Conference Preview: Big South

Player of the Year: D.J. Artis, OF, Liberty

Pitcher of the Year: Andrew Gottfried, RHP, High Point
Freshman of the Year: Zach Peek, RHP, Winthrop

2017

1.Carson Jackson, of, High Point
2. Tanner Chock, rhp, Presbyterian
3. Matt Crohan, lhp, Winthrop
4. Joe Tietjen, of UNC-Ashville
5. Alex Lewis, 3b, Longwood
6. Michael Osinski,ss, Longwood
7. Cole Hallum, of, Campbell
8. Anthony Paulsen, of, Winthrop
9. Cletis Avery II, ss, Presbyterian
10. Josh Greene, of, High Point

2018

1. D.J. Artis, of, Liberty
2. Mason Fox, of, Gardner-Webb
3. Andrew Gottfired, rhp, High Point
4. Justin Kunz, c, Gardner-Webb
5. Jack DeGroat, rhp, Liberty

2019

1. Zach Peek, rhp, Winthrop
2. Logan Bender, rhp, Campbell
3. Trey Alderman, rhp, Radford

Big South Conference Notebook

Campbell: The Camels come into 2017 predicted to take the automatic bid from the Big South thanks to a large number of returning contributors and players coming back off of injuries. This will be the third season with Justin Haire at the helm and his most talented squad to date. The big additions to the club are starting pitchers Allan Winans and Andrew Witzack who return from missing all of 2016 for grades and Tommy John surgery, respectively. Winans will slot right in as the Camels Friday night starter looking to show the advanced command and pitchibility he showed in both 2014 and 2015. Witzack is a lefthander who will start out in the mid-week role with a very projectable 6-foot-4 frame and a low-90s fastball. Junior college transfer Harry Thomas and sophomore Michael Horrell (3.16, 43-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio) will round out the weekend rotation, giving a strong stable of arms for Haire to choose from. It’s hard not to mention closer Erik Dowse as well who comes back after leading the team with six saves and posting a dominating 1.93 ERA over 46 2/3 innings a season ago. Another returning star is senior outfielder and pitcher Cole Hallum. Hallum is coming off Tommy John but will look to replicate his .327/.426/.599 2015 stat line where he also clubbed 10 home runs and pitched to a 1.04 ERA out of the bullpen in 26 innings. Hallum is slated to start in left field for the Camels and will again see time on the mound. Rightfielder Jeff Hahs is an incoming transfer from John A. Logan College who posted impressive power numbers and will work as their cleanup hitter. A pair of sophomores in catcher Zach Minnick and first basemen Jimmy Monaghan will look to replicate their production as freshman rounding out the lineup. Coaches are excited about the strides taken by Minnick behind the plate as well as his chance to develop big power this season. Campbell will also be looking to work in young arms such as Logan Bender and Tyson Messer who have shown low-90s velocity and Bender has drawn praise for his curveball. The road will not be easy for the Camels but their depth on the mound and plethora of returning bats give them the best chance to win the conference and reach postseason play for the first time since 2014. 

High Point:  The Panthers are coming off of a very successful 2016 season where they were the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament and posted 32 wins. Head Coach Craig Cozart enters his ninth season at the helm and will look to fill the holes of several key contributors from his 2016 squad. The Panthers will be looking to replace the production offensively of shortstop Chris Clare who led the team in hits a season ago. The losses of Friday night starter Andrew Scrubb and closer Tyler Brittion will also be felt. What the Panthers do have returning is outfielder Carson Jackson (.307, 6 home runs). Jackson has a five-tool profile with a plus run tool and saw his fastball work in the mid-90s from the mound. An even bigger development for Jackson is the jump he made power-wise in the fall after leading the team in home runs a season ago. High Point is very young on the mound but do return their best statistical pitcher from a season ago and predicted conference pitcher of the year, Andrew Gottfried (2.65, 48-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio). Gottfried is praised for his command on the mound with a fastball that will touch 90 mph and a strong four-pitch mix that all work for strikes. A pair of freshman will be expected to make an impact in the weekend rotation by way of Drew Daczkowski and Trevor Halloway. Daczkowski particularly has coaches excited with a physically impressive 6-foot-5 frame and low-90s fastball that generates exceptional plane. An x-factor for the Panthers this season could be how center fielder Josh Greene rebounds from a disappointing junior season where he entered with draft aspirations. Leadoff man Austin Zente returns as well coming off an impressive sophomore season slashing .286/.319/.333 while stealing 36 bases atop the order. Another pair of newcomers set to fill important roles are first basemen Zack Gray, who transfers in from Olney Central, and freshman righthander Grey Lyttle. Gray figures to slot in right away as the Panthers’ cleanup hitter while Lyttle takes over as the team’s closer with a go-to slider as his out pitch. The success of the young arms and rebound years for some of their top bats will determine if High Point is able to replicate their 2016 success.  

