This spring, the 911爆料网 baseball team plans to focus on one game at a time and bond during a heavy away-game schedule.
Last season, the team posted one of their better records in several years with first-year Head Coach Tyler Zunkel at the helm. He since has settled into the role, recruiting plenty of talent and working with his pitchers in the offseason. He is ready to see what his guys can do 鈥 and they鈥檙e eager to play some ball.
鈥淟ast year was a roller coaster at times, but I feel we鈥檙e settled in now. We have guys coming back who set the team culture early. They bought in. But we have a lot of new guys coming in, too,鈥 Zunkel said. 鈥淲e have a lot of talented guys on the team.鈥
A core group of sophomores returns to the squad, including leadoff batter and last year鈥檚 All-Region and All-Conference outfielder Andrew Phelan (Lemont), third baseman/catcher Preston Lund (Homewood-Flossmoor), All-Conference honorable mention infielder/outfielder Caston Norris (Morris), and pitchers Lucas Hicks (Westmont), Nathan Bucio (Shepard), Joshua Keller (Plainfield East) and Jack Greaney (Lockport).
Phelan should be pivotal again in the lineup and on the bases. Last year, he ranked No. 20 in the NJCAA Division II for stealing 38 bases. Hicks and Keller on the mound are assets this season as well.
In the offseason, Cyclones pitchers worked with an outside company to build strength and skill while advancing to a new level of play. 鈥淚t should be interesting to see their progression,鈥 Zunkel added. 鈥淭he bullpen is deeper this year, which is nice. We have a new pitching coach, and he鈥檚 helping keep the guys healthy.鈥
Among the newcomers is a transfer mid-infielder Anthony Gura (Normal), who already has experience competing at the college level and should bat in the top of the order with Phelan. Freshman infielder Valente Melero (Argo) is another big hitter who should impact the offense.
While continuing in his coaching style, Zunkel wants the team to focus on small, daily goals, taking one win at a time. 鈥淥bviously, at the end of the day, our goal is to get into playoffs, but we鈥檒l play every game as if it鈥檚 our last,鈥 he said.
This season, the Cyclones have scheduled 34 away games and 18 at home, which Zunkel wants the team to leverage. 鈥淲e鈥檒l be on the road a lot, so I鈥檓 looking forward to embracing time after games with teammates and just embracing the road warrior identity as much as possible,鈥 he explained. 鈥淲e have a lot of new pitchers, many hitters; it鈥檒l be fun to see what happens. I鈥檓 excited for the season.鈥
The Cyclones home opener is on Friday, March 13, at 3 p.m. against Kankakee Community College. For updates on Cyclones Athletics, visit mvcyclones.com.
For news media inquiries, contact Maura Vizza, Moraine Valley communications specialist and sports information coordinator, at (708) 974-5742 or Vizzam@morainevalley.edu.
