JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The final part of the 2020 Carson-Newman baseball position previews takes a look at the pitchers and catchers with Matt Bradley combining the areas with the biggest shoes to fill for the upcoming campaign.
The pitching staff loses a combined 276 games of experience headlined by the program's all-time leader in appearances, Greg Valentine. The right-hander appeared in 92 career games and was a second-team All-SAC pick in 2019 after earning the team's Friday night starter role. Austin Conner, Ryan Victory, Luke Friedman and Dalton Long also leave behind roles to fill as each appeared in at least a dozen games.
"It was definitely a pleasure playing with those guys," Bradley said. "The things that I like to take away from them is their consistency with how they went about their business every day on and off the field. They helped me a lot with that aspect as well as the work ethic and buying into the culture of the program."
Bradley leads a group of five for spots in the starting rotation. The Talbott, Tenn. native split time between the bullpen and the rotation. He appeared in 19 games, six starts, going 2-3 with eight saves, third in the league and 27th in the country, and a complete game. The right-hander fanned 10.47 batters per nine inning ranking seventh in the conference.
"It's definitely easier when it comes to going about my routine and throwing program," Bradley said. "I can set up for that one day and set my week around that one day. Last year relieving – that was the first time I've ever done that – so I was learning as I went. With starting, I am more comfortable with it."
Other returning options for new pitching coach Pat Brown are Tyler Shaver (Dandridge, Tenn.) and Logan Cogburn (Friendsville, Tenn.). In a year cut short due to injury, Shaver went 1-1 with a 6.97 ERA in six outings producing his best effort on Feb. 27 throwing 4 2/3 scoreless innings yielding one hit at Belmont Abbey. Cogburn wrapped up the season second on the team in wins and ERA going 5-1 with a 3.72 ERA in 12 appearances winning four of five games at one stretch. Cogburn did not allow a run in 16 1/3 innings over four outings from Feb. 10 to the seventh inning of a game against Belmont Abbey on March 12.
Brayden Coe (Bridgeville, Pa.) is one of two newcomers with a chance to start games to open the year. Known as a strike-thrower, he started 11 games at Frederick Community College in 2019 going 8-2 with a 1.27 ERA fanning 62 in 64 innings pitched with five complete games walking just seven batters.
Left-hander Matt Coles (Winter Garden, Fla.) led Lake Sumter State College in innings pitched in 2019 with 75 going 6-2 over 15 outings, 12 starts fanning 53 batters in 75 innings pitched.
"The new guys have come in and they looked really good in the fall," Bradley said. "They got after it in the winter. I am hopeful and I think a lot of people are hopeful for what they can do. Coach [Pat] Brown has come in and been a lot of help to us. Our mantra we are going with this year is be a dog. We realize that a lot of people don't think we are talented from the outside. What we can control is being mentally tough."
Moving to the bullpen, Nick Adkins will be one of the key arms. The senior left-hander fanned 15.49 batters per nine innings tallying 39 in 22 2/3 innings. Fifty-seven percent of his outs were K's as he fanned at least two in 13 of his 23 outings including each of his first eight times on the slab. Overall, Adkins had 14 scoreless efforts as left-handed hitters went 3-for-25, .120, against him on the year.
Hunter Long (Powell, Tenn.) Tied with Nick Adkins for the team lead in outings with 23, good for eighth in the SAC, going 1-0 with four saves fanning 31 over 24 2/3 innings.
Cameron Bloebaum (Kinsey, Ala.) will wear No. 42 in honor of the late Joey Seaver, a former C-N pitching coach. The right-hander appeared in 16 games striking out 17 batters and walking five while picking up two wins.
A whole host of newcomers will get a chance to find innings on the rubber looking to build off of the final month of April where C-N's bullpen posted its best ERA stranding 20 of 32 inherited runners.
For the first time since 2017, the Eagles will have a new everyday catcher. Ethan Goforth, drafted in the 22nd round by the Pittsburgh Pirates, caught seemingly every inning over the last two seasons finishing his career with a .342 average, 13 homers and 76 RBIs in 102 starts.
Four Eagles will angle for the position with Evansville transfer Brendan Krob and sophomore Chris Caldwell (Seymour, Tenn.) leading the pack. Krob played in 45 games over two seasons for the Purple Aces while Caldwell received playing time in four games as a rookie.
"As you know coach Griff is never going to have a bad catcher," Bradley said. "We have full confidence in whoever is starting at catcher. With the loss of Ethan, you never had to worry about anything. He caught every game that I have ever been a part of. Losing a guy that is always going to be tough."
The season begins on Jan. 31 in the first of a four-game series for the Eagles in Gaffney, S.C. against Limestone. Fans can catch all of the action this year on cneagles.com/live as the Eagle Sports Network will provide audio for all games and video for the home outings.
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