Liberty:  Liberty turns over a new leaf as new Head Coach Scott Jackson comes over from a stint at UNC and takes over for Jim Toman. Jackson inherits a club that won 31 games a season ago and finished with a .500 record in conference. The biggest returning star to the program is leadoff hitter and center fielder, D.J. Artis. Artis led the club in batting and slashed a very impressive .369/.500/.464 last year as a freshman. The highly athletic outfielder is a conference player of the year favorite as he looks to build off his strong 2016 campaign where he also had 41 RBI and stole 23 bases. Offensively, the Flames will also welcome back their top two power hitters in right fielder Will Shepherd (.328, 8 home runs) and first basemen Andrew Yacyk (.307, 21 doubles). Both players return as seniors and figure to again align in the middle of the order, driving in the likes of Artis. Eric Grabowski returns as well and figures to resume his two-way duties this season. He played mostly second base and turned in a respectable .259/.355/.401 slash line with four home runs. He worked out of the bullpen as well and struck out 21 in 19 innings. Liberty returns their top two rotation options as well with senior Evan Mitchell (3.96, 47-to-32 strikeout-to-walk ratio) and Jack DeGroat (4.02, 65:36). DeGroat comes armed with one of the more powerful right arms in the conference with a fastball that will reach up to 96 mph from a durable frame. The key to their pitching will be improved consistency from their starters and improve on a staff ERA of 5.35. Senior Shane Quarterley (3.38, 32:21) returns as the team’s closer after notching a team-leading seven saves from a year ago. Coaches are excited about highly touted freshman Cam Locklear’s first fall on campus and expect him to help replace the very productive Dalton Britt, who was drafted last spring, up the middle. Junior college transfer Vinnie Tarantola is expected to play a role in the weekend rotation after impressing the new coaches. A new coach gives hope to a team that returns several of their top offensive options as well as their top weekend options to contend in the North Division. 

Radford: Radford enters 2017 as their 10th season under Head Coach Joe Raccuia. They’ll look to rebound from a tough 2016 season but do return the majority of their starters from a season ago and should benefit from a quality recruiting class that should make an impact right away. Zach Ridgey (3.34, 69-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio) returns and will take over the Friday night role this season. Ridgey brings a highly competitive attitude to the mound with feel for a trio of pitches and good command of his fastball. Ryan Sande comes in as a sophomore after a strong freshman season out of the bullpen putting up a 3.38 ERA over 32 innings. Sande will be relied on heavily with impactful contributions also expected from a pair of freshman in Grayson Lamb and Brandon Donovan, who is coming off an injury in 2016. Senior Danny Hrbek will again man second base and return to pitching this spring for the Highlanders. Hrbek finished second on the team in average a season ago and posted a .329/.385/.458 slash line. He’ll work out of the bullpen for the first time since his freshman season and will see his fastball dip into the low-90s with a slider that’s tough for lefties to pick up. In addition to Hrbek the lineup will also return cleanup hitter Jonathan Gonzalez who is back for his senior season. Gonzalez will look for his power numbers to improve this year getting more chances to drive runners home. Some of those runs will score on the quick feet of center fielder Luke Wise. Wise will look for another year of positive improvement at the plate to help showcase his plus run tool. A trio of freshman will help round out the Highlanders’ lineup with both Cody Schneider and Richard De La Cruz Montilla taking over starting jobs in left and right field respectively. The third freshman is Clayton Baine who will take over first base duties and drew strong praise from the coaching staff as a potential middle-of-the-order piece. The road is tough for the Highlanders facing a trio of ACC opponents in their out-of-conference schedule, but if their young players step up and they see improvements on offense they could make noise this year. 

Longwood: After a strong, 32-win season a year ago the Lancers enter 2017 looking to replace some key figures from last season under third-year Head Coach Ryan Mau. Longwood was not affected by the draft but did lose a handful of key offensive and pitching contributors due to graduation. The biggest two are former first basemen Connar Bastaich and Friday night starter Travis Burnette. Looking to help replace some of that production will be sophomore Steven Farkas (4.76, 59-to-32 strikeout-to-walk ratio) who handled a weekend role last year for the Lancers. They'll be relying on Farkas to be more consistent this season and handle more of the load on a pitching staff that turned in a 4.71 ERA last year. Junior Mitchell Kuebbing returns from an injury that forced him to miss all of last season, taking over the Friday night role. Junior Michael Catlin (3.00 ERA) returns after an impressive sophomore year, as does Cody Boydston (3.55, 5 saves) from last season. Aside from the loss of Bastaich, Longwood can look forward to returning third basemen Alex Lewis (.369, 45 RBI) and shortstop Michael Osinski (.305, 17 doubles). Lewis made a fairly substantial jump in his production between 2015 and last season and Osinski comes off a strong summer in the NECBL where he drew rave reviews for his defensive prowess. Versatile junior Sammy Miller (.260, 19 stolen bases) will be back as well and counted on to play significant innings around the diamond as both an outfielder and a catcher. Coaches are excited about the expected contributions of freshman infielder Nathan Blakeney as he headlined their recruiting class. Longwood will look to establish consistency amongst their pitching staff in 2017 if they want to repeat their success and challenge in the North Division. 

