The Vaqueros, who open with a doubleheader on Saturday at Saddleback, are ranked 17th in Southern Cal in the preseason. They went 25-18 last year and 12-13 in the WSC North, losing their last game in the ninth inning and coming up just short of making the playoffs for the fourth time in five years.
“Our lineup is really good, definitely stronger than last year,” said sophomore left-hander Zach Edgington, who’s slated to start the opener. “We have a lot of (NCAA Div. 1) transfers and a lot of guys who can play. We also have experience on the mound.”
Edgington, rated as one of the top pitching prospects in Southern California, was 5-2 last year with a 3.40 ERA.
Greg Selarz, a former Marmonte League Pitcher of the Year at Calabasas, will be the No. 2 starter with 6-4 southpaw Joe McGrew slotted in the No. 3 spot. Edgington and McGrew have already signed with UCSB.
“Zach is a bonafide ace,” Warrecker stated. “He threw a lot of important innings for us last year and really progressed in the summer and fall. “Greg is a very intelligent pitcher who pitches down in the zone well. Our third starter, Joe McGrew, is a third-year sophomore who made a big improvement last fall.”
Others who could start or relieve include redshirt sophomore Ryan Gardner, Kylin Turnbull and Bryce Smith. DJ Gunderson, a transfer from Saddleback, is a submarine reliever who will see time on the mound along with Tim Alvarez and Anthony Perry.
“It’s the most quantity we’ve had in terms of guys with starting capability, which serves us very well,” said Warrecker.
SBCC went 16-6 at home last year and will put a seven-game home winning streak on the line Feb. 9 when it makes its home debut against Glendale at 2 p.m.
The Vaqueros return just two starters in the field — shortstop Zack Chavez (Santa Barbara High) and catcher Steven Keller. They also have three starters who’ve been in NCAA Div. 1 programs — third baseman Abe Ruiz (Arizona State), right fielder Chase Yost (Univ. of San Diego) and first baseman Danny Howell (Hawaii).
“It really comes down to experience at this level,” said Keller. “We’ve got a lot of guys who really know what they’re doing.”
Howell is still recovering from an elbow injury. Other first-base candidates are Connor Rehage, a former quarterback on the football team, and Tommy White. Those three will also fill the designated hitter spot.
Ruiz, who’s signed with Long Beach State, played 32 games at Arizona State in ’09, hitting .345 with 19 RBIs on a team that went 51-14.
Chavez is the top returning hitter with a .280 average and three homers last season. Sam Johnston, a freshman who can also play shortstop, will start at second base. “He’s very good defensively and aggressive at the plate,” noted Warrecker.
The outfield will consist of Yost, Taylor Lyons in center and White or sophomore Danny Cavaletto in left. “Chase is a local product from Santa Ynez who’s a real physical kid. He’ll hit in the middle of the order,” said Warrecker. “Taylor, a transfer from the College of Southern Nevada, runs very well and has our best outfield arm. He’ll be in the nine spot as our second leadoff hitter.”
The Vaqueros have a smaller squad this year — 26 instead of 33 — and will play eight less games, including 20 in the always competitive WSC North, down from 25.
“The immediate goal is to make the playoffs,” said Warrecker. “We were literally one game short last year and that’s something I’ll never forget. The secondary goal is to win league. We’d love to host a first-round playoff series and recapture what we did in ’07. That’s something really special and it’s only happened once in school history.”
