Titans Baseball Season Preview

The last 2 years have presented many challenges. After a cancelled 2020 season and a shortened 2021 season, the Titans look forward to a full season in 2022. The Titans will play a normal preseason schedule that includes traditional powers Bellevue, Everett, Columbia Basin, among others. A solid preseason schedule looks to prepare the Titans for a competitive West Region and postseason. The Titans return some key pieces to go along with a quality group of newcomers and Head Coach Ryan Mummert is looking forward to seeing this group compete.

"I'm really excited to watch our guys compete after all we've been through the past 2 years," said Mummert. "It's easy to complain about everything we haven't been able to do but I think our guys really appreciate what we do get to do. This is a motivated group and while we are young in some areas; I think we will learn as the season progresses and we hope to be playing our best baseball at the end of May."

2022 TEAM BREAKDOWN
Players Returning: 13
Pos. Players - Returning Starters: 2
Pitchers w/Significant Innings Returning: 3
Newcomers: 15 (12 high school players; 3 transfers)

Outfield
The Titans will have a new look in the outfield this year after losing their top 4 outfielders from a year ago.

The only returner for the Titans is Ethan Flodstrom (Port Angeles, WA / Port Angeles HS). Flodstrom had a strong Fall and shows power from the left side. He can play either corner OF position and is in the mix for innings. Between freshman and a pair of transfers, multiple players look to impact the outfield group. Kamana Nahaku (Auburn, WA / Auburn Mountainview HS) is a throwback, hard-nosed player with big upside. A great athlete, he shows promise with the bat and looks to patrol centerfield. Kaito Suzuki (Yokohama, Japan / Kanto Gakuin HS) is a developing player with some sneaky power from the left side. With the ability to play multiple outfield spots, Suzuki adds great versatility in the outfield. Another player with quality tools that looks to contribute is Cash Hartness (Bonney Lake, WA / Bonney Lake HS). A 6.8 runner with some pop in the bat, Hartness provides great depth. A pair of left-handed hitting transfers also look to make an impact this Spring in Albert Jennings (Maple Valley, WA / Tahoma HS) and Peter King (Gig Harbor, WA / Peninsula HS). Jennings, a Washington State transfer, has big power potential and could impact the middle of the Titan order. King transferred in from San Jose State and shows a hit tool to go with a plus arm. Both look to have an impact this Spring.

"We are in a very different position than we were a year ago with this group," stated Coach Mummert. "We lost some big pieces last year but that also opens the door for others to take advantage. There is still lots of unknown but we look forward to watching this group compete and see who rises to the top."

Infield
There is a lot to like with quality experience returning on the infield from last years shortened COVID season along with some talented newcomers.

Leading the charge on the infield is returning SS Jackson VanDeBrake (Yakima, WA / West Valley HS). VanDeBrake posted a .417 average last year, 2nd in the NWAC to teammate Will Mulflur, to go with 30 runs scored. VanDeBrake is a plus defender and will lock down the SS job for a 2nd year. Also returning is 3rd year player Mason Fritsch (Maple Valley, WA / Tahoma HS). Fritsch hit .274 last year with an astonishing 26 BB to 5 K in 24 games. He has made a jump with the bat and will impact the top of the lineup while playing either third base or second base. Connor Ellingson (Federal Way, WA / Puyallup HS) returns after playing sparingly a year ago but has shown improvement. Ellingson is plus runner that can play various positions on the infield and looks to compete for time this Spring. At first base Austin Grondahl (Sumner, WA / Sumner HS) returns and shows a projectable left-handed bat. A good defender, Grondahl is in the mix at 1st base. Crist will also see time at 1st base.

A pair of newcomers will look to contribute early this Spring in Jeremiah Lono (Kapolei, HI / Kapolei HS) and Jacob Burkett (Arlington, WA / Arlington HS). Lono brings a polished defensive skillset with a complimentary bat. With the ability to play all 3 infield positions, Lono provides great versatility. Burkett shows good offensive potential with a quality approach at the plate. While also a pitcher, Burkett will see time and provide depth in the infield.

"We are not overly deep at this position but this is a talented group," says Mummert. "We will rely on the experience of our sophomores to lead us. As they go, we go on the infield. VanDeBrake and Fritch are locked in but the 2 other spots are wide open. I look forward to seeing who fills those spots as the season progresses."

Catcher
The Titans lost their top 2 catchers from a year ago but the cupboard is not bare and some youth looks to fill the void.

The lone returner at the catcher position is Cade Crist (Springfield, OR / Thurston HS). Crist, who was hurt the majority of last year, brings a power bat to the catching position and could see time at DH and 1B as well. Of the newcomers, all bring something different to the table. Ryan Fowler (Yakima, WA / Eisenhower HS) is a switch hitting catcher with a big-time arm. A true catch and throw guy, Fowler brings quality defensive skills. Dane Woodcook (Eugene, OR / Willamette HS) might be the best receiver of the bunch. Woodcook shows good athleticism with a developing bat and looks to have a bright future. Shugo Kondo (Kofu, Japan / Tokai Kofu HS) shows some pop in the bat and will provide quality depth.

