By Richard Polen
rpolen@joplinglobe.com
Pitching is a strength for the Missouri Southern baseball Lions as they begin their season today at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Ark.
At the same time, the depth of the Lions’ staff remains a concern for head coach Bryce Darnell.
The Lions return three experienced starters, including preseason All-American C.J. Maffei, from a team that was 35-20 a year ago and finished third in the MIAA.
Right-handers Carter Lance and Garrett Groom also started at least 10 games for Lions last season, and each of the three starters pitched three complete games.
“We’re going to rely a lot on those three guys,” Darnell said. “Their experience will play a big part of a successful season.
“We obviously have a lot of question marks. We have to find a No. 4 starter and a couple of guys in the bullpen.”
Missouri Southern’s season opener is scheduled for 5 p.m. today, followed by a doubleheader Saturday at Southern Arkansas.
The road trip continues next week with doubleheaders scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday at Arkansas Tech in Russellville.
“The weather has provided us with plenty of challenges,” Darnell said. “Hopefully, we’ll gave a good weekend.”
Maffei, a senior left-hander from Parsons, Kan., was 9-3 with a 2.70 ERA in 13 starts last season. He allowed just one home run and struck out 74 batters in 86 2/3 innings.
Lance was 6-3 with a 4.18 ERA in 71 innings and walked just 12 batters, the fewest among the Lions’ starters a year ago.
Groom, who was 5-4 with a 4.46 ERA, was second on the staff in innings pitched and strikeouts last season. He struck out 64 in 82 2/3 innings.
Beyond those three, the Lions begin the season with more questions than answers. One candidate as a fourth starter is Corey Wells, who was 4-2 last season but allowed 56 hits and 19 walks in 33 2/3 innings.
“Corey Wells will play a major part,” said Darnell, who is also counting on Zak Porath, a red-shirt freshman from Carl Junction; Tyler Jinks, a junior right-hander from Springfield, and Kevin Humphrey, a senior left-hander from Owasso, Okla., to play significant roles.
Senior right-hander Josh Turner comes to Missouri Southern with three seasons of college experience at Texarkana College, Weatherford College and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
The Lions also have possibilities with younger pitchers on the staff, including Bo Bergen, a left-handed freshman from McDonald County; Mitch Albright, a sophomore right-hander from Galena, Kan., and Kyle Coatney, a freshman right-hander from Monett.
Darnell said he does not expect to get pitching help from his position players other than Porath. Justin Beal, the Lions’ starting shortstop last season, started seven games as a pitcher and impressed scouts from the Philadelphia Phillies enough to be chosen in the 28th round of the Major League Baseball draft.
“If we get a couple of guys hurt, our depth will be a major issue for us,” Darnell said. “We only have 11 pitchers. Our pitching numbers as far as depth are not what we would like them to be. The depth we have will come from our program.
“That’s why we recruit,” he said. “We have to replace those who left and hopefully we’ll be a little better.”
