Cougar Baseball at the Next Level in 2024
PHOENIX ---
The South Mountain Community College baseball team has helped student-athletes continue their baseball careers at four-year universities and in the professional ranks for the upcoming 2024 season. Below is a list of former SMCC student-athletes, where they are continuing their baseball careers and how they are doing against some of the nation's best.
Professional Baseball
Cade Povich -- LHP | Norfolk Tides | Baltimore Orioles' AAA Affiliate
Povich finished 2023 at 8-10 with a 5.04 ERA in 28 starts with 171 strikeouts in 126.2 innings of work between the AA Bowie Baysox and the Tides ... he finished 2-3 with a 5.36 ERA in 10 starts with Norfolk, recording 53 stirkeouts and 29 walks in 45.1 innings of work ... he went 6-7 with a 4.87 ERA and 118 strikeouts to 37 walks in 81.1 innings for hte Baysox ... posted wins over the Durham Bulls and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for the Tides.
Gustavo Sosa -- C | FCL Phillies | Phildelphia Phillies Organization
Sosa appeared in 22 games for the FCL Phillies and batted .239 with 16 hits, eight runs, three doubles, three home runs, 13 RBIs, and a stolen base ... also posted a .311 on-base percentage and a.418 slugging percentage to finish with a .729 OPS.
Ronan Kopp -- LHP | Great Lake Loons | Los Angeles Dodgers' High-A Affiliate
Kopps appeared in 30 games and made 21 starts for the Loons in 2023, finishing 0-4 with a 2.99 ERA and one save ... he had 107 strikeouts and held opponents to a .184 batting average in 72.1 innings of work ... Kopp also pitched for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the 2023 Arizona Fall League and earned National League Fall Stars honors after posting a 1.13 ERA in seven appearances and eight innings of work ... opponents batted .120 against Kopp, who recorded 15 strikeouts and a 1.13 WHIP for the Desert Dogs.
College Baseball
Bobby Peirce -- OF | Auburn University | Southeastern Conference
Peirce returns to the Tigers for a final season in 2024 after batting .343 with 62 hits, 43 runs, 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 26 RBIs, and four stolen bases in 2023 ... Peirce collected multiple hits in 17 games and ranked third on the team in batting average last year ... batted .318 in SEC play, the second-best figure on the team ... helped lead Auburn to the 2023 NCAA Tournament as a regional host.
Jake Haze -- INF | Southeastern Louisiana University | Southland Conference
Haze transferred to Southeastern Louisiana for the 2024 season after spending three years at Northwestern State (LA) ... In 2023, Haze earned Second Team All-Southland Conference honors for his work at shortstop after batting .316 and leading the squad with 42 RBIs ... had 12 multi-RBI games and 15-multi-hit performances ... also had 15 doubles, two triples, four home runs, and two stolen bases.
Brice Martinez -- INF/OF | Wofford University | Southern Conference
Martinez started all 58 games at second base for the Terriers in 2023, batting .352 with 75 hits, 45 RBIs, 45 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases ... he also had eight doubles, three triples, and 12 sacrifice hits ... sported a .418 slugging and a .458 on-base percentage for the season.
Shawn Triplett -- RHP | Grand Canyon University | Western Athletic Conference
Triplett appeared in 17 games and finished 5-1 with two saves and a 3.86 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in 23.1 innings for the Antelopes in 2023 ... recorded 28 strikeouts to seven walks and held opponents to a .226 batting average.
Dustin Bermudez -- RHP/INF | Ouachita Baptist University (AR) | Great American Conference
Bermudez earned 2023 First Team All-Great American Conference, ABCA Second Team All-Region, D2CCAA Second Team All-Region, and NCBWA All-Region Honorable Mention honors ... he was selected as the Ouachita Team MVP for the 2023 after setting school single-season record with 10 saves and batting .308 with 66 hits, 15 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 23 walks ... sported a .565 slugging and a .372 on-base perecentage while finishing 3-2 with a 3.58 ERA and 45 K's in 37.2 innings of work.
