TRC features 2 Former Eagles

TRC Raiders baseball team look to win with versatility

Saturday, February 14, 2015
By Scott Borkgren -- SEMO News Service

POPLAR BLUFF -- The name of the game for the Raiders this season is versatility.

Three Rivers coach Stacy Burkey has three left-handed pitchers projected as starters. As many as seven different Raiders can bat left-handed. There are six guys he could use as the designated hitter.

Burkey could set the lineup so that the opposing pitcher has to alternate between right and left-handed batters.

With six players listed at 210 pounds or more, this team can win with power. With sophomore transfer outfielder Ralphy McDonald clocked at a 6.7 second 60-yard dash, along with Kevin Rosario who stole 13 bases last year, the Raiders can win with small ball.

"We are going to pass the eye test no doubt about it," Burkey said. "We are very athletic, which leads to a lot of versatility."

Three Rivers returns its entire infield as one of its biggest strengths.

"We know each other, we know each other's range. With that, we feel like we can win a lot of games and help protect the pitchers," first baseman Kelvin Flores said.

Alex Heuring after his final
game as an Oran Eagle

Alex Heuring is back as a power-hitting catcher. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound righty hit three home runs and 18 RBIs last season. He will likely play some outfield on those long doubleheader days.

Second baseman Tito Ovalle and shortstop Kevin Rosario will solidify the middle infield with Flores at first base and Kody Moore at third.

"I'm excited to have my middle infield mate back (in Kevin Rosario)," Ovalle said. "I feel like we are going to be the best two middle infielders in the region."

Burkey said Moore can also play shortstop and second and gives the team flexibility.

Sophomore transfer Baziel Cabrera, is best suited at third base, but is capable at short and second.

"We've got some versatility at those three spots," Burkey said.

Kody Moore after his
final game as an Eagle

Javier Aguilar, Sam Kraus and Austin Wagner will provide infield depth. Alex Lewis, Raymond Sankitts and Logan Carter will spell Heuring at catcher.

Lewis, a freshman from Poplar Bluff, will have surgery Friday for a torn labrum and will miss at least half the season.

Freshman David Branch is capable of playing all three outfield spots and so far, Burkey said, is the only Raider outfielder who has worked his way into the first day mix. Last year's right fielder and leading hitter Santos Abreu is no longer with the team.

"We have competition at every position," Ovalle said.

McDonald, as the fastest guy on the team, can chase down fly balls in center field. Left-handed hitters Declan Wallace and Donnie Mitchell will be in the mix, as well.

That theme of versatility extends throughout the pitching staff, as well.

Burkey imagines this team setting up a little like the Kansas City Royals did last season, with the starter going six innings and then using one reliever in each of the final three innings.

"I think our pitching depth is very good. We don't have a guy who is just going to stand there and blow people away pitch after pitch with a fast ball," Burkey said. "We've got a lot of guys who we can run out there. This time of year, we are as healthy from a pitching standpoint as we have been in past years for awhile."

Though it is only February, the rotation has worked its way up to 80 pitches in practice and the starting arms are ready to go 4-5 innings with those situational relievers coming in after that.

"I'm excited to see how that could play out and really think that might work well for us," Burkey said.

Dylan Slayton leads the returning pitchers with five wins in 11 starts last season. The Arkansas-Little Rock commit also had four complete games and finished with a 3.09 ERA.

Southeast Missouri State commitment Adam Pennington appeared in two games last year and gives Burkey another left-handed arm.

The two will anchor the pitching staff.

Fellow sophomores Cole Boardman and Matt Ulrich each won three games. 

Boardman got his wins largely in relief duty while Ulrich started seven games.

Burkey said Ulrich dropped his arm motion down late in the fall and has bought into it. He is getting a better feel for his slider with the new slot position and has been experimenting with different grips.

Boardman is in better physical condition and will continue to see a lot of work as a relief pitcher, as well as time in the corner outfield.

Among the freshman pitchers, Chase Johnson is one of three lefties projected as starters.

Burkey said he is probably the top freshman pitcher right now and the Raiders aren't big fans of hitting off him. Johnson is effectively wild with good movement and good velocity.

Tyson Campbell suffered through health issues in the fall but has stayed healthy this spring and is back to a good playing weight. His fastball is good enough to keep people honest.

Dustin Houart and Cody Wills, both righties, can throw breaking pitches for strikes.

Cameron Clark was added to the team at the semester and is Three Rivers' third pitcher from Holcomb, along with Houart and Michael Glover. He is capable of throwing breaking balls from a couple different arm angles and early in the count.

"We're seeing a lot of good arms so far this year. Everybody's got good velocity, good movement with their breaking pitches, it is shaping up pretty good," Heuring said. "Last year, we had a really good pitching rotation. Our starters were really good. We lost our ace (Keven Long) this year, but I feel like we've got a good set of recruits to fill the gap."