RAMS READY FOR 2006
February 11, 2006

The 2006 Texas Wesleyan University baseball team believes 2006 holds great opportunities.  Head coach Mike Jeffcoat believes that this is “the best team in my five years at Texas Wesleyan.”  By season’s end Coach Jeffcoat expects the Rams to compete with the best that the NAIA’s Region VI has to offer.

The Rams are coming off a solid 2005 campaign that saw a 34-26 record, which was a drastic improvement from 2004 when the Rams went just 16-38.  Texas Wesleyan also was represented well on the All Red River Athletic Conference team.  Three Rams were named to the 1st-team:  catcher Josh Vander Hey, outfielder Zach Archer, and pitcher Jason Hopson.  Five players were selected to the 2nd-team:  first baseman Travis Clifford, second baseman Anthony Bolivar, outfielder Mark Smajstrla, utility player Jason Diaz, and pitcher Shea Harrison.  All but Bolivar and Smajstrla have returned for the 2006 season. A number of Rams were also rewarded with Red River Conference Player of the Week honors in 2005.  Travis Clifford and Jason Hopson each were chosen twice as player and pitcher of the week respectively.  Josh Vander Hey and Shea Harrison were also chosen as player and pitcher of the week during the 2005 season.

In 2006 the Rams boast an improved lineup.  That is a good sign considering the Rams broke three schools records in 2005:  team AVG (.347), team OBP (.425), and team triples (25).  Travis Clifford is expected to anchor the lineup after coming off of a stellar junior campaign.  Clifford led the offense in AB’s (202), H’s (74), 2B’s (23), HR’s (12), and RBI (60).  Also returning in 2006 is Zach Archer (team-high .411 AVG), Josh Vander Hey (.390 AVG, 21 2B’s), Jason Diaz (.364 AVG, 37 BB’s, 48 R’s), and Billie Hicks (9 HR’s, 29 RBI, 13 SB’s).  Jeff Piaskowski (SR/TR, Hawaii) will add another potent bat to the lineup.  Piaskowski brings some welcomed power and will team with Vander Hey and Clifford to solidify the middle of the order.  Antoine Cole (SO/Redshirt in 2005), Brad Henderson (SO/1L, .333 AVG in 60 AB’s in ’05), Jeremy Howard (FR/HS), Chris Palmer (JR/TR Richland College), JR Phelps (JR/Redshirt in ’05), Scott Venable (SR/1L .244 AVG 45 AB’s in ’05), and Kent Russell (.393 AVG in 84 AB’s in ’05) are all expected to compete and contribute for the Rams offense this season.

Defensively the Rams look to improve upon their .947 fielding percentage in 2005 with some new faces.  Cory Venable (FR/Redshirt in ’05) and Ross Elmore (JR/TR Lon Morris JC) look to replace departing 2nd-team All-RRAC second baseman Anthony Bolivar.  Both players possess the ability to play sound defense and contribute to the offense with timely hitting.  In centerfield the Rams must replace 2005 2nd-team All-RRAC selection Mark Smajstrla.  Brandon Frazier (.284 AVG in 67 AB’s in ‘05) is slated to fill that spot.  Frazier has the speed and the savvy to be a pitcher’s best friend roaming the outfield.  His closing speed alone helps him get to balls that others cannot reach. 

Texas Wesleyan has an outstanding core on the hill with a staff that will be anchored by All-Conference returnee’s Shea Harrison (9-2, 3.86 ERA, 76 K’s), and Jason Hopson (6-4, 3.53 ERA, 60 K’s).  Harrison and Hopson carried a young pitching staff last year and will have more help in 2006.  That duo accounted for 44% of the team’s total wins in 2005.  Joining the Harrison and Hopson tandem will be Weston Wood (JR/TR Temple JC).  Wood is a big right-hander that utilizes velocity and movement to get hitters out.  Also helping the Rams this season on the mound will be returnee’s Caleb Thomas (SO/1L, 1-2, 21.2 IP), Michael Talley (JR/2L, 2-0, 32.2 IP), and Hayden Lackey (SO/1L, 23 K’s in 28.1 IP).  Thomas will be called upon to start during the week and come out of the bullpen on weekends.  Talley and Lackey will return to the bullpen for the 2006 season and look to improve on their respective 2005 seasons.  Joining the Rams for 2006 are transfers Jordan Jones (JR/TR Lon Morris JC), and Lance Allred (FR/TR Northlake JC).  Jones will be looked upon to solidify a problem area of 2005, midweek pitching.  Allred will come out of the bullpen with Talley and Lackey.  Also looking to receive significant innings this season is freshman Aaron Lenz (Round Rock, TX, Stony Point HS).

With a solid returning core and several key newcomers, Head Coach Mike Jeffcoat believes his Rams have a legitimate shot at competing and winning a highly competitive Region VI. “It’s a long season and we want to start strong and finish strong,” Jeffcoat said.  “I am very excited about the talent we have assembled here and look forward to coming to the ballpark everyday.”