2021 Cougar Baseball Season Preview

The 2021 South Mountain Community College baseball season figures to be one unlike any other. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has forced teams to adjust their routines to ensure the coaches, student-athletes, and other athletic personnel's safety and health.

Cougar head coach Todd Eastin, now in his 18th season in charge, is ready to tackle the challenges ahead and excited to get back to the competition.

"We are thrilled for the opportunity to compete this season and look forward to the challenge of playing our first 20 games, and 25 of our first 27, on the road," said Eastin, who also serves as the school's Athletic Director. "We should find out a lot about our team in the first month."

SMCC faces a series of league rivals in February and March away from home. The Cougars' 2021 home opener is on Mar. 23 against Central Arizona, and in April, the team will play 13 of 18 games at home. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, fans will not be allowed at any games in the Maricopa County Community College District. 

Eastin and his staff have compiled a talented roster to take on that slate of games.

On the infield, the Cougars feature a nice mixture of returners and newcomers. Holden Breeze, Dustin Bermudez, Mason Skaugrud and Michael Quinones all saw action for SMCC in the shortened 2020 season. Griffen Chewning, Brice Martinez, Dylan Fesperman, Braden Campbell and Esteban Hernandez join them to give Eastin a host of options for his defense and batting line-up.

"We will look to the infield to show some versatility due to Bermudez and Hernandez also being two of our better guys on the mound," Eastin said.

At the plate, Breeze led SMCC in hits (36) and runs scored (31) while batting .364 with four doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs during the shortened 2020 season. Bermudez hit .333 in 2020 with 17 runs, eight doubles, two triples, two home runs and three stolen bases. Skaugrud sported a .986 fielding percentage in 70 defensive chances in 2020, while Quinones batted .438 in eight games.

Chewning attended Notre Dame Prep in Phoenix and earned three all-region and two all-state honors during his prep career. Martinez, originally from Colorado, spent 2020 at Metro State in Denver, appearing in 17 games and batting .350 with seven runs, five doubles, a home run and four stolen bases.

Fesperman is a 6-4 first baseman from Springfield, Mo., who prepped at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix. From Centerville, Utah, Campbell went to Copper Hills High School, where he earned all-region honors as a sophomore and junior. He also earned all-state honorable mention honors as a senior.

Like Bermudez, Hernandez is a two-way threat who will also see time on the mound. He is from Yuma, Ariz., and earned first-team all-region honors at Cibola High School.

In the outfield, SMCC boasts tremendous experience and depth. Justin Quinn, Paul Sachen and Noah Bachman all played for the Cougars in previous seasons, while Andrew Lucas and McKay Barney are new faces who boast previous college experience. Gillis Champagne is the lone newcomer to intercollegiate baseball but has already made a mark with his energy and enthusiasm.

"Our outfield group is very athletic, and it is going to be a challenge to get them all in the game," Eastin admitted.

Quinn brings tremendous experience to the group, having appeared in 93 games for SMCC since 2019. He has totaled 47 runs, 12 doubles, five triples, four home runs and 56 RBIs, including a team-high 24 in 2020, in his Cougar career.

Sachen appeared in only one game in 2020 but made it count. He had a triple and scored a run in a 15-6 victory over Chandler-Gilbert CC. Bachman played in 12 games in 2020, totaling three runs, three doubles, eight RBIs and two stolen bases. Both he and Sachen earned Third Team NJCAA All-Academic Student-Athlete honors after the year.

Lucas comes to SMCC after spending 2019 and 2020 at Cal State Northridge, an NCAA Division I institution in the Big West Conference. In 2019, he finished as runner-up for Freshman of the Year honors after batting .268 with 30 RBIs, 28 runs, eight double, five home runs and three triples.

Barney spent 2020 at BYU in Provo, Utah. He is originally from Mesa, Ariz., and prepped at Mountain View High School, where he was named a finalist for the 2019 6A Arizona Republic Player of the Year. He also received 2019 East Valley Region Player of the Year honors as a senior.

