by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
For the first time in 37 years, someone other than Steve Burleson will be coaching Kansas City Kansas Community College baseball.
However, the Blue Devil baseball program is not in unfamiliar hands. Matt Goldbeck, a former Blue Devil, served 22 years as Burleson’s assistant before taking over the head coaching reins last summer.
“You never want to replace a legend but I’m extremely excited about the opportunity,” Goldbeck said. “Playing in the toughest conference in the country is very challenging but I’m excited about the group we have.”
The Blue Devils open the season this weekend, a 6-game, 4-day trip to Dallas, Texas, where they’ll play Friday against Richland. The home opener will come Saturday, Feb. 20, against Longview at 1 p.m.
Goldbeck will open the season with a squad of 31 including 12 sophomores – but only two veterans and one pitcher with significant playing time on a team that finished 35-28 last season.
“A lot of inexperience but a lot of sophomores who will be starting,” said Goldbeck, who will be stealing a page out of the Royals’ recent success – pitching depth and good defense.
“I’m optimistic about the pitching,” Goldbeck said. “We’ve got a lot of guys competing for innings. Defensively, our infield defense is really good and our outfielders will catch anything they can get to.”
A pair of All-Jayhawk selections are expected to lead the offense. Third baseball Travis Stroup of Lee’s Summit West led the Blue Devils in hitting (.411), runs-batted-in (65) and extra base hits (36) last season while centerfielder El Lovell of Lincoln, Neb., batted .358 with 38 RBI.
“They should provide the power from the middle of the order,” Goldbeck said.
Joining Stroup on the infield are sophomore first baseman Conor Behrens of Lincoln, who hit .375 in 23 games last season; and a pair of freshmen, Easton Fortuna of Park Hill at second and Albert Woodard of Nashville, Tenn., at shortstop. Zach Mahoney, a freshman from Bishop Miege, will also see action at third and may fill the role of designated hitter. Backup infielders include freshmen Ty Bradshaw of Winnetonka, Levi Froud of Van Buren, Ark., and Joe Ramos of Laredo, Texas.
The catching will be divided between sophomore Malone Smith of Lebanon, Tenn., who hit .260 in 38 games last season, and freshman Drew Holtgrieve of St. Charles, Mo. They’ll be backed by freshman Ryne McDonald of Springdale, Ark.
Ryan Fisher of Liberty, who hit .327 in 33 games last season, will start the season in leftfield with soph Daulton Smith of Nashville and freshman Chase Redick of SM North vying for the starting job in right field backed by freshman Caleb Gray of Springdale, Ark., who could also see duty at first base.
Three sophomores, Brandon Reid of Toronto; Dustin Eby of Republic, Mo.; and Ross Perez of Blue Valley Northwest, line up at the top of the pitching rotation although freshman Jake Purl of Park Hill may end up at the top after suffering from a vision problem at the start of the season.
“He missed a couple of weeks so he’ll start in the bullpen to get in some innings,” Goldbeck said.
Eby was the busiest of the returnees, working in 19 games including eight starts, striking out 38 while walking 18. Reid appeared in just four games but is coming off a strong fall performance while Perez appeared in 10 games, all but one in relief. They’ll be joined by freshman Colton Kenagy of Gower, Mo., in the early starting rotation while sophomore Dalton Kincaid of Olathe Northwest won the job as closer last fall.
Pitching depth will come from sophomore Tanner Vestal of Piper and a promising corps of freshmen that includes Gunner Vestal of Piper, Cameron Bednar of St. James Academy, Ryker Johnson of Spring Hill, Chad Cox of Maumelle, Ark., and Elijah Baig of St. Joseph, Mo.
Sophomore Ross Walker of Spring Hill and freshman Avery Fliger of Basehor-Linwood will fill on-the-spot relief for the Blue Devils. “They’ll be called on when we get in jams,” said Goldbeck, who is being assisted by seven-year veteran Bill Sharp and newcomers Lendsey Thomson and Elliot Valesquez.
The Blue Devils will open home play against four foes – Longview Feb. 20, Maple Woods Feb. 23, Midland Feb. 27 and William Jewell March 1 before beginning Jayhawk Conference play against the two league favorites, Johnson County March 3-5 and Cowley March 10-12.
“We’ll find out quickly how good we are,” Goldbeck said.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director for KCKCC.
Kansas City Kansas Community College
2016 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
Feb. 12 Richland (1), Dallas, Tex. 2 p.m.
Feb. 13 Eastfield, Fort Worth, Tex. 12 p.m.
Feb. 14 Richland, Dallas, Tex. 1 p.m.
Feb. 15 Richland (1), Dallas, Tex. 12 p.m.
Feb. 20 LONGVIEW, Home 1 p.m.
Feb. 23 MAPLE WOODS (1), Home 2 p.m.
Feb. 27 MIDLAND, Home 1 p.m.
March 1 WILLIAM. JEWELL (1), Home 2 p.m.
March 3 Johnson County*, Away 1 p.m.
March 5 JOHNSON COUNTY*, Home 1 p.m.
March 8 Rockhurst (1), Away 2 p.m.
March 10 Cowley College*, Away 1 p.m.
March 12 COWLEY*, Home 1 p.m.
March 15 Longview (1), Away 2 p.m.
March 17 COFFEYVILLE*, Home 1 p.m.
March 19 Coffeyville*, Away 1 p.m.
March 22 Des Moines Area (1), Home 1 p.m.
March 24 Independence*, Away 1 p.m.
March 26 INDEPENDENCE*, Home 1 p.m.
March 29 ROCKHURST (1), Home 2 p.m.
March 31 LABETTE*, Home 1 p.m.
April 2 Labette*, Away 1 p.m.
April 5 Maple Woods (1), Away 2 p.m.
April 7 Highland*, Away 1 p.m.
April 9 HIGHLAND*, Home 1 p.m.
April 14 Allen County*, Away 1 p.m.
April 16 ALLEN COUNTY*, Home 1 p.m.
April 19 LONGVIEW (1), Home 2 p.m.
April 21 FORT SCOTT*, Home 1 p.m.
April 23 Fort Scott*, Away 1 p.m.
April 26 WILLIAM JEWELL (1), Home 2 p.m.
April 28 NEOSHO COUNTY*, Home 1 p.m.
April 30 Neosho County*, Away 1 p.m.
May 3 MAPLE WOODS (1), Home 2 p.m.
May 7-8 Regional Playoffs (Best of 3) TBA
May 12-16 Super Regional TBA
May 28-June 4 NJCAA World Series Grand Jct., CO
All doubleheaders unless noted