Andrew College baseball season preview: Part 1 position players
Cuthbert, GA -- Baseball season is just days away and the Andrew Fighting Tigers baseball team is primed and ready for the 2018 season. The Tigers are coming off one of the most successful seasons in school history in 2017 which saw the Tigers win 28 games and make a run in the NJCAA region 17 tournament.
The 2018 version of the Tigers will look to build off the success of last season and will do so with a large and talented group of sophomores. The starting lineup will have some familiar faces to Tigers fans, with as many as six of the starting nine being returning players. The same can be said on the mound with many key roles being manned by returning Tigers. At the conclusion of the fall season the team voted on captains for the upcoming season, four sophomores will have that distinction: Dahlton Cash, Brandon Brown, Kevin Donovan, and Brent Todys.
The first half of our season preview will focus on the Tigers position players heading into the spring season.
Behind the plate sophomore Brent Todys has locked up the starting job with his outstanding receiving and throwing skills. Todys had an outstanding fall swinging the bat and will hit in the top of the order for the Tigers. His strong work ethic and on field performance have drastically lessoned the blow of losing NJCAA National defensive player of the year Chris Schwarzer from the 2017 team. Backing up Todys will be freshmen Sean Gourley and Eric Castro. Gourley was one of the prized recruits of the 2017 signing class having enjoyed an outstanding prep career in the talent rich Trinity Catholic program. Gourley has advanced catch and throw skills to go along with some pop in his bat. Eric Castro will also be fighting for time behind the dish. Castro has been one of the most improved players on the Tigers roster and continues to get better every day. Also factoring in behind the plate is redshirt freshman Brandon Monkus, who took his time in the program last year to vastly improve his skills.
The infield looks to be another veteran led position group. Three sophomores look to see significant playing time across the diamond. The group is highlighted by starting third baseman and Captain Dahlton Cash. Cash was the Tigers primary 3-hole hitter for the 2017 team and will see the same role this season. The Tigers offense will be paced by Cash as he looks like an early candidate for GCAA Offensive Player of the Year. First base will see playing time from sophomore Spencer Nelson and freshman Will Barry. Both big men have showed the ability to hit for power in their time with the Tigers and will be counted on to hit in the middle of the order.
The middle infield will be led by sophomore Collin Chambers. Chambers played a large role on the 2017 team as a utility infielder but has settled into short stop heading into the 2018 season. Freshman Matthew Holloway has spent time at both second and short stop while on campus and will see significant playing time in the middle infield. Holloway excels defensively but also possesses surprising pop for his size. Fellow freshman Brenton Phillips has spent the majority of his time on campus at second base, and has been the most consistent hitter of the group. Phillips has an advanced approach offensively and will be a key hitter for the Tigers.
The outfield will also be a veteran group for the Tigers in 2018. The outfield will be led by sophomore center fielder Jordan Holt. Holt played centerfield the majority of the time for the Tigers in 2017 and will man the position in 2018 as well. Holt made huge strides offensively in his sophomore year, leading the Tigers in hitting in the fall with an average north of .400. Also of note, Holt has signed to play for the Valdosta State Blazers in 2019. Another familiar face will roam the outfield for the Tigers in sophomore Kodi Bishop. Bishop is the best defensive outfielder on the roster and will anchor the Tigers "No Fly Zone" outfield. Bishop has worked hard offensively and sported a batting average over .300 in the fall. Freshman outfielder LJ Bryant has made a splash with the Tigers and showed his scary power potential in his time on campus. One of the strongest players on the team, Bryant will see a large role in the outfield rotation. Also in the mix is sophomore Jimmy Fackler and freshman Kelsey Weems. Fackler and Weems share a common trait, freakish athletic ability. Both were multi-sport athletes in high school and are just tapping into their potential on the diamond. Freshman Will Barry has seen time in the outfield during fall and spring practices and will be an option for the coaches as well. Barry's bat will force his way onto the field, and will be a candidate at DH as well.
You can follow the Tigers all season long through the website:
http://www.andrewfightingtigers.com/sports/bsb/index
On Twitter:
https://twitter.com/AndrewTigersBSB?lang=en
Don't forget you can catch all home games on live feed through the Andrew College Digital Network (ACDN). Visit the website approximately 30 minutes before all home games to catch the broadcast live in HD.