Coming off a third NWAACC title in the last five years, a final national ranking of #8 in the country, two players selected in the Major League Baseball draft, and eleven sophomores receiving scholarships and playing at the four-year level, the Bellevue College Bulldogs have established themselves as one of the top junior college baseball programs in the nation. A final ranking of #18 in 2007 and a pre-season ranking this year at #12 in the country only solidifies it. With these accolades, comes the reality that there is a bulls-eye on every player’s back entering the 2012 season. “While followers love to jump on the bandwagon when you win, opponents want nothing more than to knock you down,” admits Head Coach Mark Yoshino, who is entering his fourteenth year as Head Coach for the Bulldogs, and nineteenth overall on staff. This year’s squad is more than ready to defend their title.
The fall season showed promise that the 2012 Bulldogs are ready to pick up where they left off last year. After finishing an informal fall season undefeated and outscoring opponents by a score of roughly 70-16, the team also saw a record high of eight players signing NCAA letters of intent during the early period in November. The team also received a near unanimous #1 ranking in the NWAACC Alaska Airlines Coaches’ Poll.
Pitching
While the 2011 champion squad was littered with veteran presence in the batting lineup, this year’s is on the mound. With two returning starters in Adrian Sampson and Matt Cooper in addition to proven veterans coming out of the bullpen with Scott Kuzminsky and Jonathan Humphrie, the Bulldogs will rely on their veteran arms to start them out of the gate as the 2012 season begins. Sampson was rated the number one prospect in the country by Perfect Game USA, the nation’s largest baseball scouting service. Five of Bellevue’s pitchers signed early NCAA letters of intent, which is an early indication of the quality presence the staff has. Cooper can be easily considered as the
most polished pitcher on the staff, with his silky-smooth mechanics and a pitch ability that is beyond the typical college guy. Kuzminsky, who was a key component out of the bullpen last year, will pitch in relief again in 2012 after a long summer of switching roles to starter. “Last year’s experience of being called upon so many times in relief gave Kuz an ideal of how important he was and how many innings he could log out of the pen,” says Yoshino. “He is ready to help the club win another title in that same role,” he adds. Humphrie is predicted by Yoshino to have a big year after seeing limited time as a freshman due to a late start after being injured during basketball season (Humphrie was recently named MVP of the North Region in basketball this year, continuing his multi-sport phenom ability that he showed in high school). “Although he didn’t get innings late last year, he showed the biggest strides of improvement down the stretch in practice, along with another returner, Jake Reppert,” notes Yoshino. “He had a great fall and is coming off the confidence of leading his basketball team this past winter…now we just have to get him feeling 100% healthy after enduring a long basketball season,” he adds. Reppert, a 6-5 lefty, will be sitting out this season in order to improve on his strength, size, and pitch ability. “He is young for his age, and a 6-5 lefty who is throwing harder and more strikes. At the rate he is improving, by next year, he may be the hottest prospect in the NWAACC,” says Yoshino. Although we could use him this year, he’s more likely to be a front-line guy in 2013; we are staying committed to our philosophy of developing players,” he adds.
Bellevue’s newcomers to the staff include Bryan Burgher, Jeff Gonzales, and Steven Johnson. Burgher, who was drafted by the Minnesota Twins last June, is a big strong righty with a fast ball that touches 90 mph and is getting acclimated to just pitching after being exhausted as a two-way player for all of his life. The toll of playing two positions non-stop year-round caused Burgher to be shut down completely this fall and winter. He is now physically healthy but in reality is going through his learning period that others got during the fall. “Although it was good for his body to rest, it was tough to not be able to offer any type of coaching from a physical standpoint in the off-season,” says Yoshino. “He’s playing catch-up now in the pre-season,” he adds.
Although a freshman, Burgher has already received his two-year transfer degree and has signed a letter of intent to pitch at the University of Hawaii next year (along with teammates Cooper and Kuzminsky). Gonzales, a transfer who pitched in the Pac-12 last year at Washington, has undergone a complete metamorphosis going from a power pitcher wannabe to a strike machine with savvy on the mound. Johnson is another whose improved mechanics have led to a higher strike percentage and is the pitcher on the staff who is the most deceptive with his excessive movement on all pitches. “When you’re in the strike zone a lot and the ball can go downward in any direction on any given count, you’re going to succeed at any level,” says Yoshino.
