LOOKING AT THE 'BODS -- After posting its second straight 30-win season in nearly three decades Washburn has its eyes set on returning to the MIAA Championships and a berth in NCAA tournament play. Third-year skipper Harley Douglas returners 12 seniors from a season ago while welcoming 22 new faces to the lineup.
WHERE THEY RANK -- Behind one first-place vote, the Ichabods open the season ranked fifth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll ... WU placed eighth in the NCBWA's Division II Preseason Regional Rankings ... the only recognition the team earned nationally was from Collegiate Baseball News where they were listed in the receiving votes category.
AIR HOG PREVIEW -- The Ichabods' 2017 season opens with a return trip to The Ballpark at Great Prairie in Grand Prairie, Texas … Washburn will play four games over three days beginning with on Newman on Thursday, Oklahoma Christian and Southern Arkansas on Friday and close out with a Saturday matinée against East Central … the Jets went 28-20 last season with a 14-13, fifth-place finish in Heartland … WU and Newman have met 48 times previously with the Ichabods leading the all-time series by a narrow 21-19 margin … OCU finished 30-22 in 2016 for its third consecutive 30-win season under head coach Lonny Cobble … the Eagles, who enter the year ranked 10th in the South Central regional poll, also put together a 17-10 mark to finish third in Heartland … this will be the WU's third all-time meeting with OCU since 1985 … the teams met last season with the Eagles getting the better of the Ichabods, 7-3 … after a down season in 2016, SAU will look to rebound with first-year skipper Justin Pettigrew at the helm … the Muleriders were 30-20 overall as they finished fifth in the GAC … SAU opens the season tied for sixth in the NCBWA's Central region rankings ... Washburn is 2-1 all-time against SAU … the Ichabods wrap up their weekend with East Central … at 15-18 the Tigers capped 2016 with a sixth-place finish in the GAC and 17-30 overall … this will be the teams' first meeting since 1989 which resulted in just one of Washburn's three ties in its history … WU leads ECU series, 6-3-1.
2016 REVIEW -- In 2016, Washburn added two more wins to its overall record from the season before to finish 34-20 with a 26-13 mark in conference play. After going 14-12 in the first half of the year, the Ichabods hit their its stride as they rattled off 20 wins during its final 28 games including a 15-1 stretch from March 30- April 24. At the conclusion of the season, eight Ichabods received All-MIAA accolades. The selections were headlined by David Gauntt and Nick Silva who not only were placed on the first team, but were named MIAA Player and Pitcher of the Year respectively. Kyle Carnahan also landed first team honors, while Riley Krane and Parker Gibson were third team selections. Greg Mason, Jaren Kutzke and Lance Barkley were each named honorable mentions. Silva went on to garner numerous all-region team accolades. Gauntt meanwhile earned All-America honors from D2CCA and NCBWA before being selected in the MLB Amatuer Draft (Rd. 18, Pick 533) by the Miami Marlins.
SENIOR STAFF -- Right-hander Nick Silva will headline a senior-laden pitching staff. Silva took the conference by storm in 2016 as he put together a 9-0 record with a 2.64 ERA en route to earning numerous postseason accolades including MIAA Pitcher of the Year honors. Lance Barkley and Jaren Kutzke will complete the starting rotation as they make the transition from the bullpen. Also in the mix early will be the younger arms of Jacob Head and Josh Ramirez. From the bullpen, Douglas will rely on the experience of seniors Maustin Otterstatter, Quentin McGrath and Ryne Dowling while NCAA D1 transfer Marcus McKinney is slated as the go-to closer to start.
NEW FACES -- Washburn welcomes 22 new players this season which includes transfers and redshirt freshman ... headlining the crop of newcomers are outfielders Curtis Whitten, Blake Tomasino and Darian Abram, infielders Brett Nickle, Gabe Franklin and Dylan Lonteen and pitchers Marcus McKinney and Wally Nellor.
WHERE THEY FROM -- The 2017 baseball team is comprised of 41 members hailing from 12 states. There are 22 players from Kansas, five from Colorado, four from Missouri, two from Illinois and one each representative from California, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.
PRESEASON HARDWARE -- Senior right-hander Nick Silva has headlined the list of early awards for the Ichabods this season ... early honors for Silva include an ABCA Division II Preseason All-America nod as well as a Division II All-Central Region First Team selection from the NCBWA ... senior shortstop Riley Krane was placed on the ABCA Division II Players to Watch list ... sophomore outfielder Curtis Whitten was amongst those listed as a Division II Newcomer to Watch by the ABCA.
