Tiger baseball team ranked sixth in national pre-season poll
January 23, 2019
After back-to-back trips to the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, CO, the Cowley College baseball team saw its quest for a third straight trip come up one game short during the 2018 season.
The Tigers hope they have assembled the right pieces to get back to the World Series in 2019.
Cowley returns 11 players from last year's team that went 45-11 overall and 32-4 en route to capturing the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division title.
The Tigers were recently picked to finish first in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division and are ranked sixth in the NJCAA Division I pre-season rankings.
"We will gladly accept these accolades and are happy for our players," Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said. "This is good for the institution, the community, and our baseball program."
Eight of Cowley's 11 returning players saw time on the mound as freshmen.
"The sophomores will anchor the pitching staff and need to pitch to their ability," Burroughs said.
Sophomore Andrew Roach was named the Jayhawk East Pitcher of the Year in 2018. Roach went 6-2 with a 3.94 earned run average as the right-hander led the team with four complete games, and was second on the staff in innings pitched (64). He struck out 65 and walked only eight.
Roach was named a First Team all-conference and Second Team all-region selection and has signed early with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Cole Larsen (6-2, 1.46 ERA) was also named a First Team all-conference and all-region selection following the 2018 season as he led the Tiger pitching staff in innings pitched (68) and strikeouts (76).
He has signed early with the University of Kansas.
Fellow pitchers Ryan Westerhoff (6-0, 2.82 ERA) and Brannon Jordan (8-1, 3.33 ERA) also impressed on the mound as freshmen and were named Honorable Mention all-conference selections. Jordan struck out 70 batters as a freshman and has signed early with the University of South Carolina.
Kaid Karnes tossed the fifth most innings (33 1/3) on the team during the 2018 season and struck out 36 batters, while Ethan Swanson struck out 36 batters in 24 innings. Jared Wilson also pitched well, striking out 24 batters in 26 2/3 innings, and Adam White struck out 23 batters in 19 2/3 innings of relief.
Offensively, Cowley only returns second baseman Grady Davenport (.340 average, 48 runs batted in), and outfielders Carson Sader (.277 average, .447 on base percentage) and Parker Dunn (.271 average, 23 RBIs).
"We were unproven offensively going into last season as well and ended up averaging 10 runs per game," Burroughs said. "The guys had their moments in the fall and will be fine."
Along with the three returning position players, Cowley has added three transfers. Catcher Cody Milligan is a transfer from Oklahoma State University that has signed early with the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniel DeSimone is another transfer from Oklahoma State University that has a middle of the order type bat and will play first base for the Tigers, while sophomore catcher Kros Bay is a transfer from Paris (TX) Junior College that had a .349 on base percentage during the 2018 season.
"We have a good sophomore group that will need to provide us leadership," Burroughs said.
The 22 freshmen on the roster are made up of nine athletes from Oklahoma, eight from Kansas, three from Missouri, and two from Arkansas. Burroughs was quick to credit assistant coaches Brock Buckingham and Darren Burroughs (Lefty) with assembling a talented recruiting class.
"Buck and Lefty found some athletic, good players," Burroughs said. "We are excited to see them get started."
Freshman from Kansas are, Arkansas City High School teammates Cade Gonzales (infield) and Hunter O'Toole (pitcher), who helped the Bulldogs to a state title, pitchers Grant Wilson from Overland Park, Josh Bortka from Kansas City, Reid Frase from Gardner, outfielders Tyler Halstead from Riley County and Corbin Lill from Clearwater, and infielder George Specht from Shawnee.
Freshmen from Oklahoma are, pitchers Austin Neal, CD White, Carson Orton, Brett Biggs, and Miguel Obeso, while catcher Tristan Diaz and infielder Cade Stephens join outfielders Damon Burroughs and Isaac Muncy as other incoming athletes from Oklahoma on the roster.
Freshman pitchers Logan Steenstra, Jack Carneal, and Austin Brooks are from Missouri, while infielders Blaze Brothers and Mac McCroskey are from Arkansas.
With a talented group of freshmen joining 14 sophomores on the roster, there will be position battles at several spots on the diamond.
"We have enough depth that there will be competition for spots," Burroughs said.
Cowley will open the season by playing 11 of its first 13 games on the road and will be tested before opening conference play.
The 2019 season marks the 32nd year Dave Burroughs has been at the helm of the Tiger baseball program as the legendary coach has won 1,254 games and captured 18 Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division titles.
Cowley will open the season by playing a three-game series at Northeast Texas Community College, beginning with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. February 1 in Mt. Pleasant, TX.
