Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez
CBU Approaches Challenging 2019 with Lots of Experience
2/13/2019 4:20:00 PM | Baseball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – By now, the story of California Baptist University's transition to NCAA Division I is a familiar story. This spring, the Lancers baseball team is taking on a new challenge by playing an all D-I schedule.
It is one of the most ambitious and difficult Division I schedules for any CBU program in 2018-19. The Lancers will face a number of programs with rich baseball traditions, including three NCAA Tournament teams from 2018: the University of Washington, San Diego State and NM State.
"We are really proud of the fact that every single game we have on the schedule is a Division I game," Coach Gary Adcock said, "while that sounds great now I know it's going to be challenging as we go through the season."
There's good news for the Lancers, as they return a ton of experience and will play their first 17 games in Riverside and 14 of those at home to open up the season. It all begins with a four-game series with Northern Illinois Friday through Sunday, with fireworks on Opening Day, which has a first-pitch time of 6 p.m.
"We (Assistant Coach Jesse Zepeda and I) basically just cashed in a lot of favors and we've got a really good home schedule, probably the best one in the athletic department as far as amount of home contests," Adcock said, "so we are really excited about that."
In the field, CBU returns at least one player who made at least 27 appearances at each position in 2018. Four Lancers are also back after all-conference seasons last year in the PacWest, including second baseman Luke Navigato, designated hitter Ryan Mota, utility Andrew Bash and pitcher Logan Rinehart.
"There's a newness for all of us, but it is definitely exciting to have some guys with innings, especially playoff-caliber innings under their belt" Adcock said.
Bash is the biggest name coming back after he reaped Player of the Year awards in the PacWest and West Region from the National College Baseball Writers Association and D-II Conference Commissioners Association, along with three All-American awards.
Last year, Bash served as a starting pitcher, third baseman and right fielder and was one of the most impactful players in Division II. He batted .399, slugged .732 and had a .473 on-base percentage. He accumulated 73 hits, 14 home runs and 61 runs batted in. On the mound, he logged eight victories, a 2.71 earned-run average and a WHIP of 1.06.
Mota and Navigato both hit above .285 and had at least 35 RBIs and, 34 runs and five homers. Despite being limited by an injury, Rinehart put together a dominant sophomore season, whether he was starting or closing games, and posted a 2.57 ERA and 5-1 record with two saves. He maintained a 1.14 WHIP, .194 opposing batting average and struck out 56 batters in 49 innings.
Junior John Glenn is back for his third-straight season at first base after hitting .338 and slugging .522 with 49 RBIs a year ago. Sophomores Angelo Capolupo (shortstop), Harrison Spohn (third base) and Rory Smith (catcher) are back after impressive freshman years where they all hit above .270.
Outfield is the biggest question mark among CBU's position players, with Billy Rockefeller and Nick Plaia (.333 BA) being the most experienced returners. Freshman Chad Castillo will also start in the outfield.
Along with Bash and Rinehart, senior Angelo Delgado and Jorge Valerio are both back after gaining a wealth of experience on the mound, both starting and in relief, for the Lancers last year.
Junior Matt Amrhein will continue to be a big part of CBU's pitching staff out of the bullpen, as he's logged 30 appearances over the last two years. Jacob McCarvel and Bryan Pope will be expected to stop opposing offenses out of the bullpen after each made at least eight appearances as 2018 freshmen.
Chris Burica and Seth Kaneen could also see increased roles on the pitching staff this season, while Drew Necochea and Mason McGarvey will also see their fair share of work on the mound.
"We do have a lot of guys with a lot of at-bats underneath their belt and a lot of innings on their arms, but we do have a lot of unknowns," said Adcock, referencing first-ever trips to Arizona State, a 2018 College World Series team in Washington and Grand Canyon's newly renovated Brazell Field.
Although 2019 will certainly be the most difficult season to date for the Lancers, with three of their opponents already receiving votes in the NCBWA's top-40 rankings: No. 34 Washington, No. 39 San Diego State and Arizona State, which is receiving votes, Adcock would not have it any other way.
