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Baseball Season Preview:
Coyotes look to Defense, Newcomers in 2012
When Jeff Lightfoot started the Weatherford College baseball program almost a decade ago he wasted no time in building a winner – and folks have gotten used to the Coyotes being a part of the postseason.
So with the start of each season come high expectations, all with the hopes of getting that elusive first Junior College World Series berth. Lightfoot has a JUCO World Series title as a coach at Eastfield College in Mesquite in 2001.
The Coyotes return five starters from last season’s team that finished 36-23 and advanced four games into the Region 5 Tournament before losing to Howard in 15 innings.
Pitching is always crucial to success in baseball, and the Coyotes return three from a year ago. Tyler Jones appeared in 21 games, posted a 2-1 record, and his six saves tied for third in the conference. Josh Wagner was 1-1 in six games coming out of the bullpen, and Ryan Talley was also a reliever.
“We are still defining roles at this point,” Lightfoot said of his pitching staff. “I believe we are deep on the mound and we have great expectations in this area. However, we do not have that one proven returning starter.
“Cameron Cox (freshman) will certainly be a starter and has the potential to be a very good one. He is inexperienced, but has a veteran demeanor about him. We expect Ty Sullivan (sophomore transfer from West Florida) to be a starter.
“Between Tyler Jones and freshman Jacob Stone we expect one to be in the rotation and the other one to be in the back end of the bullpen.”
Both Jones and Stone are powerful right-handers who throw in the low to mid-90s. Cox has also been clocked in the low 90s.
The hitting is inexperienced, however, Lightfoot admits. Shortstop Peter Cuomo (58 games, .370 average, 27 RBI, 11 doubles, 2 home runs, 69 hits) returns, along with starting outfielder Brandon Vinyard (45 games, .316 average, 15 RBI, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run, 36 hits).
“It’s a talented group with a lot to prove,” said Lightfoot of his hitters. “We will have the luxury of using some different lineups and play matchups. This lineup has some power with transfer Tyler Ervine (Dallas Baptist University) and newcomer Colin Zabasky. We are expecting big years from Cuomo and Vinyard.”
Lightfoot said defense should definitely be a strength of the club. “We are very athletic,” he said.
Along with Ervine and Sullivan, other newcomers who could make a big impact include freshman catcher Eric Garcia, freshman pitcher/infielder Kole Karol, and third baseman/outfielder Cam Allerheiligen, a transfer from the University of Arizona.
As the season approaches with the opener Feb. 4 against Navarro at Roger Williams Ballpark, Lightfoot said there are several things he and the team are focusing on to get stronger.
“Command the fastball, be better than our opponent in situational offense and defense, compete on every pitch,” he said.
The Coyotes compete in one of the toughest conferences in the nation. Lightfoot lists Grayson, Temple, McLennan and Cisco among the best teams in the nation. But as always, the Coyotes are expected to be among the postseason contenders as well.
“We play a tough schedule,” said Lightfoot. “We are trying not to look too far ahead, just want to be great every day and compete on every pitch.”
The Coyotes begin their season Sat., Feb. 4 at home against defending national champion Navarro College. The 7/9 doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. at Roger Williams Ballpark.
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by Rick Mauch |