While there is tremendous talent on this year’s staff, the potential of what it could’ve been rivals a pitching staff of a division I squad. Injuries and redshirt status have reduced the squad’s depth dramatically. The biggest blow was the recent loss of Andrew Groves, who will be rehabilitating an injured elbow all season. Groves sported a team-low .162 opponent batting average and recorded the save in last year’s NWAACC title game against Lower Columbia. Two pitchers still not healthy from previous injuries are Jake Collier, who was a starter on the 2010 squad, and lefty Blake Fulghum who earned all-North Region relief pitcher honors as a freshman. Nick Kiel, a heralded left-hander and Reppert are sitting out (redshirting) this season. And finally, Bellevue’s
first recruit of the 2012 class, Zach Cloe, was injured last spring in high school and is recovering from Tommy John surgery this year. These six pitchers would’ve given Bellevue the depth that most coaches dream of having. However, the active staff who are ready to go now are prepared to put the team on their back and carry them to another title.
Catching
This year’s catching corps is the opposite of last year’s. Exactly a year ago, injuries plagued the catching staff to the point where tryouts among other players on the team needed to be held in order to find healthy catchers. This year, Bellevue has four catchers who are ready to go this spring; and each one carries different traits, which will give Yoshino the opportunity to slot catchers based on what the priorities are for a given game. Third-year player Alex Ross has finally broken over the hump of physical constraints. After being injured all year last year with back problems and missing most of his freshman campaign with a broken thumb, Ross has also made huge gains physically, adding 15 pounds to his frame after remaining stagnant for two straight years. He was the team’s top hitter in the fall who has perhaps the best bat control on the team. Will Minice is another three-year member who sat out last season as he continues his journey of being transformed from corner infielder to catcher. With a team-high bench press of 345 pounds, his man strength is clearly evident when he dons a uniform. “Brutus” as he is called, is expected to be a solid force behind the dish and with his left-handed bat. Nick Lombardi is the unknown recruit out of Eisenhower HS in Yakima, continuing the successful tradition of recruits Bellevue has plucked out of the area known as the “Palm Springs of Washington.” He displays excellent hands with his receiving and one of the strongest arms of the catchers. Although he was a successful hitter in high school, Lombardi’s swing is still emerging and is a work in progress. By the time it is all said and done, Lombardi may be a big-time prospect. Brady Kerr is Bellevue’s third left-handed hitting catcher, adding to the oddities of this year’s catching prospectus. While it is rare to find any left-handed hitting catcher, Bellevue sports three of them who can all hit. Kerr’s arm has also displayed accurate throwdowns in 1.9 seconds, which will help shut down any opponent’s running game.
Infield
Jerad Casper enters 2012 as possibly the purest third basemen in college baseball, at any level, on the west coast. He returns this spring after popping out eleven home runs last spring and has a gold glove at the hot corner and a sizzling arm that rivals any major leaguer. “There aren’t a lot of guys who can field, throw, and hit for power like him,” says Yoshino. “And his athleticism shows with his ability to play a backup shortstop for us,” he adds. Casper, who started on the mound for the Bulldogs last spring with his 88 mph fast ball, will also pitch in relief duty this year. He is considered one of the top power prospects in the region this year for the Major League draft. His other plan is just as good; he has signed a letter of intent to play for the two-time NCAA national champion Oregon State Beavers next year. Nate Litka is the team’s dirtbag prototype. He goes all out and can play any infield position and simply gets the job done. Expect Litka to play all three positions in the infield and contribute significantly this spring. Willy Reel is a transfer from the University of Washington, where he started on a part-time basis. His fielding ability and arm strength so far this year have proven he can play the position at the four-year level. He can also show flashes of power, as evidenced by his home runs this fall with a wood bat and his off-the-chart numbers as a senior in high school. John Wall, the team’s only true leadoff-type hitter, is a left-handed hitting speedster who can hit to all fields, bunt, steal bases, and defend at second base. Wall is coming off an excellent fall and was also named Most Improved last spring by his teammates. Dustin Breshears is entering this spring as a second baseman at the 2-year level but may leave as a bona-fide shortstop recruit after he is done here. Now pushing up a massive 300 pounds on the bench press and with explosive acceleration out of the box and on the basepaths, Breshears is reaping the benefits of junior college baseball with his physical development in only six months in the program. He can also play shortstop if needed in addition to second base this spring. Colin Hering is another physical specimen who has developed into a pro prospect. An unknown out of high school as a two-way outfielder/left-handed pitcher, Hering possesses pure power from the left side. He is gradually garnering attention from pro scouts and college coaches and may be a frontline recruit when it is all said and done. Anthony Flatt is the right-handed hitting first baseman this spring and has developed even more bat speed and power under the tutelage of hitting coach Kevin Miller who helped develop Bellevue’s eye-popping power display last year. Miller clones Flatt’s swing as a version similar to the departed Kyle Johnson, who launched out ten home runs in 2011.
