RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Even though it doesn't feel like it here in River Forest, the 2020 baseball season is finally here. With forecasted sunny skies and the temperature reaching 65 degrees, it looks like a perfect opening weekend for the #21 Concordia University Chicago Baseball team. CUC will open with three games this weekend, beginning with UW-Oshkosh on Saturday afternoon. The Cougars will then take on North Park to open play on Sunday before closing the weekend with a rematch of the River Forest Super Regional against #11 Webster.
Live stats for the weekend will be available at
cucougars.com/coverage. You can also keep up with in game updates on twitter
@CUCBaseball.
"I'm excited to finally get things going," remarked first year head coach
Kolin Conner. "Opening weekend is something we have been looking forward to since the fall and we are ready. I'm eager for the world to see our new guys and the product we are going to put on the field this season."
While the Cougars will have a much newer look in the field and in the batters' box, on the mound CUC will lean on a large returning group. CUC returns 420 out of 440 innings on the mound from a staff that had a 3.58 era last season which ranked second in the NACC and 32
nd in the country. The pitching staff also ranked seventh nationally with seven shutouts last season.
"We are going to set the tone on the mound this season," remarked Conner. "We have a lot of guys that are going to fill up the zone and give us a chance to win. The biggest thing with our pitching compared to everyone else is the depth we have."
Cole Carman highlights the returning pitchers. He was named D3baseball.com second team All-Midwest region last season with a 9-2 record and a 2.41 ERA last season. Second team All-NACC selection
Adam Gregory and
Alex Crinigan also highlight a strong starting rotation that returns from last season.
In the bullpen the Cougars return ABCA second team All-Midwest reliever
Mike Tobin who recorded eight saves and a 2-0 record last season to go along with a 2.22 ERA in 28 innings of work. CUC also returns key arms from a season ago in
Kyle Strepek,
Noah Dressler,
Zach Litke and
Cade Laudenschlager. Opponents hit under .250 against those four last season. CUC also welcomes three new pitchers that are expected to make an impact as well.
Offensively first team All-Midwest region first basemen
Brody Mariotti will be the big returner this season for CUC. He hit .348 last season and finished first in the NACC and ninth nationally with 13 home runs.
Mateo Calle is also poised to make a big impact 2020 as well. While battling injuries last season, Calle was still able to rack up a .370 batting average and 28 RBI's.
Matt Fauth played in 45 games last season for CUC and recorded 13 extra base hits. He will move to center field to begin the year.
Brayden Benavides will be moving positions as well this season, but the Cougars are looking for his bat to continue to develop in year two after recording 11 doubles and 33 RBI's last season.
Behind the plate CUC will see a pair of sophomores in
Michael Zavoli and
Kevin Garcia splitting time early on.
Matthew Uba will start at second base to open the season for CUC. He hit .357 in 10 games last season. Other sophomores expected to see time in the outfield early on are
Nathan Dewey and
Howie Hatton.
The Cougar baseball program is known for having freshman make an impact early on. Coach Conner expects the same this season. The left side will be manned by two freshman to open the season. Oswego high school product
Garry Maynard will open the season at third base, while
Bryce Vincent will open the season at short.