Winthrop: Winthrop comes in to 2017 looking to build off of their 28-win season and even record in conference play. They have a strong out-of-conference slate against the likes of Kennesaw State, North Carolina, Coastal Carolina, South Carolina, Clemson and Creighton. Winthrop will replace two-thirds of their weekend rotation due to graduations of Zach Sightler and Sam Kmiec. They return lefthanded sophomore Thad Harris (6-6, 58-to-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio) and will call on senior Reece Green (4.56, 34:17) as their new Friday night starter. They’re also expecting big strides from sophomore Nate Pawelczyk who will see his fastball now work in the low-90s and mix in a slider and changeup. The velocity jump is notable for Pawelczyk who worked in the mid-80s a season ago and offers some of the best raw stuff on the team. Freshman Zach Peek earned the mid-week starter job and has shown easy velocity since stepping foot on campus with a loose arm action and projectable frame as he should be one to watch for the coming years. Another potential impact arm could be lefthander Matt Crohan (2.37, 21:1) who was dominant for a short stretch of time last year. He’s still overcoming an injury, so his role for the season is unclear, but if he can step on the mound he could be big addition to the Golden Eagles’ pitching staff where his fastball in the past has seen the upper-90s with a wipeout slider. Senior Anthony Paulsen returns as the team’s batting leader from last season putting together an impressive .352/.415/.441 triple slash with 35 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Paulsen should make for a quality senior sigh this June and will man center field this spring and bat in the three hole. Freshman outfielder Scout McFalls drew rave reviews from coaches during fall practice and will step right in as the leadoff man. Babe Thomas will take over the catching duties for Roger Gonzalez who was a 22nd round pick of the Athletics last June. Thomas will be called on to help replace some of the power production and will bat cleanup. Winthrop sees some of their biggest contributors return to a strong team already, and if they’re pitching can match their coach’s expectations they should be in the thick of it in the South Division. 

Gardner-Webb: The Runnin’ Bulldogs enter 2017 after a dominant run in 2017 where they won 37 games and 14 in conference. Head Couch Rusty Stroupe returns for his 15th season at the helm and looks to earn an automatic bid for the first time. The biggest question mark for the Runnin’ Bulldogs will be how they replace their trio of weekend starters. The combination of Jeremey Walker, Brad Haymes and Ryan Boelter accounted for over 50 percent of the team’s innings last year and all posted ERAs under 3.80. Haymes will especially be missed after going 11-3 last year with a 2.20 ERA and eight complete games. Wil Sellers (3.33, 52-to-21 strikeout-to walk ratio) will be called upon as the new Friday night starter after working last season as the team’s closer where he amassed 12 saves. Sellers will work in the upper-80s with his fastball and will show good sink with a quality changeup for a swing-and-miss pitch. Juniors Bradley Gallman and Zach Mosay will round out the weekend rotation and while both got looks as starters a season ago they will be relied upon even further this year. Incoming freshman lefthander Isaac Campbell drew praise from his work this past fall and will take over the mid-week role with a low-90s fastball. Replacing Sellers in the back of the bullpen will be Sophomore Mason Fox. Fox did not pitch last year but worked as the team’s fourth outfielder where he slashed .274/.333/.407 in 113 at-bats. Fox has been praised by the coaching staff with a fastball that will reach into the mid-90s and he will take over the leadoff role where he’ll let his speed take over as he stole 16 bases in 18 tries last season. In addition to Fox, Gardner-Webb returns their three top offensive contributors from last season. Senior Collin Thacker (.394, 28 doubles) returns to man second base after leading the conference in hitting while also leading the nation in doubles. After a big freshman season, catcher Justin Kunz (.333, 6 home runs) will now bat in the three-hole behind the likes of Fox and Thacker. Danny Sullivan (.348, 9 home runs) made big contributions as a transfer from a year ago and returns as one of the most impactful seniors in the conference. Gardner-Webb certainly has enough pieces to repeat their 37-win finish from a year ago but the ability to replicate that success will depend on their new rotation. 

