HOBBS, NM---The University of the Southwest Baseball program kicks off their 2021 season this Monday as they take on the Oklahoma State Panhandle Aggies in Goodwell, OK. The series was previously scheduled for February 20 & 21 in Amarillo, TX, but due to the winter storm this past week, the field was unplayable for the scheduled time and needed to be rescheduled.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mustangs 2020 schedule saw them only compete in 23 games including 6 RRAC games. Their last game played was March 7th versus nationally ranked LSU-Shreveport. The Mustangs and Coach Appel are excited to get back out there and build off some young success from the 2020 season. "The kids are ready to get on the field and compete once again" said Head Coach
Steve Appel. "It has been a while since they have seen an actual opponent rather than themselves, so it will be great to see them get this opportunity again. The kids have put in a ton of work to get where they are now, and they deserve every bit of this. There is no greater feeling as a coach seeing their players back on the field again in uniform!"
With New Mexico regulations not allowing for home contests to be played, USW will play 51 games this season away from their home field. The schedule includes 24 Red River Athletic Conference games. With schools opting out this year, the RRAC is left with: LSU-Shreveport, LSU-Alexandria, University of Houston-Victoria, Our Lady of the Lake University, Jarvis Christian, Texas A&M-Texarkana.
The Mustangs are looking to overcome a "down" season last year as they finished 6-17 on the year and 1-5 in conference in the COVID-shortened season. Head Coach
Steve Appel understands that last year was a trial run for some of the young Mustangs and hopes they are older and wiser coming into this year. The Mustangs are projected to only start 1 senior on the field, with the remaining being juniors or freshman. "The team we will be putting out on the field this year will be together for the next couple of years. We will not be losing more than a handful of guys due to graduation, so this team will be able to work together for the next couple of years and get to play a good brand of baseball. It will definitely be a challenge, playing 51 games all on the road, but I think this team is up to the challenge and us as coaches have done the best we can to prepare them for this challenge ahead of us. I expect this group to get better as the season continues" said Coach Appel on what this team will bring this season.
The pitching staff's over the course of Coach Appel's tenure here at USW have been better each and every season, but this might be the biggest challenge for Appel and his coaching staff this season. Only 2 pitchers on the Mustang pitching staff have logged significant innings during their time at USW. The Mustangs welcome in some talented transfers to the rotation, but Appel is aware that this staff is going to have to rise to the occasion to help USW be successful this season. "The biggest thing I want them to do is COMPETE! If our relatively new staff competes, they will be just fine. This will probably be the youngest group of arms that I have had here, but again, the ability to learn and grow together will be tremendous. I think we have a well balanced staff, now it is just time to see them throw to people other than our own guys".
KEY RETUNERS
- Bobby Galindo--SR--1B--El Paso, TX
- Career Stats= 55 GP--.312 AVG--13 2B--7 HR--46 RBI--45 BB--.545 SLG
- Brian Rodriguez--JR--OF--El Paso, TX
- Career Stats= 54 GP--.341 AVG--13 2B--1 HR--35 RBI--.440 SLG--.431 OBP
- Jacob Harris--JR--OF--Manvel, TX
- Career Stats= 77 GP--.321 OBP--14 SB
- Carlos Baldenegro--SR--LHP--Tolleson, AZ
- Career Stats= 19 GP--42.2 IP--2.53 ERA--29 K
- Nicholas Palomino--JR--OF--Roswell, NM
- Career Stats= 22 GP--.351 AVG--6 2B--2 3B--18 RBI--.486 SLG--.377 OBP
- Tariq Levesque--JR--1B--Rio Rancho, NM
- Career Stats= 50 GP--.321 AVG--13 2B--3 3B--4 HR--31 RBI--.519 SLG
- Ezra Acosta--SO--RHP--Rio Rancho, NM
- Career Stats= 13 GP--22.1 IP--4.43 ERA--11 SO--1 SV--2-1 record
FRESH FACES
With the Mustangs playing all 51 on the road, USW will be no stranger to bus travel and being the underdog each game. But Appel loves the underdog mentality and thinks that is what has made his programs so successful in the past.
"This team will have to learn how to deal with each other for the next 10 weeks on the road and more importantly 7 weeks extremely close to each other at Sky Ranch. We are going to have to find the balance that will work for us as a unit. We know we are up against the corner, but something that I have always preached that we are the underdogs everywhere we go. We need to be able to thrive under pressure and live for those moments. We will need to score runs early so we are not up against the ropes in each game. We as coaches, have been extremely hard on them right now preparing them for the ultimate challenge. And when it's time, we as coaches will need to believe in the work that we have put in and be as positive as we can with our guys. We will be fine as long as we believe in our core values."
