Let's play baseball! No. 13-ranked Trojans open season Saturday

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 30, 2015 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Potential.

Experience.

Unanswered questions.

Undoubtedly a work in progress.

That's the "nutshell" veteran collegiate head baseball coach Carl Lancaster uses to describe the team he'll put on the field Saturday afternoon against No. 3-ranked Lander (S.C.) University.

But don't let Lancaster fool you.

A master of the game and cultivator of talent, he also has the notion this group of Trojans could be "really, really good at some point" this season. The camaraderie surfaced during the fall, the seniors have seized ownership of the team and while the players have fun, they also take a business-like approach either on the field or in the batting cage.

There's a job to do.

And it's not to win conference championships, which has been synonymous with the well-established program since the mid-1990s when it moved to the Division II ranks. It's about taking the steps beyond -- the Southeast Regional and the World Series.

"This is probably the toughest team to manage that I've ever had because the talent level is so equal," said Lancaster, who is 21 victories shy of 1,000 for his career.

"I've got guys who started last year or the past two years, and playing time may not nearly be what they've experienced in the past. They're great kids and Trojans who bleed green. Hopefully they know I'll do what I can to get them playing time."

The bottom line?

There isn't a game Lancaster and his staff won't go into this season without the realization that somebody will be on the bench that should -- at some point -- have gotten a starting nod.

Two all-Conference Carolinas players return -- senior first baseman/DH Rob Shipman and senior catcher Justin Manning, who each entered the program as transfers in 2014. Shipman ranked second on the team in batting average (.388), home runs (10) and RBI (54).

Manning posted a sparkling .997 fielding percentage behind the dish.

Middle infielders DeAndre Wright and Zak Orrison, and hot corner defender Cody Britt are back. But Lancaster's new recruits could easily step into starting roles depending on what might be needed that particular game.

A transfer from Winthrop, junior infielder Stephen Wallace could challenge Britt. Wallace is revamping his hitting style, but has light-tower power similar to former UMO All-American Mike Knox -- the psingle-season and career home run leader in program history who was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011.

The Trojans have a stable of capable outfielders, including senior and Charles B. Aycock alum Tyler Farmer. Lancaster's biggest concern is junior Jason Morozowski, a transfer from Florida International, who has a slight UCL tear in his throwing arm.

"If it tears, I want it to tear right away and get it fixed," Lancaster said.

While Lancaster scoured the JUCO and Division I ranks for offensive and defensive talent, he also searched for quality pitching. UMO's staff turned into a major issue in 2014 and the bullpen will start 2015 with two of its top guns -- senior southpaw Derek Justice and Alex Regan -- on suspension. Lancaster said each will return at some point.

That pushes sophomore Kodi Whitley and senior lefty Gunner Kines into the spotlight. Whitley fashioned a 6-2 worksheet and earned run average (ERA) of 2.74 in 72.1 innings of work -- second-most on the team behind Justice's 80.2.

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) selected Whitley to its preseason all-Southeast Region team earlier this week.

Kines compiled a 7-1 record, an ERA of 3.59 and collected 51 strikeouts in 62-plus innings on the bump.

"Kodi's got a level head on him (and) knows how to fix it (his command) because he's a bright young man," Lancaster said. "We've talked about it a bit. He'll be fine and is definitely a weekend guy for us. Gunner has probably been our best guy so far.

"His curveball is a little better, but it's not something you're going to see a lot."

UMO followers could see more of junior Hunter Barnett, an Eastern Wayne alum who turned a few heads in the wooden-bat Coastal Plain League last summer. Lancaster has noticed a little swagger from Barnett, who has gained some velocity and worked to develop his secondary pitches.

"He's got some good stuff and I'm tickled to death when that happens for a local boy," Lancaster said.

The bullpen is overflowing, but has yet to meet Lancaster's expectations. Junior submariner Tyler Chappell won the "Fireman Award" in the JUCO ranks for being the best closer-of-the-year in his team's league.

Garner graduate Brighton Hudson, the nephew of Steve Hudson who was the first recruit signed by Lancaster, is also on staff. Hudson hasn't thrown much due to the number of innings he pitched in high school and Legion play, but has good off-speed stuff in his arsenal.

"The potential of this team is as good as we've had in a long time," Lancaster said. "Our depth is probably the best it's ever been. Competition for playing time is going to be great. We've got a good group of kids that come to practice every day with the right attitude, which is to win a regional championship and go to Cary (for the World Series).

"They're going about it like 'it's one for all.' I'm excited."