Presbyterian: The Blue Hose look to make a jump in 2017 as they have seen gradual improvement over the past two years under long-time Head Coach Elton Pollock. Presbyterian opens up their out-of-conference play against Alabama while also facing the likes of Furman, Clemson, Auburn, Georgia and Duke. There is quite a bit of optimism in Clinton, South Carolina as the Blue Hose return their top two starters from a year ago in senior Brain Kehner (2,94, 78-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio) and junior Tanner Chock (4.60, 72:44). Kehner will retain the Friday night role and the coaching staff is excited about the jump made by Chock, who could have the best raw stuff of any pitcher in the conference. His fastball has reached the mid-90s and has shown tremendous feel for his secondary pitches and he is just waiting on his command to take the final jump. Hayden Deal will transition from the closer’s role, after leading the team with seven saves a year ago, to round out the weekend rotation. The Blue Hose will also return two of their top seniors from a year ago with outfielder Tyler Weyenberg (.358, 16 stolen bases) and Cletis Avery II (.269, 5 home runs). Avery II has coaches excited for his versatility and refined offensive approach at the plate as he will likely be called on to play both second base and center field this season, in addition to shortstop. Helping replace some of power lost with the graduation of Weston Jackson, who clubbed a team leading 10 home runs, is transfer Thatcher Coleman. Coleman initially started his collegiate career at South Carolina and has shown a strong throwing arm and power so far in fall practice. Coleman will move right into the middle of the order with the likes of Brett Auckland and Austin Priaulx, who return for their senior and junior seasons respectively. As of now, Presbyterian has only a pair of underclassmen penciled into starting roles this season giving them a bevy of experience around the diamond. This club will look to take advantage of that and push through the South Division. 

Charleston Southern: Adam Ward takes over as the interim Head Coach after Stuart Lake's last minute departure to join South Carolina's program and Ward will look to build off of a team that won 19 games last season. They do return a pair of key contributors in junior Chris Singleton and senior Nate Blanchard. Blanchard will again be at the hot corner this season where he slashed .300/.385/.394 with a contact-oriented approach. Singleton (.332, 4 home runs) finished second on the team in hitting and led the team in home runs, RBI, total bases and doubles. Those two will help provide stability to a lineup that will now be without Cole Murphy, who moves on after graduating last spring. Mike Sconzo will return as the team’s primary backstop after slashing .280/330/.310 as a sophomore with 17 RBI. The Buccaneers will be without their top starter from last season as Evan Raynor graduated and took with him his 3.23 ERA over 78 innings. Wil Hartsell (2.00, 3 saves) will be called on as the team’s Friday night option on the mound after a successful run at the back of their bullpen in 2016. A pair of sophomores will round out the weekend rotation with lefthander Cody Maw and righthander Tyler Weekley, Weekley missed all of last season recovering from an injury in 2015 that also cost him the last portion of 2014. Cody Smith (1.80, 25-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio) will take over the full closer’s role after earning a pair of saves a season ago over 20 1/3 innings. Charleston Southern welcomes in a ranked recruiting class as well to campus headlined by Nikolas Constantakos, who figures to step right in as the mid-week starter. Charleston Southern will host the likes of VCU and travel to FIU, Clemson and South Carolina as part of their non-conference schedule. With a strong recruiting class and returning key contributors from a season ago there is optimism in Charleston heading into this season. 

UNC-Asheville: The Bulldogs look to take a step forward under third-year Head Coach Scott Friedholm after a disappointing 2015 season when they finished 21-34. A bright spot on the roster is senior outfielder Joe Tietjen who returns and will again be roaming center field and hitting in the four hole. Tietjen posted a very impressive .344/.416/.553 slash line with 10 home runs and 12 steals a season ago and will look to duplicate, or improve upon, that performance. Tietjen has a chance to turn himself into a strong senior sign this spring with a wide variety of usable tools. Sophomores Danny Wilson (.276, 31 RBI) and Carmine Pagano (.244, 23 RBI) will each take on bigger roles as the leadoff and three-hole hitters respectively. The Bulldogs will be looking for big things from a pair of freshmen arms in righthander Brandon Harris and lefthander Greg Gasparro. Both of them figure to see significant innings in the ladder half of the rotation and will be asked to help lower the 6.28 staff ERA from a season ago. Senior Spencer Orr will transition to the Friday night role from working as the Sunday man in 2016 and will rely heavily on his go-to changeup, while looking to lower his walk numbers. Redshirt junior Ryan Tapp will handle the Saturday starter role and the big-bodied righthander (6-foot-8) will show feel for a slider and will help eat innings for the Bulldogs. Nick Boyles was the most consistent option out of the bullpen, posting a 1.91 ERA over 28 1/3 innings and will now take over the closer’s role, showing off a fastball that will work in the low-90s. UNC-Asheville will play the likes of Furman, NC State, UNC, Tennessee and Richmond in their non-conference slate. The road will not be easy for the Bulldogs, but Coach Friedholm has several young talented players that will look to improve in 2017.