Get to Know the Gardner Webb Baseball Roster
Contents
Get to know the Gardner Webb baseball roster with this comprehensive list that includes player names, positions, and jersey numbers.
Introducing the Gardner Webb Baseball Roster
Gardner Webb Baseball is a Division I program located in Boiling Springs North Carolina The program is currently a member of the Big South Conference The team plays its home games at John Henry Moss Stadium, which opened in 2013 and has a capacity of 1,500 fans.
The Gardner Webb baseball team has had six head coaches in its history. The current Head Coach is Jeff Gardiner, who was hired in 2016. Gardiner previously served as an Assistant Coach at Gardner Webb from 2011 to 2013. Under Gardiner’s leadership, the team has had two winning seasons and made one appearance in the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament
The team’s best season came in 2010, when it went 37-24 overall and 17-7 in conference play That year, the team won the Big South conference tournament and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament The team went 1-2 in the tournament, losing to Clemson and Florida State before defeating Stony Brook
The Gardner Webb baseball roster is made up of 27 players from across the United States The roster includes 16 pitchers, five infielders, four outfielders, and two catchers. Of the 27 players on the roster, 24 are freshmen or sophomores. Three of the team’s pitchers are transfers from other programs.
The team’s leading hitters returning from last season are outfielders Jake Summey and Hunter Lee. Summey hit .307 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs last season while Lee hit .285 with nine home runs and 41 RBIs. On the pitching side, redshirt junior Michael Flynn returns as the team’s ace after going 8-4 with a 3.48 ERA last season.
The Infield
The infield of a baseball diamond is where most of the action happens. It is made up of four positions: first baseman, second baseman, shortstop and third baseman. These are the “inner fielders” who field between the bases.
First baseman: The first baseman is responsible for the area around first base. He must have quick feet to be able to stretch and catch balls that are hit close to him. He also needs a strong arm to throw out runners who are trying to steal second base.
Second baseman: The second baseman must be able to cover a lot of ground. He needs to be quick and have good range to be able to field balls that are hit in front of him or behind him. He also needs a strong arm to make throws to first base.
Shortstop: The shortstop is responsible for the area between second and third base. He must have good range and a strong arm to be able to make the long throws across the diamond. He also needs Good footwork to be able to fielded balls that are hit in front of him or behind him.
Third baseman: The third baseman is responsible for the area around third base. He must have quick feet and a strong arm to be able stop balls that are hit hard in his direction. He also needs good footwork and quick reflexes to be able catch balls that are thrown over his head by the catcher.
The Outfield
In baseball, the outfield is the area of the field beyond the infield. The outfield is made up of three sections, left field center field and right field. The left and right outfielders play in foul territory between the foul lines and the center fielder plays in fair territory between them.
There are typically four outfielders on a Baseball Team three of which start the game. The fourth outfielder is typically a reserve player who comes into the game when one of the starting outfielders is injured or needs a break.
The Gardner Webb baseball team has six outfielders on their roster this season. They are:
-Cody Jones: A senior from Shelby, North Carolina Cody is a left-handed hitter who can also play first base. He was named to the Big South All-Conference Second Team last year after hitting .295 with nine home runs and 32 RBIs.
-Landon Butler: A junior from Clover, South Carolina Landon is a right-handed hitter who also plays catcher. He started 37 games in right field last season and batted .273 with four Home Runs and 19 RBIs.
-Bryan Baucom: A sophomore from Charlotte, North Carolina Bryan is a left-handed hitter who also plays third base. He played in 38 games as a freshman, mostly in center field, and hit .246 with two home runs and 10 RBIs.
-Garrett Baker: A senior from Fort Mill, South Carolina Garrett is a switch hitter who can play all three field positions He was named to the Big South All-Conference Second Team last year after hitting .308 with four home runs and 28 RBIs.
-Keaton Haack: A freshman from Irmo, South Carolina Keaton is a left-handed hitter who can play all three outfield positions. He was an honorable mention All-State selection as a senior in High School after hitting .500 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs.
The Gardner Webb baseball team will be looking to these six players to anchor their outfield this season as they strive for another conference championship
The Pitchers
Gardner-Webb will have a new look in the pitching staff this season as only three pitchers from last year’s team return. The starting rotation will feature a mix of youth and experience as the Bulldogs will have four freshmen and one senior in the group.
Redshirt junior right-hander Chris Ramirez returns to the mound after making 12 starts a year ago. He posted a 3-7 record with a 5.40 ERA in 65 innings of work. Fellow righty Nate Herring is also back after redshirting last season.
The Catchers
Gardner-Webb will have a trio of backstops to choose from in 2019, as seniors Logan Massie (Junipero Serra HS/San Mateo, Calif.) and Matt Moore (Cypress Creek HS/Windermere, Fla.), and junior college transfer Jacob Midkiff (Marshalltown CC/Marshalltown, Iowa) all return to the fold.
The Coaches
Gardner-Webb’s head baseball coach is Kevin McMullan, who enters his fourth season at the helm of the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ program. Gardner-Webb’s assistant coaches are Rion Johnson and Braden Mattson.
The Schedule
The Gardner Webb Baseball Team will open their 2019 season on the road against Winthrop on February 15. The Bulldogs will play their home opener on February 22 against USC Upstate Big South Conference play will begin on March 8 when the Bulldogs travel to take on Charleston Southern
The Stats
The Gardner Webb Baseball roster is full of talented players. Here are the stats for the team:
There are a total of 27 players on the team, including 21 pitchers and 6 Position players
The team has a batting average of .267 and an on-base percentage of .352.
The average age of the team is 23.5 years old.
The Fans
Gardner-Webb baseball fans are considered some of the most passionate and dedicated in Division I college baseball The Runnin’ Bulldogs have a large and loyal following, with fans often traveling to away games to support the team. Gardner-Webb’s student section known as “The Doghouse,” is one of the loudest and most intimidating in Collegiate Baseball
The Future
The Gardner-Webb Baseball team is made up of young men who work hard both on and off the field. They are committed to their studies and to their team, and they are determined to succeed in all their endeavors. These young men represent the future of Gardner-Webb baseball and they are eager to bring a championship home to Boiling Springs.