By: Zane Gonzalez
@ZaneGonzo36
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The IU South Bend baseball team looks
to build off last season’s success with the addition of a new coaching staff as
well as returning some key players for the 2018 season.
The Titans finished the 2017 campaign 24-26 (13-14)
making a conference tournament appearance for the first time in the programs
history. There they beat number one seed Judson University and number two seed
Olivet Nazarene University, before being eliminated by the Fighting Saints of the
University of Saint Francis.
The team achieved many firsts for the program in 2017 by
winning their first conference tournament game, beating an NCAA DI program (@
IPFW 4/10), as well as having the first conference player of the year in
program history.
Despite the successes of last season, the Athletic
Department at IUSB decided to bring a new coaching staff in for the 2018
season. Doug Buysse and his staff were hired in late July to take the reins of
the program.
Coach Buysse comes from South Bend Washington High
School, where he was the head varsity coach for four seasons. Buysse also spent
a season at St. Joseph’s College as an assistant coach before his time at South
Bend Washington.
IUSB returns 17 players from last years roster, five
of which were starters in the Titans everyday lineup. On the pitching side the
team lost two key contributors in Trey Bickel and Ben Wicklund but return eight
members of the staff.
The Titans will look toward senior shortstop Zack
Lazenby (.255) and outfielder Nick Kellams (.336) to lead the way at the plate,
along with Junior outfielder Spencer McCool (.344) and Sophomore first baseman
Tanner Wesp (.329). Last season IUSB averaged seven runs a game and posted 51
home runs as a team.
On the mound Junior Tyler Reece (7.95) and Senior Zane
Gonzalez (5.23) are a couple returners who saw a great amount of innings last
season, as they were each one of four pitchers who threw over 25 innings. Reece
will likely start out the season in the starting rotation, while Gonzalez will
be a part of the bullpen.
Some newcomers to keep an eye on this season to help
the Titans on the mound are Junior transfer from Rock Valley College Sam Libby,
along with Freshman Brendon Wills. At the plate Freshman outfielder Drew Mathies,
along with Sophomore infielder Jake Wilburn, who is coming off a redshirt
season last year, are a couple players who could make an impact this season.
The Titan Baseball team will open their season with a four-game
series against Pfeiffer University starting on Friday, February 16 in
Misenheimer, North Carolina. Stay tuned to IUSB Baseball (@IUSB_Baseball) and
IUSB Athletics (@IUSBTitans) on twitter for more information on possible
streams or play by play of the games.