MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 17 Walters State enters the 2025 baseball season with a somewhat inexperienced team but a team that coach Dave Shelton said is extremely talented.

The Senators are coming off a 44-14 season and a regular season TCCAA title. 

"It's a unique group that we have this year," Shelton said. "When I say unique, I mean that I feel comfortable that they are doing what they need to do to prepare themselves even if we're stuck indoors because of the weather. They're a hard-working group and tend to get after it. We are talented but also inexperienced at the college level from a position player standpoint. We're going to be relying on quite a few guys this year that maybe haven't gotten a ton of reps at the college level. We're going to need them to step up and be ready to perform."

One way to prepare those players with little college baseball experience was to play a tough fall schedule. The Senators played No. 6 North Carolina, UNC Charlotte, Western Carolina and a handful of other four-year programs. 

"Playing teams like North Carolina, UNC Charlotte, Western Carolina, you find out real quick what college baseball is all about," Shelton said. "To play those guys and actually play them pretty well, those things are good." 

As far as returning players go, the Senators got a huge addition at the break as Jack Vogele returned. Vogele was an All-TCCAA First Team outfielder last season, who hit .436 with four home runs and 41 RBIs. 

Along with Vogele, Nate Conner is back after also being named an All-TCCAA First Team outfielder last season. Conner hit .374 with seven home runs and 40 RBIs. 

"Getting Jack back at Christmas was a big boost," Shelton said. "Now, we return two First Team All-Conference outfielders. That makes a big difference. Those two dudes can just hit. Nate and Jack can really swing it."

Along with those two, Walker Morgan is back to play first base but also to pitch. Morgan had eight home runs and drove in 34 runs last season, while also going 2-0 in six appearances on the mound. 

"Walker Morgan got a lot of at-bats last year," Shelton said. "Now, we're just trying to manage his time in the field and on the mound. He's made vast improvements on the mound to the point that we're going to rely on him a lot more there."

Other returning players in the field include Brantley Bamberg, Jack Torbett, Carson Cabbage, Ethan Bosely and Taylor Harris. 

"Jack Torbett returns and had a great fall for us," Shelton said. "We're going to need him to step in there and take on a starting role this year. Bamberg has come out swinging it well. I think he has a chance to have a big offensive year this year. Carson Cabbage got some good reps last year, and he'll start the season as our No. 1 catcher. I think he's poised to have a good season. And Taylor Harris was voted our top hitter in the fall. He played so well this fall that he's going to be our leadoff hitter and starting center fielder." 

In terms of new position players, Kole Fenton is one that Shelton is really high on as the season begins, as are Holden Pantier, Tyler Myatt and Atticus Goodson.

"We have a true freshman shortstop in Kole Fenton, and he was outstanding in the fall," Shelton said. "He's a huge key to what we do this year. You have Holden Pantier, who is a third baseman that was the No. 1 third baseman in Colorado coming out of high school. He's going to be one I could see having a huge year for us.

"Tyler Myatt is going to be an offensive threat. He can really swing the bat. Same thing with Atticus. He would have been in the middle of our lineup last year had he not gotten hurt."

Other position players Shelton mentioned include Drew Blalock, Hayden Blair, Kenny Cox and Justin Bell. 

In terms of pitching, Aiden Robertson, Gage Peterson and Tyler Welch are returners for the Senators. Last season, Robertson went 1-0 in 14 appearances with 26 strikeouts while Peterson went 4-2 with 43 strikeouts in 29.2 innings. Welch threw 16 innings and went 1-0 with 17 strikeouts. 

"Aiden made a huge jump this year to the point that he signed early to Virginia Tech," Shelton said. "He has pitched like an ace for the last little bit. He'll anchor the staff. Gage has been really good, as well. He's looked outstanding. Tyler Welch threw some big innings for us last year, and his numbers were really good. He's got a chance to have a big year for us. All three of them signed with Division I's early, and we're expecting big things out of them."

Along with those three, Reilly Byers came to Walters State at the Christmas break and has impressed. Jace Kirby, Rowan Park and Matthew Porchas were other veteran pitchers mentioned by Shelton that he expects big things out of this season.

"We picked up a transfer at the break in Reilly Byers," Shelton said. "He looked really good in his first intersquad outing. You have Jace Kirby, who can flash upper 80's stuff with good secondary stuff. We've got Rowan Park, as well, who might be our sleeper this year. He's got an ability to pitch, and his stuff is really good. You've got Matthew Porchas who has pitched really well."

The Senators also have plenty of younger pitchers who proved themselves over the fall season and are set to make an impact and provide great depth. 

"Brady Scott has been lights out so far for us," Shelton said. "He's been great, and I am really excited to see what he can do this season. Brayden Blankenship has looked really good this fall and can run it up to 93, 94 mph. We also have Dakota Crumbley, who had a great fall, Mason Trucks, Riley Franklin, Ryder Moye and Ryan Smith." 

Schedule wise, Walters State will play No. 12 Chipola and No. 14 Gaston in the first three weeks of the season. The Senators are thrown into conference play on February 14-15, the earliest that conference play has begun. 

"What teams look like at the start of the conference season is most likely not how teams are going to look once the tournament gets here," Shelton said. "It's going to be interesting to see how everyone develops throughout the course of the season. It should be a fun year." 

As far as goals go, it remains the same as Shelton expects his team to compete for and win a national championship. 

"I've always said that our goal is to win a national championship," Shelton said. "Are those unrealistic goals? We'll see, but I don't think so. It's a group that's talented enough to compete for a national championship. Now, can we play and perform to that level? That remains to be seen, but that's always going to be our goal. We set our goals high here, and our expectations are high. Hopefully, these guys can perform to that level." 

Walters State opens the season on Saturday, taking on USC Salkehatchie on the road. First pitch Saturday is set for 2 pm. 

"It's a talented group that I think has a chance to get better as the year progresses because they work so hard and just need game reps," Shelton said. "As the season goes on and they get those game reps, I'm envisioning us maybe making less mistakes and hopefully will be at full strength come May."