MORRISTOWN, TN – The end of January begins the 2022 baseball season for the No. 5 Walters State baseball team as they look to build off of a 61-7 record last year and their 10th NJCAA World Series appearance.
While the Senators are replacing a good chunk of production, including the 2021 NJCAA Player of the Year in Alberto Osuna, they also bring back veterans that know what it takes to have success and make it back to Grand Junction, CO.
On Monday, the Senators were ranked No. 5 in the preseason NJCAA baseball poll.
"I feel like our pitching is a little bit ahead of our hitting right now which is normal for this time of the year," Walters State coach Dave Shelton said. "I think we have questions to be answered offensively with just how much production we will have to replace, but we have a lot coming back too.
'Some of these older guys had really good years last year. On the mound, we have a lot of quality innings returning. These kids have pitched in big situations that got us to the World Series and then in the World Series. Having that experience back is huge. These guys know how special it is to go to the World Series and what it takes to get there."
The Senators have benefitted over the offseason with a new turf infield. With that infield, Walters State was able to get on the field earlier than normal.
"Having the new turf has allowed us more on the field time than we would've had," Shelton said. 'Honestly, I don't know if we would have been on the field yet had we not had it with some of the rain and snow we have had. It's been good."
PITCHING
For 2022, the Senators bring back a lot of innings from last year and three key starters in Kohl Drake, Jake Knapp and Nolan Letzgus.
Last season, Drake was the ace for Walters State as the lefty started in 13 games, pitched in 17, and went 9-3 with a 3.72 ERA. he struck out 107 batters in 72.2 innings.
For Knapp, he came into the starting rotation later in the season and plugged a hole as he went 7-3 in 15 appearances, 12 starts.
"Kohl has worked his tail off over the offseason," Shelton said. "I think he is looking stronger than ever. Jake returns too and comes back after getting a lot of innings last year and pitched in big situations."
Letzgus is the final returning starter as he comes back after a 2021 season that saw him miss the majority of time with an injury. Letzgus finished the year 6-0 in eight starts and got the Senators lone win at the World Series.
"When Nolan came back last season, he really saved our season on the mound down the stretch," Shelton said. "Nolan is a guy that the sky is the limit for him. I am really excited to see what he does this year because I know the effort he has put in. He's turned the corner as far as understanding what it takes to be successful at the college level. I am looking for a big year out of him."
Also returning on the mound are Joey Mitchell, Brayden Mathews and Jacques Gillespie-Taylor in the bullpen.
Mitchell finished 2021 as a key member of the bullpen, going 3-0 in 15 appearances and had a 4.10 ERA. Matthews made 16 appearances out of the pen last year and had a 3.26 ERA while Gillespie-Taylor made seven appearances.
As for newcomers, Wesley Scott and Gio Rivera are two that Shelton noted as he expects for them to eat up chunks of innings throughout the season.
Rivera comes from Old Dominion where he made two appearances while Scott comes from San Jacinto and the University of Arizona.
"They are two that I will be shocked if we don't see them throw 50+ innings for us," Shelton said. "They are both big time arms. They're number one caliber arms."
As a whole, Shelton is high on his pitching staff and what they can accomplish this season.
'I am just really excited about our pitching," Shelton said. "It has the chance to be one of the deepest we have ever had at Walters. You're really only as good as your pitching staff. You can be offensive enough to give you a chance to get out there. But to actually get to the World Series and compete and win games, it's really not going to happen unless you've got the pitching."
HITTING
As for returners at the plate, Walters State brings back four starters from last year's team in Nick Block, Caleb McNeely, Andrew Ott and Noah Gent.
Block enters the season after playing in 54 games last year. Block hit .356 with 10 home runs and 54 RBI and was strong defensively in right field.
Gent was the teams starting DH for much of last season as he looks to build off a successful year. Gent played in 56 games and hit .326 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI.
As for McNeely, he played in 63 games last year as the Senators leadoff hitter, batting .364 with 18 home runs and 68 RBI. McNeely knocked in four runs and hit a home run during the World Series.
"These older guys had some really good years last year," Shelton said. "Nick Block and Noah Gent were very big for us last year. Getting Caleb McNeely back is going to provide a big boost. He's most likely going to be our shortstop. He's a guy that probably has only gotten better, but if he is the same, we're still in really good shape with him. That's how good he was for us last year."
Lastly, Ott is back for the Senators after starting at second base last season. He hit .352 in 42 games last season.
"Andrew Ott is back and will probably start at second base," Shelton said. "He had some big at-bats last year for us."
Other returners offensively for Walters State include Dalton McLain, Declan Wiesner and Corbin Shaw.
Shaw is a big returner after showing off some serious power last season at the plate that reminded Shelton of another really good player.
"Corbin has a chance to be one of our best offensive players," Shelton said. "He's got similar raw power to Alberto (Osuna). He's probably one of the closest I have seen to having the ability to hit balls as far as Alberto. He is someone who can have a big year for us."
As far as new position players, Shelton tabbed Colby Backus as a guy he sees as being critical for the Senators. Backus redshirted last season and has greatly improved from year one to year two.
"He is a perfect testament for what a kid can do with an extra year of work and buying into development," Shelton said. "At this level, the leap that he has made has been remarkable. It just goes to show what a guy can do when he works hard."
SCHEDULE
The Senators season begins on Friday as they take on USC Salkehatchie in a 3-game series. After four games at home against Lake Land College, the Senators travel to Chipola to take on Chipola, No. 3 San Jacinto and Wallace State, who were receiving votes in the preseason poll.
"It's always beneficial when you play teams like that and just see where you stack up," Shelton said. "We also have to understand though that it's the third week of the season and there is a lot of season left after those four games. We're just trying to get better each time out."
The TCCAA will once again be strong as the Senators will take on the entirety of the conference this year after just playing the eastern side last year due to COVID restrictions.
For Shelton, he sees the conference slate as a great test for his team all throughout the season.
"I think we are going to get back to where it has been, where our entire conference is competitive enough to where you have to play at the top of your game or you're going to get beat," Shelton said. "You can't look over anybody. I think everybody will be solid in the conference."
As for goals, it's always the same for Walters State: make the JUCO World Series. Shelton knows better than anyone how difficult that can be and just wants to see his team improve every day as they look to peak in May.
"We're just trying to do everything possible to be our best come May," Shelton said. "I stress that a lot. I want us to be at our best when May gets here, not March. We just have to be ready to face adversity and roll with the punches that a long season gives you."
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics