EUGENE, Ore.  – An event 50 years in the making is finally here as the Bushnell Baseball team will officially open the 2022 season in California this weekend.
 
With all the planning and preparation in the rear-view, the hard work is just beginning as Head Coach Tommy Richards aims to see the cultivation of a winning program take shape from day one.
 
"I am really proud of how this group has come together as a team and worked really hard," he said. "They have created a good team environment and we are excited to see how it all rolls out. Right now our goal is just to win one-in-a-row."
 
Position by position, man by man, the 27 players and two redshirts come in at all stages of development, and Richards said, "We are focused on development the whole way through. It's game time and we are in season mode, and we all want to compete, and that is extremely important. At the same time taking the attitude of building this program every single day is the focus."
 
CATCHERS
 
"Our catchers are an easy group to talk about," said Richards. "We have three very smart catchers, all with great leadership qualities."
 
All three catchers are expected to see plenty of time behind the dish as the team uses a platoon model, especially during the conference slate which features back-to-back double headers each weekend.
 
Leading the way is Kyle Casperson a COVID-Freshman transfer from Lower Columbia College. Richards said, "Casperson is the guy who has really pulled away as the leader. He has some experience and communicates really well with the pitching staff."
 
Brandon Reed is a freshman from Salem Academy who was a three-time First-Team All-State player and batted .425 during his senior year. "Brandon is a young player but probably our most offensively consistent catcher," said Richards.
 
The final piece is a graduate transfer from Southern California, Caleb Watson. A four-year member of the baseball team and NCAA Division II Biola University, Watson retains two years of eligibility with the Beacons. Coach Richards said, "coming from a good program like Biola, Watty has some strong experience at the DII level.
 
PITCHERS
 
The 13 members of the inaugural Bushnell pitching staff, like the entire team, reflect all levels of development heading into the year. While a true rotation is still taking shape, four starters have emerged as probable "weekend guys" for the season.
 
Sophomore Ethan Sachs is a righty, coming to Bushnell from a three-year stint at Riverside City College where he spent time under the tutelage of Bushnell pitching coach Youngjin Yoon. Richards said, "Sachs has a consistent delivery, pounds the strike zone, and has a pretty good mix of pitches. He is a good athlete and has that experience that you want out of a number one starter."
 
Right-hander Ethan Paulson has four years of eligibility remaining, but comes in with time spent at both Southwestern Oregon CC and San Diego City College. The Encinitas, California native comes from an athletic family as his father was a PGA pro and his brother plays in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. "Paulson is a bigger body guy, possesses good command and has a split-finger that gives a different look and has a ton of depth," said Richards.
 
The third and fourth starters are both true freshmen from the island of O'ahu. Coach Richards refers to lefty Kai Keamo as a Manny-Pacquiao-type figure. "Kai is a dynamic athlete with a lot of upside. He throws a tight slider and he is a competitive dude who doesn't get scared on the mound."
 
The number-four starter will be righty Jahshua Yacapin. "Yacapin has a heavy fast ball and did a good job in the fall of throwing a lot of strikes down in the zone," said Richards. "He is a competitive player and had earned his way into the rotation."
 
The staff will also include a few swiss-army knife players, available for spot starts, long relief or anything else that will be needed.
 
Adam Sabatino is a sophomore righty, hailing from the bay area that played at City College of San Francisco. Coach Richards said, 'Sabatino is a middle-reliever and leverage situation pitcher, but we can extend him out. He is a great athlete and can be explosive. He should log some good innings for us.
 
Right-handed COVID-Freshman Daniel Furman comes in from Lower Columbia College. The former All-State player from Olympia is a two-way player for the Beacons and will also be the primary Centerfielder. "Furman is a closer-type guy for us," said Richards, "but we have the option to give him more innings in a weekend if we need to. He is very competitive, has great tempo and has the mentality to be a closer. He will help the team out on the mound whenever we call on him."
 
The rest of the bullpen is stacked with an ideal mix of power and accuracy, with both left and right-handed arms to fill in as needed.
 
Right-handed relievers include true freshman Jayden Soriano along with COVID-Freshmen David Schwartz and Colby Knutzen.
 
Soriano hails from Honolulu, where he prepped at Farrington High. "Soriano has done a good job coming in," said Richards. "He has a clean arm path and will be worked into some leverage situtations."
 
Schwartz comes in after one season at West Hills College Coalinga in California. Richards said, "Schwartz is an older player and has a lot of tilt and should pitch some key innings. He gives us a different look with the ball coming in at a steep angle. He can be very tough to hit when he plays off of that with his breaking ball."
 
Knutzen, from Blaine, Washington, brings in a year of experience at Centralia College. "Colby Knutzen is a competitive dude and will log some innings as he improves his consistency with the strike zone," said Richards.
 
Sophomore Trenton Hough is another righty and a transfer from Lane Community College who is currently working his way back from an injury. Richards said, "Hough is a guy we are going to need and we are hoping to get him healthy. If we get two-to-four innings out of him in a weekend that would be a good thing for us. He throws a lot of strikes, has a good mix of pitches and knows how to make outs."
 
Dealing from the left side of the mount will be a pair of true freshmen in Brendan Frasier (Redlands, Calif.) and Gregory Joe (St. Michaels, Ariz.). Coach Richards said, "Brendan is a young and athletic two-way player and is emerging as a pitcher for us. Joe works his tail off. He is going to continue to develop because he is smart, he works hard, and it really matters to him."
 