Holden Breeze -- INF | Oral Roberts University | The Summit League
Breeze earned Second Team All-Summit League and Summit League All-Tournament Team honors after helping lead the Golden Eagles to the 2023 Men's College World Series in Omaha, Neb. ... Breeze started all 66 games at third base and batted .320 with six home runs, 42 RBIs, 13 doubles, and four stolen bases.
Matt Bohnert -- LHP | University of Indiana | Big Ten Conference
Bohnert transfers to the University of Indiana Hoosiers for the 2024 season after spending the past two seasons at Lipscomb University. At Lipscomb, Bohnert sported a 4.37 ERA across 59.2 innings of work with while limiting opponents to a .187 batting average and striking out 83 batters. Unfortunately, Bohnert is expected to miss the 2024 season, will receive a medical redshirt, and is set to return for 2025.
Charlie Deeds -- RHP | Southeastern Oklahoma State University | Great American Conference
Deeds went 2-3 after making 12 appearance and two starts for the Storm in 2023 ... recorded wins over Colorado Christian and Southern Nazarene ... had 13 K's in 18.1 innings.
Carter Krosky -- RHP | Utah Valley University | Western Athletic Conference
Krosky appeared in one game for the Wolverines in 2023, pitching two innings against Utah on April 10.
Drew Woody -- LHP | Utah Valley University | Western Athletic Conference
Woody appeared in 13 games for the Wolverines and finished 4-0 in 2023 ... had 18 strikeouts in 16.2 innings of work ... recorded two wins agaisnt Northwest Nazarene and wins against Utah and Utah Tech.
Ryan Figueroa -- RHP | CSU Bakersfield | Big West Conference
Figueroa appeared in 16 games for the Roadrunners in 2023, finishing 2-2 with one save and 15 strikeouts in 22.1 innings.
Esteban Hernandez -- RHP | Southeast Missouri State | Ohio Valley Conference
Hernandez finished 2-0 with a 5.84 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 24.2 innings in the 2023 season ... held opponents to a .234 batting average ... recorded victories against Tennessee Tech and Lindenwood.
Nick Wallerstedt -- RHP | Long Beach State | Big West Conference
Wallerstedt made seven relief appearances for the 49ers in 2023 ... had four strikeouts in five innings of work.
Nolan Livsey -- LHP | Metro State University of Denver | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Livsey did not appear in any games for the Roadrunners in 2023.
Jayden Smith -- OF | Utah Valley University | Western Athletic Conference
Smith joins the Wolverines in 2024 after spending two seasons at SMCC ... Smith earned 2022 Second Team All-ACCAC and All-Region I Division II honors after batting .379 with 67 hits, 42 runs, six doubles, one triple, one home run, 28 RBIs and 15 stolen bases ... batted .359 with 28 runs, 42 hits, eight doubles, three home runs, 18 RBIs, 14 walks and 12 stolen bases in 2023.
Jacob Beltran -- RHP | Utah Valley University | Western Athletic Conference
Beltran joins the Wolverines in 2024 after spending two seasons at SMCC ... Beltran earned 2023 Second Team All-ACCAC honors after finishing 7-2 with 76 strikeouts and a 1.85 ERA in 78 innings of work ... finished 6-0 with two saves, a 3.15 ERA, and 34 strikeouts in 34.1 innings of work in 2022.
Jackson Thomas -- RHP | Utah Valley University | Western Athletic Conference
Thomas joins the Wolverines after spending the 2023 season at SMCC ... Thomas finished 1-0 with eight strikeouts and a 5.56 ERA in 11.1 innings of work.
Michael Diaz -- OF | Grand Canyon University | Western Athletic Conference
Diaz joins the Antelopes in 2024 after spending the 2023 season at SMCC ... Diaz appeared in 31 games and batted .232 with 20 runs, 13 hits, four double, a home run, eight RBIs, eight walks, and four stolen bases for the Cougars.
