15th Ranked Hancock Baseball Opens Season Thursday
With several key position players and starting pitchers returning with one year of experience at the community college level under their belts, the Allan Hancock College baseball team opens the 2014 season on Thursday, Jan.30 at a tournament hosted by Bakersfield College. The Bulldogs are ranked No.15 in the southern California regional preseason coaches poll.
"I like the energy, commitment and camaraderie of this year's team," said 13-year head coach Chris Stevens. "A lot of our players received a lot of playing time as freshmen. So I'm excited to see how they build on last year's success." The Bulldogs are coming off a third place finish in the Western State Conference's North Division. Hancock finished 18-18 overall and 10-10 in conference.
Third baseman Ryan Bendele, shortstop Jacob Witkowski and first baseman Felipe Gonzalez provide the Bulldogs with an experienced starting infield. All three started at least 34 of the team's 36 games last year. Bendele, a Righetti High School graduate, as well as Gonzalez earned Gold Gloves for being the conference's top fielders at their positions. Bendele hit .260 with 21 RBI last season. "Bendele has all the tools. He can run, hit and has a strong arm. He also plays with a lot of passion and energy," said Stevens.
Gonzalez, a Santa Ynez High School product, led the Bulldogs with a .351 batting average, 47 hits and 35 RBI. "He's just a natural hitter," said Stevens.
Witkowski hit .265 as a freshman and tied a program record with 7 triples. Stevens said redshirt freshman Zach Nyman and Angel Guillen, a Pioneer Valley High School graduate, are battling for the starting nod at second base.
Kyle Smith will anchor the outfield. The Pioneer Valley High School graduate hit .310 with 9 RBI last season. Stevens said freshmen Evan Aguilar (Lompoc High), Brooks Fages and Cameron Ketchen would receive substantial time in the outfield. Ketchen graduated from Cactus Shadows High School in Arizona where he earned All-State honors his senior season. "He's is professional prospect as a true freshman," said Stevens. Ketchen's father Doug pitched at Hancock in the late 1980's before he went on to play at Cal State Fullerton and was drafted by the Houston Astros.
Roger Guillen could also see plenty of playing time in the outfield. The Pioneer Valley High School graduate is described by Stevens as the team's best defensive outfielder.
The starting rotation features plenty of experience. Nathan Thompson, Ryan Bower, Marc Baker and Jesse Posey will start on the mound for the Bulldogs in the preseason. Thompson, a Santa Ynez High School graduate, anchored the Hancock rotation in 2013. He went 6-3 with a 2.17 ERA over 11 starts. He tossed three complete games, including two shutouts. He also earned the conference's Gold Glove.
Baker, a sophomore from Nipomo High School, went 5-6 last season with a 2.88 ERA. Lompoc High School graduate Ryan Bower threw 71 innings for the Bulldogs in 2012 with an ERA of 5.17. Posey is a true freshman from Hart High School in Valencia.
Zack Skipper and John Drury will log substantial innings out of the bullpen. Skipper, a left-handed reliever, appeared in nine games as a freshman. He struck out 7 in 10 2/3 innings. Drury, a sophomore from St. Joseph High School, pitched in four games as a freshman in 2013.
Hancock plays three games at the Bakersfield Tournament before the Bulldogs open the home portion of their schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 5, against West Hills at 2:00 p.m.