Peru State 2022 preseason baseball outlook

(Peru, Neb.)—The Peru State baseball team looks to improve on its 2021 campaign, where the Bobcats finished 26-27-1 and 18-9 in the Heart. They unfortunately lost both games in the Heart tournament to end their season.
 
The Bobcats were recently picked fifth in the Heart Baseball Coaches' Preseason Poll. Head coach Wayne Albury is back for his 11^th season and assistant coaches Gianfranco Garlobo and Bryan Ventura Castro are back for their second season with the team. Adam Cendejas and Reiner Mendez are in their first season as student coaches after ending their playing career with Peru State last season.
 
The Bobcats will look to claim the Heart of America Championship for the first time since the 2015 season. The Bobcats will play another tough nonconference schedule to get ready for Heart play.
 
"We will play one of the toughest schedules in the season," said assistant coach Gianfranco Garlobo. "We are going to play top 25 teams early in the season and that'll prepare us for conference play."
 
The Bobcats are usually known for their offensive firepower but this season they want to change that narrative with the collection of talent on the mound and improved defensive play.
 
"We should have a different identity then years before as we are usually known as an offensive juggernaut, said Garlobo. "Our pitching staff should be as good as the one  we had in 2015 and defensively, we should see a major improvement."
 
Garlobo commented about the pitching staff.
 
"The pitching staff includes two new starters Diego Oquendo and Enmanuel Cabrera and we added a bunch of bullpen pieces that our going to be key for us."
 
The Bobcats are excited to compete in the Heart this season.
 
"One of the toughest conferences in the nation I think we have a good chance to compete for the championship in north side, said Garbolo. "Once we enter the tournament it's a war and whoever wins four games will get the championship and will keep going but we feel really confident in our squad this year."
 
The following is a breakdown of Key Losses/Newcomers/Returners.
 
Key Losses: The Bobcats are losing a ton of fire power on offense with multiple hitters that were over .300+ in batting average and 21 home runs. Here are the key losses from last season's team: First baseman Adam Cendejas .348 avg., 14 doubles and nine home runs; centerfielder Hector Torres .368 avg., 15 doubles, eight triples and three home runs; second baseman Luis Landaeta .377 avg., nine doubles, five home runs and was First Team All-Conference; and outfielder Manuel Caballero .370 avg., five doubles and four home runs.
 
Key Newcomers:  The Bobcats have some new additions to help the team compete this season. Here are the key newcomers: shortstop Garrett Pavletich (Bakersfield, Calif.); outfielder Wesley Bradford (Bakersfield, Calif.) .308 avg., had six doubles in 22 games last season; outfielder William Reynolds (Bakersfield, Calif.); right-handed pitcher Diego Oquendo (Merida, Venezuela) Mid-Plains League Pitcher of the Year recording 42 innings 54 Ks and a 2.72 ERA; left-handed pitcher Enmanuel Cabrera (Villa Gonzales, D.R.); catcher Angel Andrades, (Humacao, P.R.); and outfielder Josue Cisnero (Santo Domingo, D.R.).
 
Key Returners: The Bobcats have key pieces returning for the 2022 season. They include first baseman Jose Solis, (Los Santos, Panama) .353 avg., 14 doubles, ten home runs and was Second-Team All-Conference; designated hitter Jackson Tingwald (Ralston, Neb.) .287 avg., ten doubles, and seven homeruns; right-handed pitcher Sebastian Rodriguez (Cayey, P.R.) 48 innings pitched and 52 Ks; and left-handed pitcher Joseph Vargas (Juana Diaz, P.R.).
 
The following is a position breakdown for the 2022 season.
 
Pitchers: The Bobcats have a few pitchers returning this season as well as a few newcomers to bolster the bump. RHP Diego Oquendo is a transfer from Ranger CC who was the Mid-Plains League Pitcher of the Year he had 42 IP, 54 Ks and 2.72 ERA. LHP Enmanuel Cabrera is a freshman pitcher coming in for the Bobcats. RHP Sebastian Rodriquez returns after 48 IP and 52 Ks a season ago. LHP Joseph Vargas returns after redshirting because of injury last season. Rounding out the pitching staff: Jose Diana (Santa Isabel, P.R.), John Laureano (Gurabo, P.R.), Luis Pacheco (Miami, Fla.), Joshua Santiago (Carolina, P.R.), Edgar Santos (Barquisimeto, Venezuela), Juan Rodriquez. (Bayamon, P.R.), Jan Vargas (Junco, P.R.) and Josue Vega (Cayey, P.R.).
 
Catchers
 
The team is young at catcher as they will have five freshman at the position. Angel Andrades, Casey Steffens (Omaha, Neb.), Gustavo Rivera (Bayamon, P.R.), Diego Rivera (Carolina, P.R.), and Daniel De La Cruz (Carolina, P.R.) all are vying for time behind the plate.
 
Infielders
 
The Bobcats will have three seniors returning to the infield this season: Jesus Tavares (Santo Domingo, D.R.), Tingwald and Solis. Everyone else in the Bobcats infield this season is either a transfer or a freshman and they include Pavletich, a transfer from Bakersfield CC, Jeremy Santiago (Ponce, P.R.), Blake Denson (Broken Bow, Neb.), and Gabriel Cordoba (Merida Venezuela).
 
Outfielders
 
The Bobcats will have a few transfers to play the outfield this season. Reynolds and Wesley are transfers from Bakersfield CC and Cisnero from the Dominican Republic. Players who are returning to play in the outfield are Josue Francisco (San Cristobal, D.R.) and Devin Adams (Pembroke Pines, Fla.). There will be one freshman playing in the outfield as well, Johannes Booyens (Johannesburg, South Africa).
 
Utility
 
The Bobcats only have one player in the utility position as Xavier Wright (Calumet City, Ill.) will play the IF/OF this season
 
Schedule
 
The Bobcats open the year this weekend against the Friends University Falcons for a three-game series. The Bobcats first conference action will be on March 11 and 12 for a four-game series in Olathe, Kan., against the MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers. The Bobcats first home action will be March 19-20 for a four-game series against the Culver-Stockton College Wildcats.
 
First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Friday January 28 against Friends University.