Photo - Austin Lindell
JAMESTOWN – There's a different kind of buzz around the Jamestown Community College baseball team as they prepare for the upcoming 2023 season.
"We've gotten in a lot of work going back to the fall," said second year head coach Jerico Weitzel. "It was a good chance for us to back things down on a skill level individually and then bring it all together on the team aspect."
The Jayhawks will return 12 players from a year ago including pitcher Bryce Jackson (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown), pitcher Adonis Collado (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy HS), outfielder/catcher Wyatt Hennessy (Mukwonago, WI/Mukwonago HS), and infielder Nate Johnson (Lakewood, NY/Southwestern High) who were named captains earlier this week.
"These guys have been great leaders for our ball club going into the season," Weitzel said. "They know from last season how I'd like certain things to be down so when we break down into position groups, I look to them to take charge. In a way, it's like having a bunch of coaches on the field where I don't have to micromanage certain things."
Joining Jackson and Collado on the mound will be Tanner Potter (Trumansburg, NY/Trumansburg HS) as established starters with players like Zach Rohlin (Russell, PA/Eisenhower HS), Eddie Baroli (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown HS), Troy Moussette (Newfield, NY/Newfield HS), and Chris Gable (Marianna, FL/Marianna HS) all earning a chance to compete for starting roles within the rotation.
"Bryce, Adonis, and Tanner are all guys that we are looking at to get us going in the rotation," said Weitzel. "We got other guys that will have their opportunity to compete for spots within the rotation and I'm excited to see what they bring in the early part of the season."
In the outfield, coach Weitzel will have his options with guys like Hennessy, Timothy Beimel (Saint Marys, PA/Saint Marys HS), Timothy Johnson (San Tan valley, AZ/Comb HS), Hayden Hoag (Salamanca, NY/Salamanca HS), and De'Sean Rogers (Winter Haven, FL/Winter Haven HS).
"We have good depth in the outfield this season with Hennessy, Johnson, Beimel, Hoag, and Rogers," said Weitzel. "Hennessy will also be our designated hitter and see time behind the plate which will open up opportunities for the other guys."
In the infield, Nate Johnson has solidified the shortstop position with Kenny Nickson III (Erie, PA/Erie HS) holding down first base. Chris Navarro (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown HS), Riley Piazza (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown HS), and Lucas Marsh (Salamanca, HS/Ellicottville HS) will see time at second base early in the season. At third base, Royce Frazier (Easton, PA/Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg HS) will see the majority of time there while mixing in Potter and Marsh.
"Nate Johnson and Kenny Nickson III have looked really solid in their positions leading up to the position," Weitzel said. "The guys competing at second and third will have the opportunity in the early going to show what they can do to earn more time at those spots."
Behind the plate will be Kameron Melendez (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown) who will see a good amount of action to go along with Hennessy.
"Kam's return this season was very important for us," said Weitzel. "He has good chemistry with our pitching staff which plays very important role in what we are trying to do defensively."
JCC will start the season with four games against the University of Cincinnati-Clermont (March 11-12), four against Cecil College (March 18-19) and a doubleheader against Westmoreland County Community College on March 21st.
"We don't get a lot of time outside to practice being up here in the northeast prior to the season," Weitzel said. "It'll give us a good opportunity to knock the rust off and see what our guys can do."
After the 10-game road trip to start the season, the Jayhawks will play host to Onondaga Community College on March 25th, traveling to OCC on the 26th, and back home against Tompkins Cortland Community College on March 30th.
During the month of April, JCC will five home doubleheaders starting with Genesee Community College on April 8th, Corning Community College on April 15th, Finger Lakes Community College on April 22nd, Gannon University on April 26th, and Niagara County Community College on April 30th. The Jayhawks will wrap up the regular season at home on May 7th against Erie Community College.
"Our region is one of the toughest regions in D3 baseball," said Weitzel. "I'd argue that our division in the west you have teams routinely ranked in the top-10. It's good competition, good brand of baseball. There are only four spots in our division to advance into the postseason. The message to our guys this year is that doing the little things that will help us get to where we need to go."
For a full list of schedule and times, visit jccjayhawks.com.
Prior to the opening weekend, the Jayhawks held a preseason press conference. See what some of the players had to say about the upcoming season:
Adonis Collado | So. | RHP
"Our coach has prepared us and we have a different kind of players here. This year we have more guys that are ready to compete. I feel as though the mentality of the players is different and everyone is here for the same reason."
Bryce Jackson | So. | RHP
"The west side of our division is very competitive. Niagara County CC and Erie CC are usually ranked. I definitely believe that we have a good chance to get our foot in the door and be on of the top teams in our region."
Wyatt Hennessy | So. | OF/RHP/C
"My routine has switched up a little bit since coach asked me to be ready to catch some games. Physically, it's just getting my legs back under me and getting my hips to where I can move laterally. The mentality has never changed, you are behind the plate and you see everything going on. I feel as though I have a good baseball IQ which will help make the transition smoother."
Kenny Nickson III | So. | 1B
"Being ready for any situation has been my focus this offseason, knowing I will be the guy at first base. I'm looking to stay consistent this year whether it's my hitting, throwing, or fielding. I want to be trusted to get that last out for us if my number is called upon."
Nate Johnson | So. | MIF
"Our expectations this year is to show that growth from last season to this season. We want to make postseason and make a late push into the month of May. We've been putting in the work dating back to our fall season and working hard in the gym. I look forward to seeing that pay off for us."
Riley Piazza | So. | MIF/RHP
"I've been doing my best to get my work in this offseason whether its in the weight room, in the cages or working on my fielding. My goal for this season individually is to get on base, keep my ERA low and to be sound defensively."
Timothy Beimel | So. | OF
"There's a different mentality on this team compared to my team from the last school I was at. Everybody has that drive, everybody wants to win and have that competitive edge. I knew that with coach Weitzel that I would have that opportunity to win and show those characteristics."
Tanner Potter | So. |RHP/3B
"I want to be an innings eater type of guy when pitching. I want to be a guy that the team can rely on to get deep into the games and not worry about having someone else on the mound carry the load after me."
Royce Frazier | So. | IF
"Coming from a winning program like Herkimer, I learned that a winning program doesn't happen without losing first. I believe with coach Weitzel we are laying down the foundation of a winning culture. Being apart of that from the very beginning will be something that I look back on and will appreciate."
