2018 Baseball Season Preview
Titan Head Coach Ryan Mummert has to replace 8 Division 1 players and some significant pieces from last year's team that made the NWAC Tournament. But Mummert feels his 2018 TCC baseball club doesn't have the known star power as previous teams and feels this could be a benefit going into the season.
"We have some quality players returning but they are a little less known than some of our prior teams," says Mummert. "We lost a lot with all three starting outfielders, our first baseman, and 4 arms all gone to D1's. It's not easy replacing those guys but if some of our returners can make a jump and some of the younger guys make that transition to the college game, we have a good chance to make a run when the playoffs come around."
2018 TEAM BREAKDOWN
Players Returning: 11
Pos. Players - Returning Starters: 4
Pitchers w/Significant Innings Returning: 2
Newcomers: 17 (15 high school players; 2 transfers)
Outfield
Gone are a trio of All-Region outfielders from last year's team in Taylor Adams (Oregon), Peter Perkins (Elon) and Jordan Stoner (UT-Martin). Replacing them won't be easy but the Titans have some quality pieces returning to go along with some talented newcomers.
Of the returners, Jake Wikel (Redmond, WA / Lake Washington HS) has shown some flashes of breaking out in year two. Wikel is a plus defender and if he continues to make the jump with bat he will have a good opportunity for playing time. Another returner,Dillion O'Grady (Auburn, WA / Auburn HS), played sparingly last year but is also in the mix for a starting job this Spring. Owen Parsons (Scappoose, OR / Scappoose HS) returns after earning All-West Region honors as an infielder. Parsons has made the full time transition to the outfield and will compete for playing time this Spring.
Newcomers RJ Green (Gig Harbor, WA / Gig Harbor HS) and Brandon Thompson (Yelm, WA / Yelm HS) are both left-handed hitters with great speed. Green can play all three OF spots with Thompson being the fastest Titan. Both will challenge for playing time. Others who will be used in multiple roles and could see time in the OF include Alex McBee (Auburn, WA / Auburn Mountainview HS) and Justin VanDeBrake (Yakima, WA / West Valley HS)
"The outfield group is a bit of an unknown," stated Coach Mummert. "This is a talented group but besides Parsons, who even himself hasn't played a lot of outfield, no one is a proven commodity. There is lots of competition for spots and I look forward to seeing who separates themselves."
Infield
The biggest position of strength in 2018 will be the infield. Three starters return and all are expected to lead the charge.
Leading the group of returners is Collin Wolf (Puyallup, WA / Puyallup HS). Wolf, a Campbell University commit, was named 1st Team All-North Region and was a Gold Glove recipient after batting .304 and will lock down SS for another year. Joining Wolf in the middle for a 2nd consecutive year will be 2B Kenton Robillard (Puyallup, WA / Puyallup HS). Robillard batted .333 while earning 2nd Team All-North Region as well as a Gold Glove. Wolf and Robillard combine to form one of the better middle duos in the NWAC. At 3B Elijah Johnson (Curtis, WA / WF West HS) returns after coming on strong the second half of last season. The talented defender looks to lock down 3B and could be a breakout candidate. The last returner is Austin Hamilton (Vancouver, WA / Mountain View HS), who played sparingly last season but is expected to see significantly more time this year. The left handed hitting Hamilton has returned in great shape for his Sophomore year and is expected to be heavily in the running for the 1B job.
There is lots of quality depth that will challenge for playing time starting with a pair of Freshman in Justin VanDeBrake (Yakima, WA / West Valley HS) Cameron MacIntosh (Gig Harbor, WA / Gig Harbor HS). VanDeBrake was all-league in 3-sports in high school and shows good physical tools. He is expected to contribute right away and is athletic enough to play 6 different positions.
MacIntosh has a great understanding of the game and plays with a high motor. He has the versatility to play all three infield positions and is expected to contribute early. Zach Diehl (Eugene, OR / Sheldon HS) had a solid fall and is also expected to battle for innings in the infield. Another player expected to make a significant impact is transfer Jon Burghardt (Gig Harbor, WA / Gig Harbor HS). A transfer from Washington State, Burghardt shows good pop from the left side of the plate and is expected to hit in the middle of the line-up.
"The infield is expected to be a position of strength for us," says Mummert. "But what makes this group so strong is the overall depth and versatility. We can move guys around, play matchups, etc. It's going to be hard to be better than last year's group, but I think the depth sets this group apart from previous years."
Catchers
The Titans return only 1 catcher from last year's team but have added some keys pieces that will bolster this group for the coming year.