Another key member of the pitching staff, who won't see action until next season is senior transfer Abbott Haffar. After playing previously at UC Riverside, he has the potential to be a number one starter once his eligibility gets sorted out. "Abbott is a special talent for sure. The arsenal he has is ridiculous. He has a lot of aspirations and we want to help get him there."
 
Lefty Noah Serna, a transfer from the NAIA's Missouri Valley College, will also redshirt this season. "Noah is a true Beacon and a great fit for our team and for the school. He is a competitor, and wants to be out there, but his arm needs another year to build up in preparation for the future."
 
INFIELDERS
 
Coach Richards said, "You build a team around pitching and defense and that is important in the infield. The guys who are going to play in the infield are the guys who play the best defense."
 
That defense-first mindset bleeds throughout the infield that boasts a number of flexible players able to see time at second, third and shortstop. Leading the way are a pair of true freshmen with Reece Carganilla (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Jaxson Frasier (Harrisburg, Ore.). Both players are expected to provide contributions at the plate and on the base paths as well. 
 
"Reece has been our most consistent infielder," adds Richards. "He doesn't look like a college baseball player based on his size, but he really defends. He will be thrown into the fire right away because he can pick it and throw it. He is also extremely smart and has a knack for running the bases and could lead us in steals."
 
Richards added, "Jaxson can really hit, and has made some strides defensively. We are looking forward to what he does for us over the next four years."
 
Not to be overlooked in the middle infield is Jordan Wilson, another COVID-Freshman with two years of collegiate experience and four years of eligibility. After redshirting at NAIA LSU-Shreveport as a freshman, Wilson transferred to Antelope Valley College in Southern California where he earned First-Team All-Conference and All-State honors at one of the preeminent JuCo conferences in the nation.  Coach Richards said, "Jordan has a ton of potential and may have the most pop out of anyone in our lineup. Once he develops some more consistency he will be hard to keep out of our lineup.
 
Jake Stoner, a COVID-Freshman out of Tacoma CC, comes in with experience at second, third and short and is a candidate to start at any of them. "Jake is a good athlete and a swiss army knife defender which will be huge," said Richards.
 
Another emerging talent expected to get his opportunities is local product Dylan Martin out of Marist HS. Richards said, "Dylan was an All-State wide receiver in high school, but now that he is strictly playing baseball, he is refining his skills and evolving. We don't know what his exact role will be, but we know he has a bright future."
 
At first base will be another true freshman from Hawaii, Jameson Hussey. "Jameson has earned his spot at a deep position for us," said Richards. "He has been really consistent, defensively and at the plate. He has the mindset for success."
 
Also expected to see some time at first base will be Noah Montoya, Jeff Fripp, and Dylan Carson.
 
Montoya, a transfer from SWOCC with four years remaining, is a true utility player. "Noah didn't come in as a first-baseman," said Richards, "but he has worked hard, learned the foot patterns and is probably our number two."
 
Fripp is a junior and also played last at Southwestern Oregon CC. He has been battling injury, but as a strong hitter is looking more towards a Designated Hitter role as the season opens. Coach Richards said, "What stands out the most about Fripp are his intangibles. He is an older player and has gone through it, and has this contagious, optimistic personality. He is a natural positive leader with a contagious smile."
 
Carson, out of Churchill High in Eugene, transferred in at the semester from Mt. Hood Community College and has four years of eligibility remaining. Richards said, "Dylan is an infielder and outfielder, and we still need to see everything he can do. He has the potential to hit in the middle of the lineup but we are still evaluating his strengths and weaknesses."
 
OUTFIELD
 
Coach Richards is quick to point out the youth of his outfield, but with it a skill level that will be highly necessary. He said, 'It is so important to have an outfield that protects the pitchers, gets to any balls, and makes those plays. We may be young but we have guys that can fly around and cover a lot of ground."
 
In left field you have true freshman Peyton Hino from Honolulu, Hawaii. "I can't say enough about the seriousness he brings to the daily effort. He is consistent and competitive and is an 'actions-over-words' kind of guy. He works his tail off and could play anywhere in the outfield."
 
A number of hybrid players will fill the rest of the outfield, led by Furman, who will patrol centerfield. Furman just brings a competitive spirit and makes our whole outfield feel older when he's on the field," said Richards.
 
Montoya and Frazier are strong candidates to start in right field, as is Jacob Richardson, a true freshman out of Auburn, California who hit .340 and played error-free ball as a senior last season. Richards said, "Jacob is a physical, young player with a ton of potential. The key for him will be getting him more experience against higher level pitching."
 
CJ Smith, a freshman from Churchill High, will also be in the mix for time in the outfield once he battles through some injury. "CJ has an incredible work ethic. He is a quiet leader with a good stroke and a short and compact swing."
 
OUTLOOK
 
The Beacons will play over 20 non-conference games to begin the season, including some against opponents from the Cascade Collegiate Conference as part of a conference-wide scheduling partnership. Then the real work will begin as they face off against the formidable CCC, starting off at home against their closest natural rival, Corban University on March 18. The conference also includes No. 4 ranked Lewis-Clark State. The Warriors are the ten-time defending champs of the Cascade Conference/NAIA-West and are the perennial hosts of the NAIA World Series.
 
"In a normal year, you go into it with a sense of what the conference will be like, where you finished last season, what personnel changes have happened, and how all of that looks. We are coming in fresh, really with no idea of how our guys and our team stacks up, so we are only able to worry about ourselves and what we can do one day at a time."
 
The season will begin on Friday when the Beacons hit the road for Redding, California, taking on Simpson University for a four-game set. The anticipated debut at the Hamlin Sports Complex will take place on February 18 when the Beacons host Corban University and Oregon Tech for a weekend cross-over event.