New faces to help Tiger baseball team in quest for a return trip to World Series

Coming off a national runner-up finish at the 2022 NJCAA Division I JUCO World Series, the Cowley College baseball team has reloaded with the talent they hope will help them make it back to Grand Junction, CO, for the third straight year. Cowley enters the 2023 season ranked seventh nationally and are picked to win its sixth straight conference title.

"Recruiting went really well. We think we have added some talented young players," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said. "The new guys have some big shoes to fill, so we will need to be patient as they will likely go through some growing pains."

Cowley will have to make up for what is considered likely the most talented pitching staff in the program's history. Chance Cox is back to anchor the pitching staff after going 7-0 with a 3.11 earned run average.

Fellow sophomores Chance Condit (2-1), Brigden Parker (2-0), and Carlton Perkins (2-0, 3.00 ERA) have all made jumps and will vie for different roles on the pitching staff.

Outfielder Ty Hammack (.349 average, eight home runs, 48 runs batted in) and catcher Logan Vaughan (.360 average, 47 RBI) return to the team and will look to be steady bats in the lineup.

"We hope Logan can repeat what he did as a freshman and possibly be a little better," Burroughs said.

While infielder Haden O'Toole (.253 average, 31 RBI) returns to provide the team with steady defense and a solid on-base percentage (.401).

"We should defend it well," Burroughs said. "We also have the potential to hit the ball better than we did last season. Haden has shown signs of being much better at the plate."

Trayson Miller (.394 on-base percentage) rounds out the list of returning position players.

"Trayson really started to figure it out towards the end of last season, and we expect him to keep maturing as a player," Burroughs said.

Robert Tito Diaz, Tanner Vaughn, and Jack Hill round out the other sophomores on the roster.

The Tigers added two outfielders, Jordan Shepherd from Mansfield, TX, and Solomon Skalnik from Owasso, OK, and and a first baseman, Luke Shannahan from Florida, at the end of the fall semester.

"These three guys will upgrade our team and have a chance to help us," Burroughs said.

Freshman shortstop Keaton Campbell and left-handed pitchers Cade Perkins and Drew Duckhorn have loads of potential. While right-handed pitcher Brett McComas will pitch at the back end of games and could be the team's closer.

Other freshmen on the team are Konner Pittman, Jadyn McNealy, Eaden Holt, Karson Klima, Cole Martin, Luke Singleton, Garrett Rosenberry, Danny Saterlee, Andrew Talburt, Cooper Schwindt, Lucas Barnes, Bryson Martin, and Cole Abbott.

"It will come down to how fast the guys mature," Burroughs said. "Our target date is April 1.

Cowley will play its first six games in Texas and will play a grueling early season schedule.

"Our preseason schedule is tough by design, so we can see where our guys are at before we get into conference play," Burroughs said. "Our region will also be tough as there is a depth of young talent in the conference. The first 20 games will dictate a lot. We may tread water early, but I like our team and am excited about the season."