Dominick Zombik (Puyallup, WA / Emerald Ridge HS) is the lone returner after playing in 32 games a year ago. Zombik has a quick release along with solid receiving skills and will push for playing time. Of the 2 freshman, Brock Gagliardi (Tacoma, WA / Wilson HS) looks to have the biggest impact. Gagliardi shows good defensive skills to go with power potential from the left side and will challenge for a starting spot. Another freshman, Gavin O'Donnell (Mill Creek, WA / Jackson HS) provides great depth and will push for playing time. Burghardt could also see time behind the plate.
"We are much deeper at the catching position than we were last year," expressed Mummert. "Dom was a gold glove winner last year and then add in a pair of offensive left handed hitters along with Gavin and this group has a chance to give us some quality innings. I think this group will grow as the seasons goes and just keep getting better."
PRIMARY RETURNING-POSITION STARTERS
Player Pos. Cl.-Exp. B/T Avg. Notable
Collin Wolf INF SO R/R .304 1st Team All-West Region, Campbell University Commit
Kenton Robillard INF SO R/R .333 2nd Team All-West Region
Owen Parsons OF SO L/R .286 2nd Team All-West Region
TOP NEWCOMERS-POSITION PLAYERS
Player Pos. Cl. B/T Hometown (Previous School)
Jon Burghardt 1B/C SO L/R Gig Harbor, WA (Washington State University)
Brock Gagliardi C FR L/R Tacoma, WA (Wilson HS)
Brock Gagliardi UTL FR R/R Yakima, WA (West Valley HS)
Pitchers
The Titans must replace 270 innings from last year's pitching staff with 2 starters, including All-NWAC Pitcher Garrett Westberg (UCF), and the top 3 bullpens arms gone. The 2018 season will see many new faces on the mound for the Titans but the cupboard is not bare.
Only 3 pitchers return but a pair of starters are included in that group in RHP Nate Packard (Puyallup, WA / Emerald Ridge HS) and RHP Justin Simanek (Kent, WA / Kentridge HS). Packard started 10 games in 2017 to go with 46 K's in 56 Innings. He commands an upper 80's fastball with quality secondary pitches and will hold a spot in the rotation for a 2nd straight year. Simanek posted a 3.35 ERA with 37 K's in 9 starts last season. The Southeastern Louisiana University signee possesses an upper 80's to low 90'fastball and like Packard, will be a key piece in the rotation. The last returner is LHP George Thompson (University Place, WA / Curtis HS). Thompson was limited last year with an injury but has come back healthy for his Sophomore year. Thompson is a projectable LHP with a live arm that could start or come out of the bullpen.
Many Freshman and a transfer will be expected to contribute significantly on the hill. Of the Freshman, RHP's Josh Vitus (Eugene, OR / Sheldon HS) and Ben Langehough (Covington, WA / Kentwood HS) both had solid Fall's and while neither are overpowering, both know how to pitch and are expected to compete for spots in the rotation. Other Freshman that will push for innings include RHP Logan Gerling (Gig Harbor, WA / Gig Harbor HS) and LHP Alex McBee (Auburn, WA / Auburn Mountainview HS). Gerling shows life on the fastball with quality secondary pitches and McBee is a crafty left-hander that gives the Titans great versatility with the ability to start or come out of the bullpen. Others that will see action include Caleb Beard (Lacey, WA / Timberline HS), Cade Bates (Springfield, OR / Thurston HS), and Cameron Prosin (Maple Valley, WA / Tahoma HS). All three look to added quality depth to the bullpen. The lone transfer is Austin Stump (Puyallup, WA / Puyallup HS). Stump comes to TCC from the University of Washington where he redshirted last season. Stump is a tall, projectable arm who is expected to lock down the back end of the bullpen.
"We lost a lot from last year," says Mummert. "Gone are our top 2 arms from the rotation and our best 3 bullpen arms from a year ago. But even though we have so many new faces this is a talented group. The learning curve will be greater than normal but as the season goes on I think they have the ability to do some good things. Our postseason hopes will depend on how this group matures."
PRIMARY PITCHERS RETURNING
Player R/L Cl.-Exp. W-L ERA IP BB SO Notable
Nate Packard RHP SO 3-5 5.62 56 23 46
Justin Simanek RHP SO 5-0 3.35 45.2 27 37 Southeastern Louisiana University Commit
TOP NEWCOMERS-PITCHERS
Player R/L Cl. Hometown (Previous School)
Logan Gerling RHP FR Gig Harbor, WA (Gig Harbor HS)
Josh Vitus RHP FR Eugene, WA (Sheldon HS)
Ben Langehough RHP FR Covington, WA (Kentwood HS)