Spring doesn't officially begin for another two months, but the spring sports season at Wayland Baptist gets underway on Friday when the Pioneer baseball team plays host to the University of the Southwest.  The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at Wilder Field.

Coach Brad Bass's team has a whole new look to it 2012.  Only four players are back from last year's squad that finished 27-30.  There are ten freshmen on the 27-man roster, the highest number of first-year players to make the varsity team in well over a decade.

"During the off-season our goal as a coaching staff was to go out and find developing players," explains Bass.  "By that I mean young athletes that will develop not only as players, but as young men who will make Wayland Baptist University proud.  We worked very hard at that, I think we've done a good job."

The strength of the 2012 Pioneers is unquestionably the pitching staff.  Bass hopes to play more tradition baseball this spring and to do that pitching and defense are the key. 

"Our game plan will be to ‘get ‘em on, get ‘em over and get ‘em in' and hope pitching and defense does well enough to win.   In the past several years we've relied on one or two pitchers that can get 80 to 90 strikeouts a year and hitters that can hit it out of the park.  Now we're spending our money on more pitching depth and players that can run and play defense. "

Bass is counting on six arms to give him quality extended innings.  That group is led by sophomore transfer Ryan Downs.  A 5'10 right-hander from Gilbert, Ariz., Downs throws in the 87-88 mile an hour range, but can touch 90, and has a really good slider and changeup, according to Bass.

"Ryan competes on the mound.  He has good composure and wants to play.  He'll give us quality innings every time and will be an All-Conference pitcher at some point at Wayland.  I also look for Ryan to see a lot of playing time at shortstop. "

The number two guy on the mound for WBU is an area product.  Jace Chancellor played his high school ball at Slaton, Texas, and spent last season at Clarendon Junior College where he was an All-Conference selection.  At 6'5, 220 pounds, Chancellor makes an imposing presence on the mound.

"Jace hits 91 to 92 on the gun and is developing a breaking ball.  He is a strikeout pitcher, which means he'll walk a few now and then.   If some of our younger arms develop soon enough, he could move to the closer position."

K. Burbank

The lone returnee to the Pioneer mound is 6'4 senior southpaw Kevin Burbank.  The Phoenix, Ariz. product who relies primarily on off-speed pitches, went 5-5 a year ago and was second on the team in innings pitched.

"Kevin gives you experienced innings.  He has the ability and the determination to pitch deep every time.  Typically he'll have an inning that he'll have to battle through, but he's just as strong at the finish as he was at the start."  

Two other potential starters on the WBU roster are freshman Paxton Bartley and Tom Bailey.  Bartley, a 6'2, 170 pound right-hander, pitched in the Texas Class 5A championship game for Lubbock's Coronado High School.

"Paxton has done really well.  He's not afraid to pitch in big games, and he throws strikes.  He's a guy that could turn out to be a really good player for us."

Bass says that Bailey has the best breaking ball on the staff.  A 6'4, 195 pound sophomore right-hander from Perth, Australia transferred to Wayland after a year at Dakota State University.

"Tom has worked really hard developing his arm strength.  He throws in the upper 80's now, but if he continues his strength training, I believe he'll touch the 90's before his career is over."

Robert Carrión is a 6'0, 185 pound southpaw from Caguas, P.R. whom Bass describes as his "leftie specialist and a middle relief type of guy."   

Other members of the Pioneer pitching staff are freshmen Cooper Reinbold of Amarillo, Peter Landeros of Plainview, Caden Whitley of Lubbock, and Arthur Roblez of Dallas; and junior Carlos Abreau of San Lorenzo, P.R.

Another player on Bass's squad who is not listed on the pitching staff this spring is sophomore Mikey Nabarrette of Odessa.  The 6'2, 225 pound leftie was 2-1 in six starts last year for the Pioneers, but saw his freshman season cut short when he was hit in the temple by a line drive during a game in March and spent several days in ICU after undergoing surgery to reduce swelling.

"I'm not afraid to say that I hope someday Mikey makes it back to the mound.  For now, he's our first baseman, and is much improved there.  He'll bat in the six or seven hole and do something every game to help."

Two others that could also see playing time at first are Burbank and Brandon Barcalow.  Burbank is a good defensive player, and Barcalow, a 6'3, 180 pound sophomore from Liberty Hill, Texas, swings the bat well.

