Texas State Bobcats
Overall rank: #44
Conference rank: #1 Southland
Texas State Team Page
Texas State is wishing about now that it had a little extra power in its bats. The Bobcats came within two runs of taking out in-state power Texas in the NCAA baseball tournament, but Texas State saw its season end with a 4-3 loss at the hands of the powerful Longhorns. Texas State has to overcome the loss of some key players, like every other team out there, and the Bobcats would like nothing more than to make another trip to postseason action.
2011: 41-23, 24-9
2011 Postseason: Eliminated in Austin Regional (lost to Kent State and Texas, defeated Princeton)
Coach: Ty Harrington
Field Players:
Andrew Stumph, Tyler Sibley and Casey Kalenkosky provide stability to the infield, as does Jeff McVaney to the outfield. Sibley and McVaney are among the top stolen-base threats on the roster, while Kalenkosky and McVaney are two of the Bobcats’ returning home-run threats, so the team should have plenty of pop in its bats. Of the six players with the highest batting averages on the team, four of them are back. Kalenkosky’s batting average and power should help the team overcome the loss of players like infielder Kyle Kubitza, who hit .310 with seven homers and 16 stolen bases. McVaney becomes the top outfield threat and should help the Bobcats overcome the loss of Bret Atwood, who hit .293 with 21 steals last year.
Pitchers:
Carson Smith (9-3, 1.99 ERA, 129 strikeouts) has graduated, leaving a big hole in the starting rotation that will have to be filled in order for Texas State to go forward in conference play and the NCAA tournament. Two pitchers, Colton Turner (9-2, 4.33 ERA) and Mitchell Pitts (6-3, 3.66), figure to share the burden of filling Smith’s shoes. Travis Ballew (4-2, 5.06) provided seven quality starts, and he was a better pitcher than his ERA might indicate.
Who to Watch:
Keep an eye on McVaney thanks to his dual threat on the pitcher’s mound and at the plate. McVaney is a legitimate all-around threat who doesn’t strike out that often, is a home-run threat (10) and a threat on the basepaths (12 stolen bases). His 53 runs scored a year ago will give the team some scoring punch. McVaney can also close games for the Bobcats; his nine saves were the most on the team last season. McVaney posted a 1-3 record and 2.08 ERA while striking out 24 batters.
Final Projection:
The losses of Smith, Kubitza and Atwood will cost the Bobcats some power, both on the pitcher’s mound and in the batter’s box. Infielder Garrett Mattlage, a three-time all-state player in West Texas, can help replace some of the hitting lost, along with infielder/outfielder Brooks Orton (.574 batting average, 17 doubles at Cedar City High School in Utah) and transfer Louis Head (Texas Tech) hopes for a fresh start after a 1-2 record and 9.11 ERA during his sophomore season. Despite the three losses, there is enough power coming back so Texas State could make a legitimate run at a Southland Conference title and a repeat trip to the NCAA tournament.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At bats: Tyler Sibley, IF, 256
Hits: Tyler Sibley, IF, 87
Home Runs: Casey Kalenkosky, IF/C, 21
RBIs: Casey Kalenkosky, IF/C, 69
Runs: Tyler Sibley, IF, 62
Stolen Bases: Tyler Sibley, IF, 20
Wins: Colton Turner, P, 9
Innings Pitched: Mitchell Pitts, P, 105.2
Strikeouts: Mitchell Pitts and Colton Turner, P, 72
Saves: Jeff McVaney, OF/P, 9