Outfield
Besides behind the plate, outfield is the other spot where graduation losses are most evident. Bellevue will replace four sophomores from last year’s club with new bodies. Marc Dickerson is the lone returning outfielder. Although he led the team in average last year hitting .392, Dickerson went down with a season-ending injury to his wrist and was unable to play at the NWAACC Championships. He returns in center field and will patrol the outfield with freshman Max Brown, who is the team’s fastest runner on the clock, in the 6.6-6.7 range in the 60-yard dash. Brown also displays surprising power considering his lanky 6-4 frame. His power will enable him to be anywhere in the lineup from leadoff to middle of the order. Tyler Baumgartner is another pro prospect with an excellent school option; he has signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Oregon, currently ranked 13th in the nation. Although an infielder last year, he has transitioned to outfield where his arm is better utilized. Baumgartner has developed from a one-tool guy to a three-tool wonder with an ability to hit for average, power (as evidenced by his home run displays last year and this fall), and improved running speed. He has shaved his 60 time to below seven seconds and has made huge strides with his power. Yoshino jokes “there was a time last fall in the indoor cages as a freshman when an anonymous pro scout said his bat speed was just ‘ok’ and walked off after watching one swing. Now he’s one of the most heavily-watched hitters in the entire northwest by pro scouts. Tip your cap to Tyler for his hard work and to Coaches Miller, Wight (Jesse) and Santiago (Nate) for yet further proof of the type of player development that occurs in the Bellevue program.” Dae Lee went from unknown exchange student to one of the most highly-heralded hitters in high school during his junior year at John F. Kennedy HS. He was quickly discovered as a big-time hitter as pro scouts were following his league-rival, Ryan Brett, who signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in the third round of the 2010 Major League draft. Lee possesses bat control with a unique style and has the ability, although rarely seen, to turn on a ball and hit for power. “Once he gets comfortable in the environment, he will be one of the toughest outs in the league. We are fortunate to have him,” says Yoshino. Lee, who was originally recruited to play baseball at Washington State University, opted for the junior college route to develop academically. Jordan Richartz is a plethora of baseball talent; he can hit, throw, field, run, and plays with guts every chance he gets. His arm strength will be utilized in right field. Like many of the pitchers, Richartz is nursing an injury which occurred during a diving catch attempt during the pre-season. He is expected to return for league play in April.
NWAACC Overview
With the number of pro prospects in the NWAACC, particularly in the North Region, Yoshino expects a competitive year amongst many NWAACC schools. “There is a good mix of returning prospects and incoming transfers from NCAA division I schools that have put many teams on the radar for this season,” says Yoshino. “The NWAACC is also seeing some transition with new coaches coming in and veteran coaches going out in the last couple of years; which leads me to believe that there may be some new representation at the top in any of the four regions this spring. The possible fresh look amongst the NWAACC is good for us; it will keep us on our toes and push us to keep our club where we are at and beyond,” he adds. With three NWAACC titles in the last five years, and a third place finish in 2010, Bellevue has become quite familiar with the town of Longview, site of the annual NWAACC Championships. This year’s squad has high hopes of returning to their vacation spot to create yet another lifelong memory during their stay through Memorial Day.
Last Updated October 28, 2013
