SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara baseball opens their 2021 season with a three-game road series against eighth-ranked UC Santa Barbara this weekend.  The series begins on Friday and continues through Sunday at Caesar Uyeska Stadium. 

Game times are as follows:

• Friday – 3 p.m.

• Saturday – 1 p.m.

• Sunday – 1 p.m.

2021 SEASON PREVIEW

The 2021 edition of Santa Clara baseball will look to build on the momentum from last season when they got off to a hot start with a 12-5 record, including wins against nationally-ranked Stanford and Georgia, before the season was cut short due to the COVID pandemic.

"It's definitely a unique situation with COVID.  My biggest fear was what type of baseball shape they would be in with the long layoff but I've been very pleased with how they've returned.  We are making the most of it, doing everything we can to be prepared and to be competitive," said Broncos head coach Rusty Filter entering his fourth season at the helm.  "I am overjoyed along with my coaching staff of Jon Karcich, BK Santy and Paul Moeller at having the boys back at the facility and practicing.  It's just nice seeing their smiling faces, trying to be productive with baseball and fill their time with what they missed since we were last together."

The roster is composed of 46 players including starters returning at every position after the NCAA allowed schools to provide student-athletes an additional season of competition.  The Broncos return nearly 98 percent of at-bats and 92 percent of innings pitched from last season's squad that batted .269 and posted a 3.50 ERA.

"Our strength as it was last year is our older players, the veterans that have been around and the leadership they bring daily," said Filter who will have 32 returning players which saw action the last two seasons including 10 enrolled in graduate school.

Filter will continue the same 'boat crew' leadership system implemented in 2020.  Along with the six boat crew leaders from last season – seniors Tony Boetto and Jason Dicochea, graduate students Freddie Erlandson, Travis Howard, Jake MacNichols and Austin Reyes – two new leaders were added in graduate school enrollee Ryan McCarthy and sophomore Coleman Brigman, for a total of eight council members.

"We've stayed with the foundation that was laid last year.  It's about accountability and preparation and it allows me to have meetings with the boat crew leaders separately.  It falls in line with what I believe in, which is 'coach fed and player led.'  I want them to lead us and be a part of the identity on how we play," said Filter.  "They have earned their positions of leadership.  We are so fortunate that our better players are the older players who are really willing to help the younger guys.  I'm thrilled with the leadership up to this point."

An incoming class of 10 freshmen dot the roster this season: two-way player Skylar Hales; infielders Efrain Manzo along with twins Casey and Cato Kleinman; outfielders JonJon Berring, Kenny DeCelle, Michael Diaz and Michael Mugan; right-handed pitcher Rowan Trosky and left-handed pitcher Cade Connolly.

"The freshmen are wide-eyed and getting after it.  The situation is when they come in and see all these returning players, they have a choice of either putting their best foot forward or take time off and get put behind," said Filter.  "I've been really pleased with the freshmen group thus far as they are a totally different type of group than the older players.  The older guys are physical but the younger guys are faster, a little more twitchy and multi-dimensional that can play a lot of positions." 

PITCHERS

The strength of the pitching staff will once again be the number of the pitchers with 22 total including 18 right-handers and four left-handers.

Last season, the Bronco pitchers held opponents to just a .212 batting average over 151.2 innings and saw seven different pitchers start on the bump.  At least three pitchers saw action in each game and as many as seven in a game.

Filter expects a similar scenario this season, at least early on, utilizing the combination of veteran and young arm talent on the roster.

"Overall, what we've emphasized to the pitchers is not to get caught up in anything too early," said Filter as the pitchers get acclimated to spring practice during these unprecedented times.  "They just need to do the best whenever they're asked to pitch and do not get caught up on who's pitching where and when.  I'm comfortable with a lot of them and I feel they'll be competitive."

Erlandson had a phenomenal 2020 campaign where the big right-hander did not allow a single run over 16.1 innings spanning four starts.  The sixth-year graduate student will provide a calming presence to the rotation.

Senior left-handed pitcher Russell Grant II (5.1 IP, 6 SO in 2020) is returning from an injury he sustained last year but Filter is pleased with his progress.

Per Filter, "Russell has looked good.  I have to be patient with him and ease him back into it.  I am expecting big things out of him."

Graduate student right-handed pitcher Matthew McGarry (4 GS, 14.0 IP, 14 SO) has "elite stuff in the mid-90s" according to Filter.  Both he and Erlandson had the longest outings by a starter last season going five innings.

Sophomore Cole Kitchen (13.1 IP, 1.35 ERA, 17 SO) gained valuable experience as a freshman, starting in three games and has taken a step since, from a velocity standpoint.

In the backend, the Broncos will have two proven closers in Howard (3-1, 3.07 ERA) and redshirt senior Ethan Heinrich (9.2 IP, 1.86 ERA).  Howard made five appearances last season and boasted an eye opening 21-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 14.1 innings.  Meanwhile Heinrich recorded a team-high three saves and held opponents to a .176 batting average.

