AVE MARIA, Fla. – The Ave Maria University baseball team will open the 2021 campaign this weekend with a twin bill vs. Warner University at Bowie's Ballpark featuring a fresh-look squad that includes a new head coach and an infusion of young talent. A total of 15 newcomers join 21 returners on the roster as AMU begins its 54-game slate and quest for a berth in the 2021 Sun Conference Tournament.
The Gyrenes will be led by interim head coach Michael McCormick, who is in his second season with the Ave Maria program after serving as an assistant coach last season. McCormick brings with him a wealth of experience as a player which saw him selected in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago White Sox following a successful career as a collegiate pitcher at Eastern Illinois University.
"I am very grateful that Ave Maria and our athletic director Joe Patterson gave me the opportunity to serve as the interim head coach this year," McCormick said. "I am really excited to take on the new responsibilities. As a head coach the small details are more apparent, and it has already shown me the value of having assistant coaches that you can count on to help guide the program to optimal success. Overall I am just very excited and accomplish our goal of breaking into the top six in our league and making the conference tournament."
AROUND THE DIAMOND WITH THE GYRENES
Infield
The Gyrenes bring back a wealth of experience in the infield, with three veterans returning, including last season's leading hitter junior Daniel Caylor, who notched a .299 average and tied for the team lead with 18 runs scored (during a 28-game campaign shortened due to COVID-19). Caylor was recently named as one of the preseason players to watch in The Sun Conference. He is expected to be the Gyrenes' primary shortstop and leadoff hitter.
Moving over from third base to second this season is sophomore Aiden Hickey. Hickey is a left-handed bat who appeared in 28 games last season, with 27 starts. He drove in 14 runs in 2020 and scored 18 while totaling three stolen bases.
Another position shift will see senior Ethan Bergkamp move from catcher to first base. Bergkamp posted a .296 batting average last season with a .408 slugging percentage. Bergkamp is expected to be one of the most consistent hitters in the Gyrenes' lineup after tallying 15 RBI and 12 runs scored over 24 games last season.
The lone newcomer among the starters on the infield is freshman Ethan Wood. The Vero Beach, Fla., native brings a solid glove and strong bat into the fold this season.
Behind the plate, senior Tyler Chase will be counted on to be the team's primary catcher and field general. He made 21 starts as a junior and threw out eight of 18 potential base stealers. Offensively, Chase tallied a .265 average with 14 RBI.
Outfield
Brody Rubenstein, a senior transfer from Montreat College in North Carolina, is expected to provide an immediate impact for the Gyrenes as the starting center fielder. During his junior season with the Cavaliers, he recorded a .306 clip at the plate and swiped 10 bases. His speed will be a key weapon for Ave Maria both offensively and defensively in 2021.
Senior Alex Perez is slated as the Gyrenes' starting left fielder after posting a .273 batting average as a junior. He notched 14 RBI and drew 12 walks over 77 at bats in 2020.
Rounding out the top three in the outfield for the Gyrenes is junior Koby Blanchard. Blanchard started all 28 games last season with five stolen bases and led the team with 10 doubles.
Starting Pitching
The Gyrenes pitching staff will also feature some returning arms along with some promising newcomers, starting with senior Zach Zink. Zink will be missed early in the season as he deals with a previous injury but is expected to bring a big spark to the starting group once he returns.
The new faces include freshmen Erik Tovar and Carter Sullivan, each of whom are expected to log a significant number of innings during their rookie campaigns. Both freshmen boast strong arms, with Tovar hailing from Weston, Fla., following a successful prep career at Cypress Creek High School, and Sullivan a native of Duluth, Minn.
Bullpen
Freshman Wyatt Sargent, a Fort Myers native out of Fort Myers High School, is a left-handed sidearm hurler who is expected to be key for the Gyrenes out of the bullpen against tough left-handed hitters.
Other freshman expected to make a solid impact in relief are Juan Marquez (Redington Beach, Fla./Northside Christian) and Fernando Fernandez (Miami, Fla./Miami Sunset). Fernandez, along with Tovar, topped out at 90 miles per hour during the preseason and offer promising prospects for the future of the Gyrene staff.
Another newcomer and Miami native, is sophomore Matthew Esquijerosa, who is expected to fill the long relief and spot starter roles on the staff. Esquijerosa spent his freshman collegiate campaign at Cabrini University in Pennsylvania where he made three mound appearances.
Rounding out the key members of the bullpen is freshman Brandon Diaz, a long relief specialist from Felix Varela High School in Miami, and Kyle Conway, who will be counted on as another weapon against left-handed bats.
"The two big things I feel we have to be able to do to have success this season is be very strong defensively and run the bases really well," McCormick said. "On the pitching side, throw strikes and minimize free bags."
Conference
The Gyrenes play in The Sun Conference, which is perennially considered as the top baseball conference nationally in the NAIA. Currently three teams are ranked among the top 15 in the preseason poll including No. 1 Southeastern (Fla.), No. 4 St. Thomas (Fla.) and No. 15 Keiser (Fla.). Ave Maria will be well tested throughout the season and will face stiff competition as it battles for a top-six position in the league and a berth in the conference tournament.
"In my opinion, the Sun Conference is the most competitive conference in the NAIA," McCormick said. "With a total of three teams ranked among the top-15 nationally in the preseason poll, it is a fun conference to play in and have the opportunity to face the top teams in the country."
The Gyrenes will play eight of their first nine games on their home diamond at Bowie's Ballpark before embarking on their first big road trip of 2021, which will see AMU play seven of the next nine away from home.
Saturday's doubleheader to open the season vs. Warner University is slated for a 12 p.m. EST first pitch.
