SFA Baseball 2011 Preview: Outfield
2/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 14, 2011
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Lumberjack baseball team was the surprise of the Southland in 2010, posting a program-best 34 wins a year ago in just the second year under head coach Johnny Cardenas.
SFA used the best statistical offense in the SLC last year and a dramatically improved pitching staff to contend for a league title, and with 22 returners on the roster in addition to 13 newcomers, the ‘Jacks look to be in position once again to make noise in the league.
The ‘Jacks return three all-conference players from a year ago, including all-SLC lefty Tyler Herriage, first baseman Darren Crabtree and outfielder Garrett Smith to make SFA one of four schools with three preseason all-league choices for the upcoming year. In addition, Johnny Cardenas is the reigning SLC Coach of the Year.
This is the final of a six-part series previewing the Lumberjacks, position by position, leading up to the 2011 opener against UALR on February 18 in Nacogdoches.
OUTFIELD
RETURNERS: Garrett Smith, Patrick Gratzke
NEWCOMERS: Bryson Myles, Chris Hernandez, Jackson Hood
The ‘Jacks have produced an all-conference outfielder in three of the last four seasons and this year they return one of the best center fielders in the Southland Conference in senior Garrett Smith. He is one of just two returning outfielders for the ‘Jacks, along with senior Patrick Gratzke, with a trio of junior college newcomers helping fill the vacated spots on either side of Smith left by Ryan Priest and Bo Coffman.
Smith was the catalyst for the SFA lineup in 2010, making 51 starts both in center field and in the leadoff spot in the order, hitting .368 for the year, a mark which placed him seventh in the Southland Conference. Still, the Carthage native was far from a singles-only leadoff man, instead slugging at a .500 mark with three homers and 17 doubles and leading the ‘Jacks in runs scored with 50.
He added 14 steals to those numbers and was named third team all-conference honors last year, and preseason all-SLC honors this year, but were put up despite dealing with a lingering hamstring injury that limited him late in the year.
“Every coach has that marquis player that they would build a program around, and for us it is Garrett Smith,” head coach Johnny Cardenas said. “We have been pretty spoiled here with having a quality center fielder with Zach Gardner before Garrett, and last year we entered the year kind of wondering how we would replace Zach. Now we are in the situation where looking ahead we are going to have to wonder how we will replace Garrett, because he has really done an exceptional job filling those shoes and taking the job to the next level. He’s a great team leader for us and he has all of the skills necessary to be great and has been very productive at the top of our lineup.”
But on either side of Smith is where the ‘Jacks will have to replace the majority of its production after losing both Coffman and Priest to graduation, which will be no easy task considering the load those two carried in 2010. Coffman made 53 starts in right field for the ‘Jacks last year, while Priest started 42 times in left field before going down with a broken arm late in the season. The two of them combined for 14 homers and 79 RBI while hitting primarily in the No. 5 and No. 6 holes in the SFA lineup last year, but head coach Johnny Cardenas is confident that the ‘Jacks will be able to admirably replace their production.
“Replacing the two guys on either side of Garrett from last year is going to be tough, but we haven’t replace them tit for tat because I don’t think you can do that. We tried to replace them with guys who really fit the mold of what the offense is going to have to look like this year.”
One of those guys is junior transfer Bryson Myles, a five-tool outfielder from Weatherford College who finished second in the nation in the junior college ranks with 53 stolen bases while hitting .371 and driving in 30 for the Coyotes. He was ranked as one of the top 30 draftable outfielders entering last year’s MLB Draft, but will suit up for the ‘Jacks in 2011 as SFA’s everyday left fielder.
“With him stealing more than 50 bases at Weatherford last year, it pretty much speaks for itself as to what he can do,” Cardenas said. “Having a guy like that who can hit at the top of your lineup, get on base, drive runs in it certainly helps. He’s a five-tool player and a guy that the scouts are really excited about and who we are very fortunate to have here.”
Out in right field SFA will likely field an open competition to open the year as Gratzke, along with newcomers Chris Hernandez and Jackson Hood. Gratzke made 40 appearances last year, including 17 starts both in the outfield and at designated hitter. But both Hernandez and Hood will get their share of opportunities as well, with Hood bringing enough versatility to play anywhere in the outfield.
Both Hernandez and Hood have had strong camps entering into the year and have the pedigree from their junior college days to make quick contributions to the team. Hernandez was a starter for the Blinn College team that was just one win away from the Junior College World Series a year ago, while Hood hit .330 as a sophomore last year at Hill College.
2011 Season Preview Schedule:
Feb. 3 - Catchers
Feb. 7 - Starting Pitching
Feb. 9 - Infielders
Feb. 11 - Bullpen
Feb. 14 - Outfielders
-SFA-