Other experienced right-handed arms out of the bullpen include savvy veterans like graduate students Alex Waldsmith (7 APP, 12.1 IP, 2.92 ERA), Brandon Buckley (5 APP, 1-1); senior Locke Bernhardt (6 APP, 14.1 IP, 13 SO); juniors Julian Tristan (2 APP), Alex Reelfs (6 APP, 1-0); sophomores Jared Feikes (4 APP, 1.29 ERA), August Souza (5 APP) and those are that looking to make their Bronco debuts in graduate student Alec Olmstead, redshirt freshmen Cade Pilchard, Jeffrey Heinrich, Jake Putnam and incoming freshmen Trosky and Hales.

Redshirt senior Holden Bernhardt returns after missing all of the 2020 season with an injury.  He will be joined in the bullpen by fellow southpaws, sophomore Nick Sando (4 APP, 2.45 ERA) and newcomer Cade Connolly.  

CATCHERS

The Broncos will have two experienced leaders behind the plate in MacNichols (.254/.413/.635, 7 HR, 19 RBI) and Boetto (.256 BA, 10 starts).

"Early on, I'm anticipating rotating them," said Filter.  "We have to keep MacNichols' bat in the lineup and Boetto has gotten himself in really good shape so I see those two getting the bulk of the playing time."

MacNichols has 89 career starts as a catcher but only 16 of those coming in the last two seasons as the coaching staff looked to keep him fresh in the lineup.  And for good reason because he has belted 37 career home runs putting him just one shy of tying him atop the school record held by Kevin Dunton (1982-85).

Sophomore Eamonn Lance and junior John Hanley will add depth to the position.

"Eamonn is another guy who is physical with the bat and has improved quite a bit.  Hanley is another big, physical player.  I feel good about the depth of the position," said Filter.

INFIELDERS

Santa Clara returns a bevy of players with experience in the infield providing versatility and depth for Filter.

McCarthy (.319 BA, 18 RBI) and Dicochea (.304 BA, .415 OBP) have locked up the starting positions at first base and shortstop, respectively.

"Behind McCarthy, we could see MacNichols when he needs a break from catching and freshman Skylar Hales who is super athletic.   Skylar is a big target that I think eventually will be a really good defensive player," said Filter.  "McCarthy's just done a great job for us since I've been here and he's also really taken on a leadership position and done a good job mentoring Skylar."

Dicochea has started in all the games the last two seasons and is as steady as they come.

"Dico does so much with his IQ, just being in the right position on all cuts and relays and picking the ball up and throwing where it's supposed to be.  Plus he's been good with the bat," said Filter.

Casey Kleinman has caught the eye of the coaching staff during practices with his defense.

"The young freshman has really impressed me with his defense," said Filter.  "Casey is small in stature but big in ability.  He's low to the ground, his glove stays down and he's got a big arm.  In late games I would have no hesitation putting him in defensively."

At second base, junior Dawson Brigman (.254 BA) is the leading candidate after starting in all 17 games last season.

"We moved Dawson from shortstop to second base last year and he did not commit an error.  He played really strong, made some great plays and he has a little more power now," said Filter.  "Behind him, there's an array of guys – Matthew Calhoun who is a good defensive player, Austin Reyes, Blake Faddoul, Matt Jew, the Kleinman twins Casey and Cato, all these guys can play multiple positions in the infield."

Connor Henriques (17 starts, 10 RBI), a junior, has started in 63 games at the hot corner in his first two season but faces stiff competition this spring. 

"Third base is another tight competition as it's a position we're trying to figure out the best way to play it," said Filter.  "Henriques has played third just about everyday in the two years he's been here.  We moved Reyes to third and he's looked great.  Jew has also improved. We also have freshman Efrain Manzo who is a really good hitter and a potential DH candidate early on.  Third base is a tough call right now with strong competition.  Early on, experience is important but I can see any of those guys take the position and run with it." 

OUTFIELDERS

Coleman Brigman (.306 BA, .383 OBP, 5 SB) will once again patrol centerfield after a solid freshman campaign.  From the leadoff position, he safely reached base in all but one game.

Bowes (.279 BA, .407 OBP, 2 HR) and Jew (.308/.491/.641) will flank Brigman at right and left field, respectively.

Jew is coming off an impressive season where D1Baseball recognized him as one of the top sophomore hitters in the nation.

Two-way player Kitchen is expected to see action as a defensive substitute late in games where the coaching staff considers him to be one of the best defensive outfielders on the team.

The Broncos will have a couple of experienced left-handed hitting options to platoon with junior Gavin Maloney and sophomore Michael O'Hara or from the right side with redshirt sophomore Cam Allie, who returns after missing all last season with injuries.

The freshmen quartet of Berring, DeCelle, Diaz and Mugan will add depth and in Berring's case, an element the Broncos have not had with his speed.

"JonJon Berring can fly.  He is definitely a plus-plus runner," said Filter.  "We are asking him to get on base, steal bases and basically cause havoc with that tool.  He is a good defender so I'm excited about his future and what he brings."

DESIGNATED HITTER

In the DH spot, Filter has identified a couple of options in Manzo, Lance and against right-handed pitching, O'Hara.

"We will use the DH spot quite a bit to give guys chances because no one has taken it yet," said Filter.  If MacNichols is not playing on the field, he'll obviously take the spot but other than that, the DH spot is still a revolving door right now."