez played in 54 of UCO's 59 games last season, starting 52 of them. He was one of two Bronchos with more than 60 hits, and added 31 RBIs and 30 runs scored. He also had a .901 fielding percentage.

Reeves and Gasso will also see time at third, shifting into the lineup as they will at second base.

Justin Brown will return at shortstop after being the only Broncho to play in all 59 games a year ago. He started all 59 at short as well.

Brown hit .271 with 54 hits, 22 RBIs, and 29 runs scored. He was among the national leaders in getting hit by a pitch, which he did 19 times.

Bryant Klusener is a newcomer who can fill in a role behind Brown, but can also play at third base if needed.

UCO returns a group of outfielders from last year's squad, including two-time All-MIAA performer, Jake Dyer.

Dyer should be the regular in right field this season after earning Third Team all-league honors there last season. He played in 56 games, starting all of them, and had a .309 batting average with a team-high 71 hits. Dyer also led the team in doubles (17), sacrifice flies (six), total bases (99), and at bats (230). His 230 at bats are the third-most in one season by any Broncho in school history.

Caleb Peters, who led the team with eight homers last season, returns and should start a lot of games in center field. He hit .389 in 35 games last season, scoring 28 runs and knocking in 24 RBIs. Xavier Warren and Peters both split time there last season. T.J. Sparr was a regular in left field last season and should do the same this year.

Taylor Avila is a newcomer that will split time with Sparr in left, and Brice West, a freshman, will have an opportunity to get some work in right field with Dyer.

Central Oklahoma opens its season this weekend in Grand Prairie, Texas. The Bronchos will then have a quick turnaround before hosting Oklahoma Baptist on Tuesday, Feb. 6. The OBU game will be the first game for the Bronchos at the newly renovated Wendell Simmons Field, now equipped with a brand-new wall, and new, full-field, turf.

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Players Mentioned

#16 Anthony Alvarez: 3B; 5' 11"; Senior; R/R

#2 Justin Brown: SS; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#32 J.D. Cameron: P; 6' 0"; Senior; */R

#7 Tabor Charles: P; 5' 10"; Senior; */R

#12 Tyler Culver: P; 6' 3"; Senior; */R

#4 Jake Dyer: IF/OF; 6' 1"; Senior; R/R

#24 Carson Green: C; 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman; R/R

#17 Drake Harper: P; 6' 4"; Senior; */R

#29 Ryan McCourt: P; 5' 9"; Senior; */R

#5 Kyle Miskovsky: 2B; 5' 9"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#16 Anthony Alvarez
: 5' 11"; Senior; R/R
: 3B

#2 Justin Brown
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: SS

#32 J.D. Cameron
: 6' 0"; Senior; */R
: P

#7 Tabor Charles
: 5' 10"; Senior; */R
: P

#12 Tyler Culver
: 6' 3"; Senior; */R
: P

#4 Jake Dyer
: 6' 1"; Senior; R/R
: IF/OF

#24 Carson Green
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman; R/R
: C

#17 Drake Harper
: 6' 4"; Senior; */R
: P

#29 Ryan McCourt
: 5' 9"; Senior; */R
: P

#5 Kyle Miskovsky
: 5' 9"; Senior; R/R
: 2B