Champagne is from Goodyear, Ariz., and attended Verrado High School. He earned all-conference and offensive MVP honors as a senior. 

A healthy mixture of veterans and newcomers comprises the catching unit.

Brodie Marino is a 5-11 sophomore originally from Castle Rock, Colo. He spent 2019 and 2020 with the Cougars and has amassed 18 RBIs, seven doubles, and 23 walks. He earned Third Team NJCAA All-Academic Student-Athlete honors after the 2020 campaign. 

Clayton Kempski is a 5-10 freshman from Corrales, N.M., who prepped at Rio Rancho High School. He earned all-state honors in 2018 and 2019 and received three all-district awards during his prep career.  

Kyle Lewis is a 6-0 freshman from Phoenix who attended Liberty High School. He earned Sunbelt Team honors and was a member of a state championship squad.

"Marino has a ton of experience behind the plate," Eastin said. "As a group, the catchers will be challenged with handling a pitching staff that will likely be constantly evolving with the number of short-stint guys that we have."

Eastin and his assistants have plenty of pitching arms at their disposal for 2021.  The Cougars boast 12 right-handed pitchers and six southpaws, giving them versatility and depth.

"We have five or six guys that may be able to fill starting roles, with only one returning starter from 2020 in Bermudez," Eastin said. "With limited non-conference games before the start of the conference schedule, we will likely spend the first few weeks moving guys in and out of different roles. Since we are playing on only Tuesdays and Saturdays, we have the opportunity to use guys in shorter stints twice a week."

Among the returners are sophomores Derek Decolati (Las Vegas, Nev.), Trey Goodrich (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Shawn Triplett (Providence, Utah). Goodrich has appeared in 18 games during his SMCC career, recording three saves in 2019. Decolati has 22 career appearances in an SMCC uniform and boasts a 2.80 ERA in 39 innings of work. Triplett has a 3-1 career record and a save in 15.1 innings and 14 appearances for the Cougars.

Bermudez finished 4-1 with a .257 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 28 innings of work in 2020. He recorded victories over Pima CC, Paradise Valley CC, Eastern Arizona and Western Nebraska CC. TJ Czyz (Reno, Nev.) went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA and eight strikeouts in nine innings of work in 2020.

Brendan Anderson (Farmington, N.M.) finished 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA and 14 K's in 12 innings last year. Another returner, Carter Krosky (Phoenix, Ariz.), recorded a save, eight strikeouts and a 1.64 ERA in seven games and 11 innings of work.

Newcomers Alec Stanfield (Albuquerque, N.M.), Charlie Deeds (Larkspur, Colo.) and Kyle Ponzo (Chandler, Ariz.) all bring impressive credentials to the team. Stanfield earned honorable mention all-district honors at Rio Rancho High School. Deeds received first-team all-conference awards as a junior and senior and earned first-team all-state honors as a senior. 

Lucas and Hernandez will also see time on the mound from the right side.

Among the left-handed pitchers, Matt Bohnert (Cave Creek, Ariz.) is the only returner. He appeared in six games in 2020, recording three strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work. Bohnert also earned Second Team NJCAA All-Academic Student-Athlete honors following the season.  

Trent Adams (Gilbert, Ariz.) spent 2020 at Metro State in Denver but did not appear in any games. He attended Campo Verde High School and earned two all-region honorable mention honors during his career.

Nolan Livsey is a 6-2 freshman from Englewood, Colo., who attended Cherry Creek High School. Drew Woody (Gilbert, Ariz.) went to Highland High School and earned first-team all-region honors. Ben Meyerson (Phoenix, Ariz.) attended Sunnyslope High School and earned all-state honors three times and all-conference honors twice.

Finally, Ronan Kopp is a freshman from Scottsdale, Ariz., who attended Scottsdale Christian High School. He was named the 2019 Arizona Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year, earning first-team all-region and 2A Player of the year honors.

"The pitching staff will be a constant competition for innings as the season progresses," Eastin stated.

Whatever the results come to be, count Eastin and the Cougars among those grateful for the opportunity to ply their trade during a historic period of American history.