"We are excited and anxious about it and anxious to see how we stack up against some of the best," he said.
It is one of the most ambitious and difficult Division I schedules for any CBU program in 2018-19. The Lancers will face a number of programs with rich baseball traditions, including three NCAA Tournament teams from 2018: the University of Washington, San Diego State and NM State.
"We are really proud of the fact that every single game we have on the schedule is a Division I game," Coach Gary Adcock said, "while that sounds great now I know it's going to be challenging as we go through the season."
There's good news for the Lancers, as they return a ton of experience and will play their first 17 games in Riverside and 14 of those at home to open up the season. It all begins with a four-game series with Northern Illinois Friday through Sunday, with fireworks on Opening Day, which has a first-pitch time of 6 p.m.
"We (Assistant Coach Jesse Zepeda and I) basically just cashed in a lot of favors and we've got a really good home schedule, probably the best one in the athletic department as far as amount of home contests," Adcock said, "so we are really excited about that."
In the field, CBU returns at least one player who made at least 27 appearances at each position in 2018. Four Lancers are also back after all-conference seasons last year in the PacWest, including second baseman Luke Navigato, designated hitter Ryan Mota, utility Andrew Bash and pitcher Logan Rinehart.
"There's a newness for all of us, but it is definitely exciting to have some guys with innings, especially playoff-caliber innings under their belt" Adcock said.
Bash is the biggest name coming back after he reaped Player of the Year awards in the PacWest and West Region from the National College Baseball Writers Association and D-II Conference Commissioners Association, along with three All-American awards.
Last year, Bash served as a starting pitcher, third baseman and right fielder and was one of the most impactful players in Division II. He batted .399, slugged .732 and had a .473 on-base percentage. He accumulated 73 hits, 14 home runs and 61 runs batted in. On the mound, he logged eight victories, a 2.71 earned-run average and a WHIP of 1.06.
Mota and Navigato both hit above .285 and had at least 35 RBIs and, 34 runs and five homers. Despite being limited by an injury, Rinehart put together a dominant sophomore season, whether he was starting or closing games, and posted a 2.57 ERA and 5-1 record with two saves. He maintained a 1.14 WHIP, .194 opposing batting average and struck out 56 batters in 49 innings.
Junior John Glenn is back for his third-straight season at first base after hitting .338 and slugging .522 with 49 RBIs a year ago. Sophomores Angelo Capolupo (shortstop), Harrison Spohn (third base) and Rory Smith (catcher) are back after impressive freshman years where they all hit above .270.
Outfield is the biggest question mark among CBU's position players, with Billy Rockefeller and Nick Plaia (.333 BA) being the most experienced returners. Freshman Chad Castillo will also start in the outfield.
Along with Bash and Rinehart, senior Angelo Delgado and Jorge Valerio are both back after gaining a wealth of experience on the mound, both starting and in relief, for the Lancers last year.
Junior Matt Amrhein will continue to be a big part of CBU's pitching staff out of the bullpen, as he's logged 30 appearances over the last two years. Jacob McCarvel and Bryan Pope will be expected to stop opposing offenses out of the bullpen after each made at least eight appearances as 2018 freshmen.
Chris Burica and Seth Kaneen could also see increased roles on the pitching staff this season, while Drew Necochea and Mason McGarvey will also see their fair share of work on the mound.
"We do have a lot of guys with a lot of at-bats underneath their belt and a lot of innings on their arms, but we do have a lot of unknowns," said Adcock, referencing first-ever trips to Arizona State, a 2018 College World Series team in Washington and Grand Canyon's newly renovated Brazell Field.
Although 2019 will certainly be the most difficult season to date for the Lancers, with three of their opponents already receiving votes in the NCBWA's top-40 rankings: No. 34 Washington, No. 39 San Diego State and Arizona State, which is receiving votes, Adcock would not have it any other way.
"We are excited and anxious about it and anxious to see how we stack up against some of the best," he said.
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