O. Rivera

Oscar Rivera is returning for his final year as the Wayland catcher.  The senior from Caguas, P.R. has turned into a very good leader, says Bass.

"Oscar has worked hard at being a leader and an encourager.  He is also swinging the bat better than he ever has.  Based on what he's done in the preseason, he'll move up from the bottom of the batting order."

Rivera suffered a strained hamstring during the final game of the Blue-Gold intrasquad scrimmage last Saturday and could miss the first few weeks of action. Taking his place in the line-up will be either Brian Allen of Mesquie, Texas, the younger brother of former Pioneer All-Conference shortstop Eddie Allen, or Brandon Espinosa of Hereford.  Both sophomores, Allen had a really good fall swinging the bat, while Espinosa has the advantage defensively.

"Brandon has floored me with how well he has played," says Bass.  "He has worked extremely hard improving his quickness and accuracy.  He's athletic and loves playing the game."

C. Bass

The Pioneer starter at second is Calvin Bass from Plainview.  Bass, who is in graduate school after completing his undergraduate work last spring, was used primarily at the designated hitter position in 2011 when he hit .261.

"Calvin had a good fall and has improved defensively.  He'll either hit in the 2-hole or down at the bottom of the order."

A native of Carolina, P.R., 6'0, 180 pound freshman Bernie Rosario will man the shortstop position when Downs is on the mound.   The WBU third baseman will be 6'2, 230 pound junior transfer Josh Carroll of Carrollton, Texas, although freshman Chris Buitron, who is from Brownsville, Texas, will also have a chance to play the hot corner.

"Josh is solid defensively and is a middle of the line-up kind of guy that has long ball power.  He's a streaky hitter than can carry us at times.  Chris has worked really hard and fits with what we are trying to do with our program now.  He is a 7-8-9 kind of guy."

The remaining infielders on the Pioneer roster are junior Clinton Roberts of Grand Prairie, Texas, and Nathan Sailors of Prosper, Texas.

Joining Carroll in the middle of the WBU batting order is junior Josh Chinni of New Braunfels, Texas.  A transfer from Hill College, Chinni is described by Bass as a consistent hitter and a "drive ‘em in" guy.  The 6'2, 210-pounder will be used mostly at the DH position, but could also see some time in the outfield.

B. Christian

Junior Ben Christian is the lone returning starter in the Pioneer outfield.  The Frenship High product hit .326 for Bass's team last spring with 17 extra base hits. 

"Ben is a get-on guy at the top of the order.  He worked really hard on his bunting over the summer and has gotten much better. "

Another junior, transfer Johnny Hendrixson of Rowlett, Texas and Crowder College, will most likely take up residence in the WBU three-hole.  Bass describes him as a tough out who battles with two strikes.

Two area freshmen will also see extensive time in the outfield.  Colton Palmer made the 2011 Class 5A All-State Tournament team playing for the state runner-up Lubbock Coronado Mustangs, while Dilon Chancellor was the District 3-2A Player of the Year at Slaton High School.

"Colton will virtually fight for every RBI.  He'll bat for a high average, is an excellent bunter, and has tremendous first-to-third speed. 

"Dilon was a pleasant surprise.  He loves to play the game.  He has the type of approach at the plate where he'll come up big.  He has more of a rangy build, but those two guys are going to score a lot of runs for us over the next four years."

When asked about the prognosis of his team this season, Bass explained, "We play in the wrong conference to go in with what is essentially a brand new team, but I think our fans will enjoy watching this bunch.  I guarantee they will hustle and they will run – onto the field, around the bases, and off of the field." 

After their home-and-home series with the Mustangs this weekend, the Pioneers will travel to Arizona to participate in the Arizona Desert Classic on Feb. 2-4.  Their opponents out west include Lewis and Clark State, a perennial powerhouse who was ranked #11 in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll, #17 Fresno Pacific University, and Point Loma Nazarene University and the College of Idaho, both of which received votes. 

Bass's squad will return to Wilder Field for nine straight games including a Tuesday doubleheader against Sul Ross State University on Feb. 7, and two weekend series against Avila University on Feb. 10 and 11 and against Rogers State on Feb. 24 and 25.

The RSU series kicks off Sooner Athletic Conference play.  The Hillcats, ranked #17 in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll, are one of four SAC teams in the preseason Top 25.  The others are top-ranked Oklahoma City, #4 Lubbock Christian, and #9 Oklahoma Baptist.