SEARCY – If a team's desire to start its season could be measured in pounds, the Harding baseball squad has reached "Can't Wait" level.
The Bisons spent most of the day Thursday hauling hundreds of pounds of snow off Jerry Moore Field in preparation for their season-opening series that begins Saturday against Maryville University of St. Louis, Mo.
“The players really worked hard today,” said head coach Dr. Patrick McGaha. “They are ready to play, but we knew there was no chance we would get the games in if we didn't get the snow off the field today.”
Searcy received several inches of snow Wednesday, and the weather has caused a slight change in the series. Instead of playing a doubleheader Saturday and one game Sunday, the teams will meet Saturday for a single, nine-inning game beginning at 1:30 p.m. Sunday the teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
Harding will showcase two newcomers on the mound this weekend and will welcome back senior Brodie Brumley, who missed all of last season after undergoing elbow surgery.
The Bisons will open the weekend with sophomore Ryan Modglin starting the season opener. Modglin transferred to Harding after playing one season at Missouri State. He missed last season at Missouri State with a shoulder injury, but pitched six no-hitters in his high school career in Scott City, Mo. Also an outstanding hitter, Modglin will likely be Harding's primary designated hitter.
Brumley makes his return in Sunday's first game. The right-hander has a 15-8 record and 5.74 ERA in his Harding career. Brumley will be making his 30th career start.
Also making his Harding pitching debut Sunday will be sophomore Logan Holthaus, a transfer from Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo. He pitched in 10 games, all in relief, as a freshman. Holthaus went 11-1 as a high school senior at Winona High School in Missouri.
Sophomore Lucas Waddell will also be in the starting rotation mix this season. He made seven starts as a freshman and posted three shutouts en route to a 6-1 record and 3.21 ERA.
Harding's likely starting lineup will include five players returning from last season's team that finished 25-24 overall. Three All-Gulf South Conference performers will be in the lineup—sophomore catcher Erin McCarver, senior third baseman Jason Nappi and sophomore outfielder Anthony Guglielmi. Junior Chase Presley will return at second base and senior Clay West will be in center field.
Newcomers in the starting nine could include sophomore transfer Billy Ninemire at shortstop, freshman Matt Calhoun at first base and freshman Jeremy Bohnett in right field.
Also returning in the Harding bullpen is All-GSC performer Tyler Billen, who posted a 4-1 record and 2.53 ERA as a freshman.
Harding and Maryville will be meeting for the first time on the baseball diamond. The Saints are members of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference. Last season, Maryville had a 10-39 overall record and a 5-27 mark in the GLVC. The team had a .295 batting average and an 8.25 ERA.
