Bigger, Faster and Stronger: That's how Henderson State head coach Cody Hooten sums up his 2018 Reddies baseball squad.
In his eighth season as skipper of the Reddies, Hooten believes this year's squad has the potential to return Henderson to the NCAA postseason.

"We feel like with the success that we have had in last three years and the improvement to our facilities, we have been able to bring in some really talented players that could get us to the next level," Hooten said. "Even with some early injuries, we believe this team has a chance to win a lot of games and advance to the postseason."

In 2015, the Reddies experienced the most historic season in Henderson State baseball history by earning their first-ever trip to the NCAA Regional, winning the Central Region Championship, and advancing to the NCAA Division II National Championships where the team finished fourth.

For the past three years, Henderson has finished as Great American Conference Tournament runners-up. The Reddies have recorded 30-plus win seasons each of the last three years. However, Henderson is still looking to win its first conference title since 1982.

This year's Reddies will rely on a solid pitching staff to help Henderson claim that first league title in 36 years and return to the NCAA Regionals.

There is no question that Henderson returns one of the top pitchers in the country in Third-Team ABCA/Rawlings All-American Bryant Haralson. The GAC Pitcher of the Year and a unanimous First-Team All-GAC selection, the senior from Atkins, Ark. earned GAC Pitcher of the Week honors a record six times and National Pitcher of the Week twice.

Haralson struck out a single-season record 114 batters in 104.1 innings, second most in GAC history. The right-hander ranked fourth nationally in strikeout to walk ratio at 8.77 in recording a 10-3 record with a 2.16 earned run average.

"Bryant is a special player that had a fantastic year for us last season," said Hooten. "He is such a competitor and he will have even a bigger workload this spring."
The Reddies will also rely on a pair of junior pitchers that suffered minor injuries a year ago but are at full strength this season in Zach Eschberger and Kris Priddy.

"Both Zach and Kris were injured for part of the year last season after pitching a lot as freshmen," Hooten said. "This year they will play a major role in the rotation and we are expecting good things from them."

Eschberger was in the starting rotation as a freshman, having a 7-2 record in GAC games with an overall 4.22 ERA. The junior left-hander from Bullard, Texas struck out 53 batters in 85.1 innings.

Priddy was 4-0 in 2016, making 21 appearances. The junior right-hander from Terrell, Texas recorded 41 punch-outs in 53.1 innings.

Auburn transfer Daniel Sprinkle will also be part of the Henderson weekend pitching rotation. The junior right-hander made 10 appearances and one start on the mound as a sophomore for the Tigers, striking out 12 batters in 11.2 innings. A native of Pine Bluff, Sprinkle played at White Hall High School where he was a 2015 All-American Southeast Region First-Team selection. Sprinkle helped lead White Hall to its third 5A state championship in four years while being named 5A tournament most valuable player.

The Reddies will have numerous relievers including returnees Logan DeRosier, Dylan McCain and Joseph Shepherd.

DeRosier appeared in nine games last season having worked nine innings. McCain and Shepherd were position players in 2017, but will do double duty this season.

Newcomers to the staff that are expected to see action include Jordan Harris, Spencer Taack, and redshirt freshmen Jordan Reed, Dylan Parnham and Brayden Bebee.

Sophomore hurlers Foxx Smith and Dalton O'Donnell, along with freshmen Andrew Swaim, Dalton Bray, Eric Groom, and Chance Junkerman are vying for work in mid-week games.  

In the infield will be returnees Joe Myers, Nolan Ryan and Jackson Martin, with Brentten Schwaab and Turner Sparks handling most of the catching duties.

Myers started 51 games as a true freshman and finished 2017 with a .288 average, while Ryan hit for a .291 average. Martin appeared in 17 games and was 5-for-12 as a pinch-hitter.

New to the infield will be Zack Gray at first-base, with Brandon Pollock set to start at shortstop.

Gray played one year at High Point University (North Carolina) where he appeared in 25 games, starting 19. The senior from Hamilton, Ohio attended Olney Central Community College and posted a .315 average, with eight home runs and 45 RBI his sophomore year.

Pollock comes to Henderson after spending a year at South Mountain Community College where he posted a .270 batting average with 11 stolen bases.

Only McCain returns to the outfield along with Shepherd who saw limited time last year due to injury. McCain posted a .245 average with three home runs and 31 RBI, while Shepherd only played in eight games going 7-for-28 at the plate before suffering a season ending injury.
Caleb Carr, Taylor Langston and Harris will be among those in the outfield for the Reddies.

Carr redshirted last year at Central Arkansas before transferring to Henderson. A two-time All-Southeast Arkansas selection at White Hall High School, Carr earned All-State honor his senior year after having a .540 batting average with 34 RBI, 16 doubles and 11 stolen bases.

Langston transfers from Barton County Community College where he played two seasons. The El Dorado, Ark. native will also be a closer on the mound.  Last year, the junior right-hander had a 2-0 record with 7 saves and a 2.70 ERA while striking out 39 batters in 33.1 innings.  Offensively he hit for a .286 average with a .443 slugging percentage.

Harris, who will also serve as a relief pitcher, earned All-American honors at Tabor College last season after hitting for a .447 average with 15 home runs and 77 RBI. On the mound, the right-hander from Tulsa, Okla. had a 6-2 record with 1 save while striking out 41 batters in 61 innings.

Lawfton Summers will serve as Henderson's designated hitter as well as see time at first-base. The sophomore from Marshfield, Mo. played one year at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College where he hit for a .310 average in 18 games earning all-academic team honors with the Red Ravens.

Henderson, picked fifth in the GAC Preseason Coaches Poll, begins its season on Friday in Houston, Texas where the Reddies will participate in the Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park.

The Reddies, playing in the annual event for the fourth time in five years, will open with Tarleton State on Friday at 10 a.m. On Saturday, Henderson will take on St. Mary's at 6 p.m. and finish the event on Sunday against Texas A&M-Kingsville with the first pitch set for 10 a.m. All three Henderson opponents, as well as the Reddies, received votes in Collegiate Baseball's Top 40 preseason poll.

"This is a tremendous experience for our players to play at a big league park," said Hooten. "We start the season against three great teams and we can't get carried away by the surroundings. I want the team to embrace it and enjoy the experience but we must be ready to play."

Henderson will be at home for the first time on Feb. 8, when the Reddies take on Nebraska-Kearney at 6 p.m. in the opening game of the HSU Invitational at Clyde Berry Field.

The Reddies will next face No. 1 Delta State on Friday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m., followed by a contest against Northwest Missouri on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 3:30 p.m. The final game of the tournament will take place on Sunday, Feb. 11 at noon when the Reddies face No. 40 Arkansas-Fort Smith.

LIVE STATS LINKS: FRI. vs TARLETON STATE | SAT. vs. ST. MARY'S | SUN. vs. TEXAS A&M KINGSVILLE