Emporia State coach Bob Fornelli doesn’t expect to see it this week. Maybe not even next week or the next.
But, sometime this season, the coach believes the Hornets’ hitters will show the run-scoring potential that Emporia State baseball hasn’t seen in a long time.
“It might take us a little bit to get going,” Fornelli said, “but we feel like we have a special lineup.”
Though ESU batted .324 and blasted 54 home runs a year ago, Fornelli believed his team should only increase those numbers with additional pop in the middle of his order.
Returning All-American Mark McBratney, who had 13 homers of his own last season, couldn’t disagree with Fornelli’s prediction.
“This lineup is probably the best lineup I’ve ever played on,” McBratney said. “I’ve played with good guys, D-I guys, the whole gamut. This is definitely the best lineup I’ve played with from top to bottom.”
Bill Sharp will lead off for ESU, taking on the same role he had last year for the Hornets when he batted .347 with 9 HRs and 50 RBI.
McBratney, who led the Hornets in average, home runs and RBI, will move to the two-hole because of the Hornets’ revamped lineup.
Pima (Ariz.) Community College transfer Keith Hernandez will occupy the third spot, with Kansas State transfer Matt Marasco taking over the cleanup position.
“He has a chance to be a very good player at this level,” Fornelli said, “and hopefully he’ll add a lot of power to the lineup.”
Sophomore Conner Crumbliss (.317 BA) will move into the five slot for ESU, followed by Neosho County transfer Nick Wolfe.
Nick Carlson (.303), Brian Majors and Tim Barger round out the order, with Emporia High graduate Jerry Cook alternating with Majors in the eight-hole.
“We’ve got some guys that can do some stickwork,” McBratney said. “It’s going to be pretty fun to watch.”
ESU will have the most trouble making up for its losses on the mound, as 22 of its combined wins last year came from departed twosome of All-American and Division II Pitcher of the Year Gabe Medina and Toro Trevino, who threw a pair of no-hitters.
“We’ll probably never see a combo like Gabe and Toro here again,” Fornelli said. “It’s just a matter of us to get some guys to believe in themselves and do some good things. We can have as good of arms as those guys, but those guys were pretty mentally tough.”
Brock Nehls will be the Hornets’ No. 1 starter, coming off a 7-4 season at Barton County and a 7-0 record this summer with an ERA below 1.00 in his summer wood-bat league.
Mickey Lara, who pitched the third-most innings for ESU last year, will step into the No. 2 spot.
Kellen Mitts — who was Coffeyville CC’s ace last year — will be the third starter, followed by lefty Brett Brandon as the No. 4 guy.
Trent Lare will begin as the closer after pitching for Oklahoma State last season.
“We feel like this staff has more depth,” Fornelli said. “We might not have that one guy that’s going to go 13-2, but we have enough depth that if somebody struggles, we can run somebody else out there, and we’re OK.”
ESU has high expectations after last year’s breakthrough 48-13 season and subsequent appearance in the school’s first-ever Division-II baseball championship.
The Hornets are ranked No. 8 in this year’s ABCA preseason poll and should have an immediate target on their backs.
“Guys have the right attitude and are ready to take that on,” McBratney said. “You’ve got to like that; you’ve got to love that. It’s a challenge everyday, and people are going to come at you with their best stuff.”
ESU will get its first test early — perhaps even too early — as it plays at No. 33 Angelo (Texas) State Friday in the first game of a three-game series.
The Hornets took their first infield of the season Tuesday on the field turf at Welch Stadium, being forced mostly inside because of the snow and ice. The players have not even seen live pitching yet this winter.
Still, McBratney said the team wouldn’t use the weather as an excuse in the early-season games.
“They haven’t played a baseball game, and we haven’t played a baseball game,” McBratney said. “I think, in this first part of the season, it’s whoever wants it more. You can get off to a great start by showing your determination.”