Baseball Season Preview 2023

Last season saw the Titans claim the West Region title but the end result didn't go as planned. After a surprise quick exit from the NWAC Tournament the Titans look for another shot at redemption this Spring. While the Titans have to replace 8 Division 1 players and some significant contributors from last year's team, Head Coach Ryan Mummert feels his 2023 team has the pieces to make some noise in the postseason.

"I really like our team" says Mummert. "We are extremely young but this group might be more talented than last year's team, which is saying a lot. Our success this year will depend on how quickly our newcomers adapt to the college game. If the younger guys make that transition, we have a good chance to make a run when the playoffs come around."

2022 TEAM BREAKDOWN
Players Returning: 13
Pos. Players - Returning Starters: 2
Pitchers w/Significant Innings Returning: 2
Newcomers: 16 (13 high school players; 3 transfers)

Outfield

With a combination of returners and newcomers, the outfield looks to provide some quality competition for playing time this Spring.

Kamana Nahaku (Auburn, WA / Auburn Mountainview HS) returns after playing in 40 games a year ago. Nahaku is a plus defender that has made a big jump with a bat and is expected to lock down centerfield. Two other returners expected to contribute include Peter King (Gig Harbor, WA / Peninsula HS) and Cash Hartness (Bonney Lake, WA / Bonney Lake HS). King is a left handed hitter that played in 21 games last year and will be in the mix for one of the corner outfield spots. Hartness is a developing player with some sneaky power. Both have the ability to play multiple outfield spots. Kaden Loop (Enumclaw, WA / Enumclaw HS) redshirted in 2022 but looks to compete for innings in 2023. Loop is a physical presence that shows power potential and is just scratching the surface of his potential. A pair of freshman look to make their mark on the outfield group. Aden Dance (Bonney Lake, WA / Sumner HS) is an athletic defender with a plus arm that has made good strides with the bat. Dance has the ability to play all 3 outfield spots and provides great versatility. Isaiah McFall (Puyallup, WA / Rogers HS) looks to have an impact with his bat. He has shown a hit tool from the left side and will provide great depth.

"This group has a little bit of everything," explains Mummert. "There is speed, power, and defense scattered throughout the outfield. There is still some unknown but we look forward to watching this group compete and see who rises to the top."

Infield

The Titans will have a new look in the infield this year after losing every infielder from a year ago. But there isn't a lack of talent in this group.

Multiple freshmen and a transfer will look to have an impact early with every starter gone from a year ago. A trio from powerhouse Puyallup HS will head the infield in 2023. Jeramiah Crain (Graham, WA / Puyallup HS) was the Player of the Year last year in the talent-rich SPSL. Crain shows good physical tools with power potential in the bat and looks to lock down 3rd base. Noah Fields (Lakewood, WA / Puyallup HS) possesses a quality bat and just knows how to play the game. A versatile player, Fields will start out at 1st base but has the ability to play multiple positions. The lone transfer of this bunch is Drake Anderson (Puyallup, WA / Puyallup HS). Anderson is a Washington St transfer that played in 12 games last year for the Cougars. A true middle-infielder with quality defensive skills, Anderson is in the mix for the shortstop job. Another candidate for the shortstop job is Julius Hooks (Maple Valley, WA / Tahoma HS). While Hooks is not big in stature, he is plus defender with a big arm. As the bat progresses, he could see time at either spot in the middle. Drew Johnson (Yakima, WA / West Valley HS) continues the Yakima-Tacoma pipeline and is expected to make an impact in the line-up.

His left-handed bat shows great potential and while he will most likely play 2nd base or 3rd base, he is also versatile enough to play outfield as well. Another player with quality tools that looks to contribute is Chase Cretti (Federal Way, WA / Fife HS). A 6.8 runner with a skilled glove, Cretti provides great depth.

"This is a different group than last year but they are talented," says Mummert. "They are eager and coachable and want to be good. With everyone being new this year I think they will just keep getting better as the year goes on."

Catcher

All catchers from a year ago return for the Titans and with another year of experience they look to provide some stability at the catching position.

Leading the charge is returner Ryan Fowler (Yakima, WA / Eisenhower HS). Fowler, a left-handed hitting catcher, played in 25 games while hitting .324 a year ago. Fowler shuts down the running game with a big arm and will be impactful this Spring. Another returner is Dane Woodcook (Eugene, OR / Willamette HS), who hit .237 in 22 games last season. Woodcook provides good athleticism and has showed good development with the bat this offseason. He is expected to provide quality innings behind the dish. Shugo Kondo (Kofu, Japan / Tokai Kofu HS) is another returner who saw action in 13 games a year ago. Kondo might be the most improved player of this group and should provide quality depth.

"This is the most experienced position we have on our roster," states Mummert. "Having a veteran group behind the plate is important with such a young pitching staff. We will rely heavily on their leadership and have high expectations for the catchers this Spring."

