AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia University Texas baseball team will open its 2015 slate on Friday at the Texas Lutheran Tournament at Katt-Isbel Field in Seguin.
The Tornados will begin their campaign against No. 29 George Fox at 11 a.m. Friday. The squad also will face Whittier at 3 p.m. the same day.
Concordia Texas will wrap up the tournament at 3 p.m. Saturday against Centenary. CTX then will host George Fox at 11 a.m. Sunday at Tornado Field.
The Tornados welcome back 20 letter winners from last year's squad that posted a 31-14 overall record and captured the American Southwest Conference regular season title with a 22-10 mark. Concordia, which is led by sixth-year head coach
Tommy Boggs, was picked as the preseason ASC favorite.
Two starting pitchers return from last season's record-breaking staff. Right-hander
Cameron Cox (8-3, 1.35 ERA) and southpaw
Ragan Pope (3-1, 3.50 ERA) provide a 1-2 punch for Boggs' pitching staff. The senior duo played a large role in the Tornados' ASC-record 2.35 ERA a year ago.
Concordia also returns talent in the field, including 2014 All-ASC honorees
Gareth Hutton and
Connor Bertsch. Hutton earned third-team honors behind the plate after hitting .348 last season, while Bertsch was a third-team selection at first base, where he hit .299 with 10 doubles, four home runs and 26 RBIs.
The Tornados also welcome back outfielders
Cole Calder (.286/7 2B/14 SB) and
Colton Poindexter (.260/3 3B/2 HR/20 RBI) and left-handed slugger
Garrett Benyo (.346/7 2B/1 HR/17 RBI).