"There isn't much experience from this group but we are excited about their futures," expressed Mummert. "Fowler and Woodcook have shown some good flashes and provide quality defense and Crist and Kondo provide some upside with the bat. I think as the season progresses this group will keep getting better."

PRIMARY POSITION PLAYERS RETURNING
Player Pos. Cl.-Exp. B/T Avg Notable
Jackson VanDeBrake INF FR R/R .417 Avg (2nd in NWAC in 2021)
Mason Fritsch INF FR L/R .274 Avg (Led team in BBs and SBs in 2021)

TOP NEWCOMERS-POSITION PLAYERS
Player Pos. Cl. B/T Hometown (Previous School)
Albert Jennings OF FR L/R Maple Valley, WA (Washington State University)
Kamana Nahaku UTL FR R/R Auburn, WA (Auburn Mountainview HS)

Pitchers
The Titans return 5 of their top 7 pitchers from a year ago and welcome some new faces that are expected to contribute on the mound this Spring.

Heading the returners is Seti Manase (Puyallup, WA / Graham-Kapowsin HS). Manase shows a mid to upper 80's fastball with quality secondary pitches. He went 4-0 in last year's shortened season and will lead the rotation again in 2022. Another returner expected to make an impact is Brady Houston (Federal Way, WA / Decatur HS). He shows great competiveness with life on the fastball. Houston threw mostly out of the bullpen last year but will move to the rotation this Spring. Trent Buchanan (Gig Harbor, WA / Peninsula HS) has made a big jump with his fastball and has had a great offseason. He has really developed his secondary pitches and is a candidate for a rotation spot. Also returning is Kazuya Kojima (Kamakura, Japan / Kamakura Gakuen HS), who was the top reliever a year ago. Kojima, who has pinpoint command, struck out 21 while only walking 1 last year. He will be a key piece out of the bullpen again. Other returners expected to contribute include Sam Lauderdale (Vancouver, WA / Kings Way HS) and Levi Kiuchi (Puyallup, WA / Puyallup HS). Lauderdale, the most experienced of any returner, has battled injury over the last year but when healthy is an impact arm. Kiuchi can eat up innings in bunches and came on strong at the end last year. Both have starting experience and could contribute in a variety of ways. Josh Spencer (Woodinville, WA / Woodinville HS) is another returner that looks to provide quality depth to the pitching staff. Spencer shows life on the fastball with a good slider and will contribute out of the bullpen.

Many Freshman and a transfer look to compete for time on the hill this Spring for the Titans. Issac Evaniew (Eugene, OR / Churchill HS) is a physical presence that sits in the mid 80's with with a plus breaking ball. After sitting out the Fall with an arm injury, Evaniew is now healthy and in the running for one of the rotation spots. Another freshman competing for time in the rotation is Connor Schlect (Yakima, WA / West Valley HS). Schlect continues a long history of Rams turned Titans and possesses a loose arm with quality secondary pitches. As he puts weight on his frame, his velo will continue to increase and. The lone left-hander of the newcomers is Davis Buckner (Snohomish, WA / Snohomish HS). Originally committed to Seattle U, Buckner is working back from injury in the Fall. When healthy he possesses a power fastball and gives the Titans a different option, whether in the rotation or out of the bullpen. Another freshman looking to push for innings includes Matthew Korth (Bonney Lake, WA / Sumner HS). A tall, projectable arm, Korth's best days are ahead of him. The lone transfer is Taiga Yamane (Tottori, Japan / Yuggakan HS) from Golden West College (CA). Yamane shows a low 90's fastball and has some of the best stuff on the pitching staff. He will look to lock down the closer spot. Burkett and Hartness also look to contribute on the mound this Spring.

"The pitching staff will be our strength this year," says Mummert. "We return some key pieces and even some returners have made a jump. Throw in some of the quality freshman arms we have and this is a talented group. Staying healthy is always a key to success and if we do that this group can do some good things."

PRIMARY PITCHERS RETURNING
Player R/L Cl.-Exp. W-L ERA IP BB SO Notable
Seti Manase RHP FR 4-0 2.55 ERA 35 IP 11 BB 25 SO
Brady Houston RHP FR 1-1 5.74 ERA 15 IP 9 BB 18 SO
Kazuya Kojima RHP FR 3-2 1.96 ERA 18 IP 1 BB 21 SO

TOP NEWCOMERS-PITCHERS
Player R/L Cl. Hometown (Previous School)
Issac Evaniew RHP FR Eugene, OR (Churchill HS)
Connor Schlect RHP FR Yakima, WA (West Valley HS)
Taiga Yamane RHP SO (Golden West College)