SALEM, Ore. – The 2021 season was a historic one for the Corban University baseball team, one which featured the program's first-ever trip to the NAIA National Tournament. The Navy and Gold squad isn't satisfied, however, and the program is eager to return to the diamond and seek after new heights in the upcoming spring season, which is slated to officially begin on the road tomorrow with a four-game series against Menlo College this weekend.  

To view the team's 2022 roster, CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to view the squad's full 2022 docket.

"We're excited to open up this weekend and officially begin our season," said head coach Derek Legg. "We have a number of guys who have the potential to make a significant impact for us this spring, and we're ready to get out there and test ourselves early with another challenging non-conference schedule."

After opening up against the Oaks, the Warriors will face off against another Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) foe in Ottawa University (Ariz.) on February 10-12. The remainder of the Navy and Gold's slate will consist of CCC adversaries, though this year's spring schedule will take on a different format than years prior.

The Warriors will have five non-conference series against CCC teams before officially beginning conference play on March 18. Corban will get its first look at CCC-newcomer Bushnell University via a doubleheader on February 18, and will then matchup with in-state rival Oregon Tech on the following day.

The following weekend, Corban will make its home debut against College of Idaho, welcoming the Yotes to Volcanoes Stadium for a four-game set on February 26-27.

After non-conference battles with No. 4 Lewis-Clark State College and Eastern Oregon, the Navy and Gold will open its conference slate against the Beacons on March 18-19, with the CCC docket consisting of four-game series with each of the conference's six other squads.

The Warriors boast one of their deeper rosters of the past decade, and return many of their key contributors from last year's squad.

Headlining the list of returners is reigning Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Pitcher of the Year Zack Simon (2.63 ERA, 6-3 record in 2021), who will be back to serve as the team's ace again this spring.

Veteran hurlers Nate Martin and Mason Shaw project to serve as key contributors to Corban's starting rotation again, and the fourth spot in the ensemble figures to be filled by southpaw Braedyn Chong or newcomer Preston Johnson.

In the bullpen, seasoned sidewinder Jacob Bowser should throw a number of high-leverage relief innings for the Warriors, as well as submariner Trevor Szczepanek and Chong.

Offensively, the Navy and Gold lineup will feature a number of new faces from its talent-packed freshman and transfer recruiting classes.

Strong defensive skills and a high-contact bat make Cale Thompson a frontrunner for the keystone position, and his previous success at Campbellsville University—where he hit over .340 in two seasons of work there—should bode well for Legg and company. Nainoa Ka'ahanui brings an above-average glove and high offensive potential to first base, and freshman Ryan Clay could be an impact player in his first collegiate season, adding greater depth to the left side of the infield.

In the outfield, newcomers Brad Pellkofer—a transfer from Fullerton College—and NCAA Division I transfer Brian Landon—who played at both Cal State Fullerton and Fullerton College—should see significant innings this spring.  

Corban's five top batting averages (min. 100 AB) in 2021—which came from Kyle Clay (.295), Morgan Hostetler (.285), Estenio Sede (.264), Reese Fawley (.262), and Maxwell Jeffrey (.250)—will all return to the diamond in 2022. Clay and Hostetler should spend the bulk of their time patrolling the outfield, while Sede and Fawley figure to lock down the left side of the infield. Jeffrey—an All-Conference honoree in 2019—brings a wealth of versatility, capable of playing all over the field. Similar to Jeffrey, speedy utility man Aidan Bunn could also find his way into the lineup in a variety of roles this spring.

Working with the pitchers, 2021 Gold Glove catcher Keenan O'Brien will be the team's primary backstop.

With the addition of Bushnell University and the return of University of British Columbia, the CCC should be as competitive as ever this spring. No. 4-ranked Lewis-Clark State was picked as the conference's preseason favorite, while Corban was voted fourth in the grouping.

The winner of the CCC regular-season standings will earn the right to host the conference tournament on May 8-9, where the top-four teams will vie for conference supremacy.

The CCC Tournament Champion will earn the conference's automatic berth to the NAIA Tournament, unless the winner is LC State, which already receives a bid to the NAIA Opening Round as the host of the NAIA World Series. Should LC State claim the CCC Tournament crown, the second-place finisher would advance.

The NAIA Opening Round will begin on May 16-19, while the 65^th-annual Avista NAIA World Series is slated to take place on May 27-June 3 at Harris Field in Lewiston, Idaho.