By Andreas Butler/Daytona Times
(Source Daytona Times):
The Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats swept the Alabama A&M University Bulldogs in a three games series from March 28 to March 30.
The Wildcats have won 11 of their last 14 games and are off to a good start in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) as they lead the East Division with a 7-1 conference mark.
“The team has grown since the beginning of the season. We have a lot of turnover due to graduation and guys getting an opportunity to play at the next level,’’ said Jonathan Hernandez, B-CU’s head baseball coach.
“I think over the first couple of weeks guys were still trying to figure out how to play together. Going to conference play, our goal was to start off right, which we have but we still have areas to get better.’’
28 new players
Bethune-Cookman has its strengths and areas that could improve.
“I think our pitching has done a pretty good job of keeping us in ball games, not just during the weekend but also during the week,” said Hernandez.
“Offensively, timely hitting has been good, but we must be more patient at the plate with runners in scoring position.”
B-CU returns 13 players from last season and brings in 28 new guys.
Hernandez noted, “That could be good for us. It could also be bad for us. So far it has been good for us.”
Gone are pitcher Nolan Santos (drafted by the MLB Minnesota Twins in the 7th round); pitcher Joan Gonzalez (signed as a free agent with MLB San Diego Padres); outfielder Hyland Hall (singed to play professionally in the Independent League); outfielder Luis Tuero (graduated) and first baseman Robert Moya (transferred to Florida Gulf Coast).
The Wildcats return senior catcher Irvin Escobar (.378BA, 10RBI), senior outfielder Garrett Chun (.271BA, 24RBI, 29H); junior first baseman Manny Souffrain (1HR, 13RBI, 20H, 18R), sophomore pitcher Pablo Torres (2SV), junior pitcher Marcos Gamboa (2-1, 3.95ERA) and senior pitcher Daniel Gaviria (3- 2,), the SWAC Pre-Season Pitcher of the Year.
“Irving has been with us for three years and has a lot of experience. He is leading the team in hitting and brings a lot behind the plate. Chun is leading us in RBIs. We’ll need him moving forward. Souffrain has gotten better at taking walks in addition to his bat. Torres helps in the bullpen. Gamboa has done well as a starter. Gaviria does a lot as well. All those guys will help us,” said Hernandez.
Newcomers include graduate pitcher Tanner Boccabello (3-0, 2.18ERA); graduate outfielder Jose Gonzalez (.358BA, 1HR, 20RBI, 34H); junior outfielder Sergio Rivera (.305BA, 14RBI, 32H, 23R, 14SB); freshmen pitcher Joel Core and senior short stop Jayme Villafane.
“Tanner has done a really good job on the mound. Jose is hitting well. Sergio is a spark plug for us. Jayme will be a spark plug as well when he returns from injury. Joel Core is coming along. Overall, this group is willing to work. They understand that in order to be successful, we must be consistent all around,” added Hernandez.
History of winning seasons
Last season, the Wildcats fell in the SWAC tournament title game to rival Florida A&M. Both teams joined the SWAC in 2021.
Gone are the glory days of the Wildcats’ storied baseball past. Bethune-Cookman won 19 conference titles and made 17 NCAA appearances as a member of the MEAC. From 1997- 2017, they won all but four MEAC tournament titles.
The goal is always to win the SWAC tournament and go to the NCAA tournament. The top four teams in each division make the tournament. B-CU last won a conference tournament and made the NCAA tournament in 2017.
Hernandez emphasized, “We still have to play the games on our schedule. Guys are going to have to step up. You throw records out the window. We just played Alabama A&M, which has one conference win, but they played us tough. I think we have to be more consistent on the mound, on defense and at the plate particularly capitalizing on opportunities with runners in scoring position.”
The SWAC is an underrated conference in baseball. It boasts strong teams like Alabama State, Florida A&M, Jackson State and B-CU in the east along with Southern and Grambling in the west.
“The SWAC has really evolved as a baseball conference in recent years; especially adding FAMU and us. The East Division is brutal. The West is also tough. I think people sleep on the SWAC, which is a legitimate baseball conference. The SWAC should get the respect it deserves. All the coaches in the conference are doing a really good job recruiting and developing players,” added Hernandez.
Bethune-Cookman hosted UCF on Tuesday and traveled to Florida State on Wednesday.
The Wildcats hoss Jackson State for a three-game series at Jackie Robinson Ballpark April 5-7.
For more on the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats baseball team, stats, scores, schedule and more, visit www. bcuathletics.com.
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