PRIMARY POSITION PLAYERS RETURNING
Player Pos. Cl.-Exp. B/T Avg Notable

Kamana Nahaku OF SO R/R .207 AVG

Ryan Fowler C SO L/R .328 AVG

TOP NEWCOMERS-POSITION PLAYERS
Player Pos. Cl. B/T Hometown (Previous School)

Jeremiah Crain INF FR R/R Graham, WA (Puyallup HS)

Drew Johnson INF FR L/R Yakima, WA (West Valley HS)

Noah Fields UTL FR R/R Lakewood, WA (Puyallup HS)

Drake Anderson INF SO R/R Puyallup, WA (Washington State University)

Pitchers

The Titans lost 7 D1 arms and 320 innings from last year's staff that lead the NWAC in pitching. While replacing them will not be easy, the Titans have some quality pieces that should help fill the void and pick up on where last year's staff left off.

Only 2 arms return that have thrown innings for the Titans but those 2 will help lead the charge in 2023. Issac Evaniew (Eugene, OR / Churchill HS) returns after earning 2nd team All-West Region honors a year ago. Evaniew posted a 6-2 record with a 1.70 ERA in 42 Innings to go with 51 K's last Spring. Evaniew shows a heavy upper 80's fastball with a plus breaking ball and is expected to lead to rotation. Also returning is RHP Connor Schlect (Yakima, WA / West Valley HS), who showed flashes in 2022 with a 4.35 ERA with 29 K's in 20 Innings. Fast forward to 2023 and Schlect has taken a big jump with the velo jumping as high as 91mph. Schlect has experience in both a rotation and bullpen role but will start this Spring in the rotation. After redshirting in 2022, Spencer Warner (Eagle, ID / Eagle HS) joins the mix and looks to have an impact. Warner shows life on the fastball with quality secondary pitches and will solidify the bullpen. A pair of redshirts join the staff after recovering from injuries a year ago. Mason Palagyi (Gig Harbor, WA / Peninsula HS) and Dylan Forstein (Puyallup, WA / Emerald Ridge HS) rehabbed injuries last year but now healthy, both will provide good depth. Palagyi is a crafty lefty and Forstein is tall, physical righty with a power fastball. Both will have big roles out of the bullpen.

Many Freshman and a couple transfers look to compete for time on the hill this Spring for the Titans. Dylan Watts (Enumclaw, WA / Enumclaw HS) shows an electric arm with a fastball that's reached 94mph to go with a plus slider. Still new to pitching, Watts' best days are ahead of him and he will have big impact whether in the rotation or bullpen. Another Freshman expected to have an impact is Justin Feld (Everett, WA / Cedar Park Christian HS). Feld is power arm that flashes low 90's stuff to go with above average secondary pitches. Feld had a good Fall and is a candidate for a rotation spot. A pair of left-handers expected to contribute include Jack Berg (North Bend, WA / Mount Si HS) and Tanner Douglas (Medford, OR / South Medford HS). Berg is a tall, projectable arm that has had a great offseason and just keeps getting better. As he continues to add weight to the frame his velo just keeps going up. Douglas was a late addition to the recruiting class but has made an immediate impact. The southpaw is deceiving from a low arm slot sitting in the mid 80's with great command of all pitches. Both are versatile arms that can be used in a variety of ways. Local standout Elijah Higginbottom (Bonney Lake, WA / Sumner HS) has been one of the most consistent arms since Fall. He is a strike thrower that attacks hitters and displayed great efficiency. Higginbottom will be a key piece of the bullpen. Nic Lewandowski (Bonney Lake, WA / Bonney Lake HS) is another left-hander that displayed flashes this Fall and looks to contribute out of the bullpen. Simon Adams (Normandy Park, WA / O'Dea HS) is rehabbing an injury and hopes to be back in time for Spring. When healthy Adams can eat up innings and provide great depth. A couple transfer's look to impact the pitching staff in Cho Tofte (Eugene, OR / Churchill HS) and Jason Proudfit (Eugene, OR / North Eugene HS). Tofte is a University of Oregon transfer that is in the conversation for some of the best stuff on the pitching staff. He shows high projection and displays a good fastball with a feel for his secondary pitches. Tofte is in the mix for a rotation spot. Proudfit, a transfer from Chemeketa CC, has a background in the NWAC. Proudfit threw 40 innings with nine starts in 2022 and will provide great experience.

"The bad news is we lost a ton from last year's pitching staff that led the NWAC," says Mummert. "The good news is we have some really good arms that came in. I'm not sure if we can match the success of last year but this group has some big upside. As long as we can stay healthy, our pitching staff has a chance to be really good."

PRIMARY PITCHERS RETURNING
Player R/L Cl.-Exp. W-L ERA IP BB SO Notable

Issac Evaniew RHP SO 6-2 1.70 ERA 42.1 IP 16 BB 51 SO

Connor Schlect RHP SO 1-1 4.35 ERA 20.2 IP 10 BB 29 SO

TOP NEWCOMERS-PITCHERS
Player R/L Cl. Hometown (Previous School)

Dylan Watts RHP FR Enumclaw, WA (Enumclaw HS)

Justin Feld RHP FR Everett, WA (Cedar Park Christian HS)

Jack Berg LHP FR North Bend, WA (Mount Si HS)

Cho Tofte RHP RS-FR Eugene, OR (University of Oregon)