Jan. 27, 2012

The Texas A&M International University Baseball team enters the 2012 season looking to continue on last year's success under fourth year Head Coach Chad Porter. TAMIU will open their season on February 3, with a home double-header versus U.T. Permian Basin.

In their 2011 campaign the Dustdevils raised the bar higher than ever before, advancing to the first Heartland Conference Tournament in program history with a conference record of 13-17, 19-33 overall.

The Dustdevils lost several key contributors from last year's team, including All-Conference selections Ray Alvarez, John Gonzalez and Chris Collazo. Collazo was also the first All-Region team selection in program history. But Porter's ball club returns six of the team's top ten hitters that led the conference in hitting and finished the season ranked 25th in the nation with a .322 batting average. The team also returns two first team All-Conference selections with Will Wurth and Austin Voros returning for their final year of eligibility.

"It's tough to lose guys that were mainstays in the program," Porter said. "Last year's senior class helped us get to the hump, and now it's time for us to carry that momentum and get all the way over it."

The Dustdevils will introduce 26 new players to this year's roster, including several prep stars and a group of junior college transfers who should be able to step in and bolster the team's lineup and pitching staff.

CATCHER

The Dustdevils have a number of players who could see time behind the plate highlighted by team captain Sean Smedley. Smedley started 26 games for the Dustdevils last season, recording a .330 batting average with 31 hits and 18 RBI. Smedley will be backed up by newcomer Grant Garrett, the Dripping Springs product who transferred in from Ranger College.

INFIELD

Over at first base seniors Roberto Castillo, Kevin Daniels and Korey Gosselin will battle for the starting job. Of those three Castillo received the bulk of the playing time last season with 41 starts, but Daniels led the team with a .346 batting average followed by Castillo at .354 and Gosselin at .208. At second, Junior Bud Accardo will compete for the starting role with junior transfer Jaron Shimmel. Accardo saw limited action last season and will be pushed by Shimmel who brings a great resume from Hill Junior College. Senior Will Wurth is one of the few sure things in the infield, backed by three years of collegiate baseball experience. Wurth started all 52 games last season finishing second on the team in plate appearances with 197 and recording a .371 batting average. He led the team in hits with 73 and was second on the team with 32 RBI. He also led the team with 16 stolen bases.

Junior Alejandro Salas, who comes to TAMIU from Midland College, is the likely candidate to start at third base. Salas hails from San Antonio, Texas and is a former Burbank High School star where he received first team All-State honors as a senior.

The final piece to the infield puzzle is senior utility player Matt Arruda. Arruda is one of the most versatile players on the team, able to rotate at nearly every position in the infield as well as all three in the outfield. He started 33 games for the Dustdevils last season batting .330 in 109 plate appearances. He collected 36 hits on the season with 29 RBI and four stolen bases.

OUTFIELD

First team All-Conference designated hitter Austin Voros will make the shift from designated hitter back to right field this season. Voros hit .373 for the season, finishing fourth on the team with 30 RBI. Junior Jeff Anderson, who started 38 games in the outfield in 2011, will likely be penciled in as the opening day starter at centerfield. In left field Ramon Sandoval brings the most experience, but he will be challenged by Corpus Christi Moody product Jeremy Olivo, who impressed the coaching staff with his play in fall ball. Arruda could also see playing time in left if Sandoval and Olivo aren't up to par.

PITCHING

One of the most pressing issues the Dustdevils needed to address was their depth in the pitching rotation. They've done just that bringing in 10 new hurlers for their 2012 campaign. Three players will likely compete for the role of ace including Daniel Alejandro, junior transfer Manolo Mendoza and Roberto Castillo. Mid-season transfer Jerry Hawkins also has the capability to make his way into the starting rotation according to Coach Porter. Alejandro is the top returner numbers wise, having started 16 games last season. Senior Chris Villa will return to his role as closer, while Danny Navarro, Ryan Maldonado, Julio Velez, Marty Bigham, Javier Sanchez, Ryan Williams and Donald Fennell will see plenty of work out of the bullpen.

PRESEASON POLL

The Dustdevils were picked to finish fifth in the Heartland Conference preseason poll.