The Wilmington College baseball team continues their rebuilding this season with more than half of their players being underclassmen, but it doesn't decrease the excitement for the upcoming year.
"I am exciting about this season," said Wilmington College head coach Dan Cleaver. "I am always excited about the beginning of the season, but especially this year. We have recruited bigger, stronger, more athletic baseball players."
The biggest change for the Fightin' Quakers will be on the mound as Wilmington will have plenty of arms to turn to.
"We have never had more than one or two PO's (pitcher only) since I been here, even as an assistant," said Cleaver. "This year, we will have seven, so it's growing. You want to get to 10 to 12. You are always gonna have a couple guys that are so good they can do everything for you; every school in the OAC has a couple of those guys. We are still about four or five (PO's) away."
Senior Corey Walker (Hillsboro, OH/Hillsboro), who was the starting shortstop the last two years, will focus exclusively on being the Wilmington ace. He hurled a team-high 60 1/3 innings last season in 14 appearances, including 11 starts. His 6.27 ERA was the best of any Wilmington pitcher that amassed more than six innings.
Senior Tyler Schrock (Waynesville, OH/Waynesville) will be Wilmington's second starter this season. Injuries limited his effectiveness on the mound last year. He appeared in six games with one start, posting a 6.75 ERA in 16 innings of action.
Behind the senior duo, Wilmington plans to turn to freshmen Jared Ferenchak (Concord, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin), senior Luke Matthews (Centerville, Oh/Centerville) and freshman Ryan Collett (Wilmington, OH/Clinton-Massie) as starters in non-conference games.
After struggling last season in relief last season, Cleaver believes junior Samuel Cranor (Cincinnati, OH/LaSalle) and senior Cole Voltz (Mount Sterling, OH/Madison Plains) can return to the 2014 form. Both were key members to WC pitching staff.
Senior Billy Foster (Xenia, OH/Xenia), sophomore Tyler McDaniel (Trenton, OH/Edgewood) and freshman Joey Hollback (Salem, OH/Sebring McKinley) will all be tasked with getting leads to freshman closer Jarett Trautman (Hartville, OH/Field).
"We have some really good freshmen that have had some high school success," said Cleaver.
Whoever is on the mound will have an experienced backstop to throw in three-year starter, senior Max Ramsey (Waynesville, OH/Waynesville). Despite struggling at the plate, he didn't allow his offensively struggles to detract from his defensive prowess. Ramsey hit .155 in 84 plate appearances as a junior.
Cleaver said Ramsey was second in the OAC in caught stealing percentage.
Sophomores Corey Lugiano (Dayton, OH/Chaminade Julienne), who Cleaver says has the best arm of all the catchers, and Kyle Short (Trenton, OH/Edgewood), along with Trautman will share some time behind the plate for the Fightin' Quakers.
Schrock moves from second base to shortstop for his final season, and will be the most veteran member of an infield that Cleaver believes is two-deep at every position. He hit a team-best .315 last season in 92 at-bats with six doubles and seven RBI.
Walker and sophomore Jake Robinson (Westerville, OH/South) will see some time in the middle infield position. Robinson led the team with three homeruns, while hitting .297. He led the team with 24 runs scored and was second with 14 RBI.
Freshmen Gage Bley (Harrison, OH/Harrison) and Coltin Shafer (Florence, KY/Ryle) will compete for the second base position, but Bley could also see time at third base. Sophomores Daniel Hayes (Beavercreek, OH/Beavercreek) will get the first crack at the third base job, while his twin brother, Keith Hayes (Beavercreek, OH/Beavercreek), will be nipping at his heels.
"Daniel Hayes is the best defensively third basemen in the league, and his brother is equally as good," said Cleaver.
Whoever earns the starting job will need to bring offense to the position.
Keith Hayes hit .189 in 40 plate appearances, while Daniel Hayes hit .138 in 94 at-bats. The pair combined to strike out 35 times.
Ferenchak, Collett, Hollback and freshman Jake Hyatt (Madeira, OH/Madeira) will compete for the first base job. Hyatt will be the team's designated hitter with the season start.
Depth will be an issue in the outfield for the Fightin' Quakers.
"Our first three guys are very strong," said Cleaver. "We are just not deep in the outfield."
Senior Alec Hutzelman (Centerville, OH/Centerville) returns after missing nearly the entire 2015 season with an injury and he will be joined by Robinson and Short, going left to right.
Short hit .250 in 80 at-bats with 13 RBI last season, while Hutzelman hit a team-high .280 in 81 plate appearances in 2014.
Freshman Alec Robinette (Lebanon, OH/Little Miami) will be the team's fourth outfielder, while freshman Antonio Miller (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) will be used mostly in pinch running opportunities.
"Nobody works harder than Antonio Miller," said Cleaver. "He has had some great high school success, but it's going to take a little while to get adjusted to college. He has the potential, with his speed, to be an outstanding base runner and hitter. With more reps, he will be a tremendous outfielder."
Wilmington starts the season Saturday, February 20 with a three-game series at Centre College in Danville, KY.
