In 2008, the South Mountain Community College baseball team will feature many new faces.  The team will be made up of 23 newcomers, 6 transfers and 17 true freshmen, along with 4 returning players. The Cougars return three pitchers from the 2007 staff and only one position player.  The only position player, Jason Summers, led the Cougars offense in 2007 with a .337 batting average, 14 doubles, 2 home runs, 43 RBI, and 80 total bases.  Summers hit in the third spot of the line-up and played first base in 2007.  Jordan Whatcott, Adam Prange, and Kyle Hurst are the returning pitchers on the 2008 staff.  Whatcott led the pitching staff in 2007 with a 5-2 record on the mound, as well as chipping in on offense with a .307 batting average.  Prange pitched in both starting and relief roles for the Cougars in 2007, at times showing a fastball in the 92-94 mph range.  Hurst pitched both in middle relief and as the closer in 2007, leading the team in saves (3).  He also spent time as the team’s catcher, leading the 2007 squad in home runs (4).

The Cougar baseball team will play a competitive 56-game schedule in 2008, featuring all three teams that participated in last years NJCAA Division 1 Western District Playoff, Western Nevada, Central Arizona, and Western Nebraska.  The schedule includes 38 ACCAC games and 18 non-conference games.  As part of the non-conference schedule, the Cougars will take two out-of-state trips.  The season opening series will be a match-up with 2007 JUCO World Series participant Western Nevada CC.  The Cougars will meet Western Nevada on Jan. 25-27 in Las Vegas for a four game series.  Two weeks later, the Cougars will head to El Paso for a four game series, Feb. 8-9 against El Paso Community College.  On Feb. 12th, South Mountain will begin ACCAC action at home against Pima Community College.

Pitchers

Along with the three returning pitchers from the 2007 team, the Cougars will feature several experienced transfers.  Both Shane Dyer (University of New Mexico) and Adam Bailey (Arizona State University) pitched at the NCAA Division 1 level a year ago.  Dyer, committed to the University of Nebraska for next year, will most likely pitch at the top of the rotation, with Bailey being used as a two-way player in the outfield and on the mound.  Daniel Romero, Jordan Roualdes, and JT Eilertson are the other transfers that look to make significant impacts for the Cougars in 2008.  Romero finished second in the ACCAC in strikeouts last year at Pima Community College and will be utilized as an infielder and closer for the Cougars.  Roualdes sat out 2007 due to an arm injury, but is expected to bounce back and contribute as a starter in 2008.  Eilertson pitched as a freshman at Western Oregon University in 2006 and could be used both as a starter and middle relief this year.  The four freshmen on the pitching staff this year are Mark Guest, Joey Schumer, Dominic Montoya, and Michael Payne.  Guest, a native of Dallas, is expected to make an immediate impact as a left-handed starter.  Schumer and Montoya will be expected to get outs in the bullpen with the possibility of throwing numerous times each week.  Payne’s role will be determined based on recovery from a hip injury in 2007, but should be ready to contribute to the pitching staff this spring.

Catchers

The Cougars will head into the 2008 season with three catchers.  True freshman Austin Wooldridge is expected to get a bulk of the time behind the plate.  He had a solid fall season and continues to develop on the defensive side.  Sophomore Jason Summers will get some time behind the plate, as well as in the infield.  Summers will provide stability and experience in the middle of the batting order.  Red-shirt freshman Josh Rodriguez will also compete for time at the catching position.  He was draft pick of the Washington Nationals out of high school and is a switch hitter on offense.  The team’s success in 2008 will depend heavily on the catchers’ ability to work with a solid pitching staff.
Infielders

The infield defense should be a strength for the Cougars in 2008.  With additions such as Josh Garcia and Brandon Macias, both Arizona State University signees out of high school, the Cougars expect to be much improved on defense from a year ago.  Garcia is expected to play both corners of the infield, as well as drive in runs in the middle of the line-up on offense.  Macias will see a bulk of the time at shortstop, while hitting at the top of the order.  Red-shirt freshman Joey Petosa should have suited up in the middle infield for the Cougars in 2007, but missed the entire season due to knee injury.  In 2008, Petosa is expected to contribute significant time at all three infield positions.

Freshmen Tyler Lebrun and Erik Nordine will provide some versatility at the infield positions.  Both have the ability to play second, short, or third, while Lebrun will contribute on the mound and Nordine may see some time in the outfield.  Nico Rosthenhausler, a freshman from Desert View HS, will see some time at first base and in the DH slot in the batting line-up.  Freshmen Steve Castillo and Everett Altman will use their versatility to earn time in the infield and the outfield.  Castillo (a region ‘player of the year’ in high school) and Altman (hit 19 home runs combined in last two years of high school) will both compete for time at third base and in left field.

Outfielders

The Cougars outfield in 2008 consists of all newcomers to the program.  Sophomores Garrett Hanselman and Adam Bailey bring some experience to a talented freshmen group.  Hanselman is expected to be a middle of the order run-producer and may see some time at first base, as well as left field.  Bailey, along with his pitching role, will provide some left-handed pop to the middle of the batting order.  Following an outstanding fall season, freshman Chris Amrhein will see time in all three outfield position and with continued development may be capable of contributing at the top of the batting order.  Freshmen Michael Delos and Casey Reynolds (region player of the year in high school) should both see significant playing time by providing some speed and versatility to a line-up of run producers.