"We are anxious to get started," Burroughs said. "We hope to develop, get better every day and play good baseball in May."
The Tigers hope they have assembled the right pieces to get back to the World Series in 2019.
Cowley returns 11 players from last year's team that went 45-11 overall and 32-4 en route to capturing the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division title.
The Tigers were recently picked to finish first in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division and are ranked sixth in the NJCAA Division I pre-season rankings.
"We will gladly accept these accolades and are happy for our players," Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said. "This is good for the institution, the community, and our baseball program."
Eight of Cowley's 11 returning players saw time on the mound as freshmen.
"The sophomores will anchor the pitching staff and need to pitch to their ability," Burroughs said.
Sophomore Andrew Roach was named the Jayhawk East Pitcher of the Year in 2018. Roach went 6-2 with a 3.94 earned run average as the right-hander led the team with four complete games, and was second on the staff in innings pitched (64). He struck out 65 and walked only eight.
Roach was named a First Team all-conference and Second Team all-region selection and has signed early with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Cole Larsen (6-2, 1.46 ERA) was also named a First Team all-conference and all-region selection following the 2018 season as he led the Tiger pitching staff in innings pitched (68) and strikeouts (76).
He has signed early with the University of Kansas.
Fellow pitchers Ryan Westerhoff (6-0, 2.82 ERA) and Brannon Jordan (8-1, 3.33 ERA) also impressed on the mound as freshmen and were named Honorable Mention all-conference selections. Jordan struck out 70 batters as a freshman and has signed early with the University of South Carolina.
Kaid Karnes tossed the fifth most innings (33 1/3) on the team during the 2018 season and struck out 36 batters, while Ethan Swanson struck out 36 batters in 24 innings. Jared Wilson also pitched well, striking out 24 batters in 26 2/3 innings, and Adam White struck out 23 batters in 19 2/3 innings of relief.
Offensively, Cowley only returns second baseman Grady Davenport (.340 average, 48 runs batted in), and outfielders Carson Sader (.277 average, .447 on base percentage) and Parker Dunn (.271 average, 23 RBIs).
"We were unproven offensively going into last season as well and ended up averaging 10 runs per game," Burroughs said. "The guys had their moments in the fall and will be fine."
Along with the three returning position players, Cowley has added three transfers. Catcher Cody Milligan is a transfer from Oklahoma State University that has signed early with the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniel DeSimone is another transfer from Oklahoma State University that has a middle of the order type bat and will play first base for the Tigers, while sophomore catcher Kros Bay is a transfer from Paris (TX) Junior College that had a .349 on base percentage during the 2018 season.
"We have a good sophomore group that will need to provide us leadership," Burroughs said.
The 22 freshmen on the roster are made up of nine athletes from Oklahoma, eight from Kansas, three from Missouri, and two from Arkansas. Burroughs was quick to credit assistant coaches Brock Buckingham and Darren Burroughs (Lefty) with assembling a talented recruiting class.
"Buck and Lefty found some athletic, good players," Burroughs said. "We are excited to see them get started."
Freshman from Kansas are, Arkansas City High School teammates Cade Gonzales (infield) and Hunter O'Toole (pitcher), who helped the Bulldogs to a state title, pitchers Grant Wilson from Overland Park, Josh Bortka from Kansas City, Reid Frase from Gardner, outfielders Tyler Halstead from Riley County and Corbin Lill from Clearwater, and infielder George Specht from Shawnee.
Freshmen from Oklahoma are, pitchers Austin Neal, CD White, Carson Orton, Brett Biggs, and Miguel Obeso, while catcher Tristan Diaz and infielder Cade Stephens join outfielders Damon Burroughs and Isaac Muncy as other incoming athletes from Oklahoma on the roster.
Freshman pitchers Logan Steenstra, Jack Carneal, and Austin Brooks are from Missouri, while infielders Blaze Brothers and Mac McCroskey are from Arkansas.
With a talented group of freshmen joining 14 sophomores on the roster, there will be position battles at several spots on the diamond.
"We have enough depth that there will be competition for spots," Burroughs said.
Cowley will open the season by playing 11 of its first 13 games on the road and will be tested before opening conference play.
The 2019 season marks the 32nd year Dave Burroughs has been at the helm of the Tiger baseball program as the legendary coach has won 1,254 games and captured 18 Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division titles.
Cowley will open the season by playing a three-game series at Northeast Texas Community College, beginning with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. February 1 in Mt. Pleasant, TX.
"We are anxious to get started," Burroughs said. "We hope to develop, get better every day and play good baseball in May."