2012 Season Opener - February 17, 18, 19
at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma;
Single game on February 17 at 1pm, double header on February 18 at 12pm, single game on February 19 at 12pm;
Distance from Maryville - 438 miles according to Google Maps;
Mascots - Bearcats (NWMSU) at Bronchos (UCO);
2012 Bronchos scouting report:
The 2011 UCO Bronchos finished 2011 on a high note winning 14 of their last 17 games to finish with a 24-23 record under then 1st-year head coach Dax Leone. The 2012 Bronchos have 12 players returning from 2011 including 5 position starters and five pitchers. UCO signed 21 recruits that will compete for playing time in 2012. In total, the 2012 UCO Bronchos have 12 seniors featuring returning position starters Kevin Blue, Tucker Brown, Derik Grimes, Keegan Morrow and Austin Rycroft along with pitchers Uriah Fisher, Josh Rolan, Aaron Rosborough, and Ryan Wagner.
According to reports available via the internet, UCO expects to compete for a NCAA Division 2 playoff berth in 2012. UCO is playing the 2012 season as an independent before joining the MIAA in the 2012-2013 academic year.
Position by Position analysis:
Catcher - According to reports, there is a lot of depth at this position and perhaps a rotation of sorts. All indications are that Junior transfer Eric Garza will most likely be your opening series starter with Junior Jordan Corn, Sophomore Kaleb Hoffman and freshman Tanner Bell competing for back-up/playing time.
First Base - Barring the unforeseen, Senior Austin Rycroft is likely your opening weekend starter at 1st Base after slugging 10 home runs playing mostly in Right Field in 2011. In addition, Senior Derik Grimes can play either 1st Base or 3rd Base. In 2011, Derik Grimes played primarily at 3rd Base and hit .344.
Second Base - Returning offensive leader plays at 2B in Senior Tucker Brown, called a "fantastic defender", he hit .363 with 17 doubles, 32 RBIs in 2011.
Third Base - Looks like UCO intends to move the 2011 Starting Short Stop over to 3B in 2012 in Senior Kevin Blue. In 2011, Blue his .287 with 8 doubles and 22 RBIs.
Shortstop - All signs point to a Senior Transfer Cory Proctor starting at Shortstop with Junior Brayden Little as the back-up (or whomever has the hot bat).
Outfield - Senior Keegan Morrow returns as the clear starter in Center Field. In 2011, Morrow started at CF all season and earned 2nd Team All-Lone Star Conference honors. He hit .360 with 7 doubles, 27 RBI and 12 stolen bases. A couple of Junior College transfer look to start in LF & RF respectively in Junior JP Maples and Cameron Mavroulis. Both Maples and Mavroulis had very successful junior college careers.
Pitching - 3 main starters are back from 2011 in Senior Uriah Fisher, Josh Rolan and Aaron Rosborough. Fisher started 11 games, 2nd-Team All-LSC pick, 3/4 record with a 3.62 ERA (7th best in League). Both Rolan and Rosborough went 4/3 as part-time starters in 2011. Junior Edgar Lopez is expected to crack the starting rotation in 2012 barring injury or other setback.
In relief, Senior Ryan Wagner appeared in 41 games in his career. Wagner had 1 save and a 1.12 ERA in 2011. Tuck is expected to be the closer after going 2-0 with 1 save and a 2.33 ERA in 2011. Either way you crack it, UCO looks solid from the 8th inning on in 2012.
2012 Stats - There are no 2012 stats yet for UCO as the Bronchos play their first game of the season this weekend at Austin College. Of the 50 games slated on the Bronchos schedule, only 18 are in Edmond, Oklahoma. UCO is a tough cookie at home with an overall record of 189-81-1 in Edmond in the last 10 years. The UCO baseball field was renamed Wendell Simmons Field in honor of long-time coach who retired in 2010 and had a stellar 633-374-1 record in 19 years at UCO.
2012 Stats for NWMSU - There are no 2012 stats yet for NWMSU as the Bearcats do not play until they travel down to Edmond, Oklahoma, on February 17-19, 2012.
Comments - I've got a feeling Coach Loe is pretty close to setting his starting OF and Rotation for the UCO series. The big big big thing for the Bearcats is that the Starting Rotation will need to buck the trend from the last 4 or so years and have the starters (1) go deep into the game, and (2) keep the team in the game. The Bearcats defense will have to improve on its .957 fielding percentage in 2011. Less extra chances means less pitches by the starters resulting in deeper in the game. I've loved what I've seen from Eric Swain at SS. Cam Bedard has proven he can play near flawless 2B. Lando at Catcher. The corner infield positions and outfield positions are anybody's guess. Offensively, the team seems to be hitting the ball real well in spring camp. The quality of depth at NWMSU is so fantastic that I can probably name you the 2-deep at every position and not dispute why one should start over the other. I think UCO is a good measuring stick game to see how the Bearcats pitching, defense, and offense are doing in 2012. I also think 2-2 is a realistic, yet required, outcome of the 4-game series. I am certain if the Bearcats can start 2-2 following the UCO series that that will be the best start since 2009.
Go Cats!!
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