[Baseball] Montreat Baseball 2018 Preview

MONTREAT, N.C. – Montreat College Baseball serves as the only sure-fire harbinger of an early spring on Friday, February 2, when it opens its 2018 campaign against the Thomas University Nighthawks in Thomasville, Georgia. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. at the Nighthawks' Varnedoe Stadium.

The Cavaliers are poised to surprise in the Appalachian Athletic Conference as they are picked to finish ninth in the 10-team circuit, ahead of St. Andrews. The top-ranked team in the conference is Tennessee Wesleyan, with Bryan College picked to finish second; the Cavaliers scored 29 runs in taking two of three from the Lions to close out the 2017 campaign.

Head coach Jason Beck shared some of his insights on a Montreat squad that went 19-30 last season and captured the most overall wins since 2014, and the most road victories (13) for the program since 2009. The 13 road wins were tied for third best in the conference, behind only Tennessee Wesleyan (17) and Milligan (14), and even with Point (13).

Team strength:

"We feel we have a pretty deep lineup this year, 1-9, as we are more of a balanced attack compared to last year. I also feel we improved our speed overall. We don't have that one speedster, but I feel our lineup as a whole is faster and will not clog the basepaths this year. I also feel we have improved our defense in the outfield." 

Impact freshmen/new arrivals:

"[NCAA] DI transfer from Alabama State Jared Drayton (JR/Richmond, IN) will be a great addition and will make our weekend rotation. Offensively, we have added Bryan Scheker (JR/Orlando, FL) and Caleb Talton (JR/Lexington, SC) from the JUCO routes who are middle of the lineup players. Local freshman Brian Bartlett (FR/Black Mountain, NC) from Owen High will be an awesome addition to us on the mound where he will see significant innings and at the plate where he will be playing multiple positions." 

Bartlett hit over .500 in his senior campaign for the Warhorses and scored more than 1,000 points on the basketball court for Owen. RHP Daniel Collins (JR/Guyton, GA) returns from a summer spent in the Valley Baseball League, founded in 1897 and dubbed the "Gateway to the Majors" for the prolific rate at which it produces professional ballpayers. There Collins struck out 47 batters in 43 innings of work. Between Montreat and the Valley League, the right-hander fanned 97 batters in 111 innings.

At the plate, top hitter Ricardo DeArmas (SR/Miami, FL) returns for the Cavaliers. DeArmas appeared in 46 games as a junior and deposited eight home runs into the cheap seats, while batting .411, second best in the AAC. In the offseason, DeArmas represented the Cavaliers at Marlin Park  as part of the 12th Annual Power Showcase International. 

Junior shortstop Robert Hernandez (JR/Miami, FL) returns after hitting .381 while appearing in 21 games for the Cavaliers in 2017. He also stole 16 bases. Behind the plate, Montreat returns one of the circuit's top arms in sophomore Kevynn Arias-Liriano (SO/Santa Domingo, DR).

Approach for 2018:

"We must pitch efficiently and play defense in order to win."

Home game(s) to circle on the schedule:

Tennessee Wesleyan (three games - March 30-31), Bryan College (three games - April 20-21), Point (Senior Night) (February 27-28)

Pictured: Right-hander Daniel Collins delivers in 2016 action with Robert Hernandez at the ready at shortstop.

Photo Credit: Daniel Brunson Photography