Josaiah Estrella -- RHP | Eastern New Mexico University | Lone Star Conference
Estrella joins the Greyhounds in 2024 after spending two seasons at SMCC ... in 2023, Estrella appeared in 13 games and finished 2-0 with 18 strikeouts and a 4.05 ERA in 20 innings of work ... in 2022, he finished with nine strikeouts and three walks in 9.1 innings of work.
Raul Garayzar -- RHP | University of Arizona | Pac-12 Conference
Garayzar joins the Wildcats in 2024 after spending two seasons at SMCC ... Garayzar finished 6-3 with 68 K's, a 3.15 ERA and 68.2 innings of work in 15 appearances and 12 starts in 2023 ... in 2022, he went 4-4 with a save, 53 strikeouts, and a 5.04 ERA in 55.1 innings.
Matthew Martinez -- RHP | University of Arizona | Pac-12 Conference
Martinez joins the Wildcats in 2024 after spending two seasons at SMCC ... Martinez earned 2023 Second Team All-ACCAC honors after finishing 6-4 with four saves, 55 strikeouts, and a 2.91 ERA in 43.1 innings of work ... in 2022, he went 2-5 with a save and a 3.55 ERA in 33 innings ... had 45 strikeouts and 10 walks.
Jared Glinski -- OF | Longwood University | Big South Conference
Glinski joins the Lancers in 2024 after spending the 2023 season at SMCC ... Glinski batted .313 with 17 runs, 30 hits, seven doubles, three triples, three home runs, 21 RBIs, 21 walks and two stolen bases.
Core Jackson -- INF | University of Utah | Pac-12 Conference
Jackson joins the Utes in 2024 after spending the 2023 season at SMCC ... Jackson earned 2023 Second Team All-ACCAC honors after batting .321 with 45 runs, 63 hits, 16 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 33 RBIs, 28 walks, and 10 stolen bases.
Jaxon Jelkin -- RHP | University of Houston | Big 12 Conference
Jelkin joins the Cougars in 2024 after spending 2023 at SMCC ... Jelkin finished 7-2 with 98 strikeouts and a 3.81 ERA in 75.2 innings of work.
Kenneth Jimenez -- C/OF | University of Houston | Big 12 Conference
Jimenez joins the Cougars in 2024 after spending 2023 at SMCC ... Jimenez batted .374 with 12 runs, 52 hits, nine doubles, a triple, three home runs, 40 RBIs, 40 walks, and a stolen base.
Carter Richey -- C/INF | Lipscomb University | Atlantic Sun Conference
Richey joins the Bisons in 2024 after spending two seasons at SMCC ... Richey earned 2022 Second Team All-ACCAC honors after he batted with .316 with 56 hits and 29 runs in 177 at-bats ... led SMCC with 14 doubles and 42 RBIs ... in 2023, Richey batted .303 with 36 runs, 59 hits, 12 doubles, a triple, 12 home runs, 47 RBIs, 40 walks and 10 stolen bases.
Connor Schneider -- INF | McNeese State University | Southland Conference
Schneider joins the Cowboys in 2024 after spending two seasons at SMCC ... in 2023, Schneider batted .291 with 34 runs, 51 hits, six doubles, three triples, two home runs, 31 RBIs, 22 walks and seven stolen bases ... Schneider batted .287 with 52 hits, 33 runs, nine doubles, five home runs, 20 walks and a team-high 16 stolen bases in 2022.
Landen Argabright -- C | Hawai'i Pacific University | Pacwest Conference
Argabright joins the Sharks in 2024 after spending 2023 at SMCC ... in 2023, Argabright batted .282 with 11 hits, two doubles, six RBIs, and 13 walks ... sported a .453 on-base and a .333 slugging percentage ... posted a .992 fielding percentage in 123 chances and caught five runners trying to steal a base.