NMSU Baseball Excited to Bring in New Year
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Dec. 5, 2011) – Head baseball coach Rocky Ward and the 2012 New Mexico State baseball team have been getting set for the upcoming spring season after going 34-24 last year.
NM State was the 2011 NCAA Division I statistical champion for batting average after hitting .337 and the Aggies finished with their third consecutive 30-plus win record.
NM State had eight starters finish with a batting average above .325, while a total of 12 players hit above .300 on the year. Junior Zac Fisher returns to the NM State lineup after earning 2011 ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) All-Midwest region honors. He led the offense hitting .398 on the year as he appeared in 52 games, starting in 44. He tied for team-high honors with 68 hits including 16 doubles and a team-high eight home runs. He also led the team in slugging percentage at .632.
“Fisher has emerged as our best prospect,” Ward said. “His improvement as a catch-and-throw guy with his improved power and his RBI ability make him a very interesting player.”
Fellow junior Parker Hipp also returns to the lineup after playing a huge factor for the Aggie offense finishing second on the team in batting average at .396, and recording 67 hits (second on the team) despite missing several games due to injury. He was also second on the team in slugging percentage at .574 and was second in the Western Athletic Conference in RBI with 58.
NM State returns juniors Tyler Mack and Ryan Beck on the mound as starters, while senior Scott Coffman returns as the Aggie closer. Coffman tied the school record with nine saves in 2011 and is second in the record books with 14 career saves. He finished the year with a 3-0 record and a 1.88 ERA, while earning first team All-WAC honors.
“With the addition of five more 90-plus arms to the staff to support Mack, Beck and Coffman, we are much better on the mound than a year ago,” Ward said.
NM State is excited to bring back shortstop Ty Forney to the lineup after he was a second team All-WAC selection in 2011. He returns with senior outfielder Tanner Waite, who finished the 2011 season with a .389 batting average and 43 RBI, while Forney hit .356 on the year. Forney also posted 114 assists and 73 putouts on defense.
NM State brings in junior Kyle Phillips from Edmonds Community College. According to the NM State coaching staff, Phillips, who joined the program late had a great fall season and has learned the offensive system.
“He has earned his role in centerfield and can really swing the bat,” Ward said.
Junior Cody Edwards joins the Aggies after playing two years at Bellevue Community College. He is a right-hand pitcher who will also contribute at first base.
“He has amazing power and we hope to see him produce some big-power numbers for us,” Ward said.
The Aggies also made a couple of changes to the coaching staff with the hiring of Mike Evans is the new pitching coach after former pitching coach Chase Tidwell departed to take on other opportunities. Before joining Ward’s staff as the new pitching coach, Evans was the head coach at Bellevue University for 22 seasons. While at Bellevue, he tallied a 928-457-1 record and led the Bruins to 12 NAIA World Series appearances while earning a NAIA National Championship in 1995.
“Mike Evans has brought a completely different feel to the pitching staff after a few months with the program,” Ward said. “He is very optimistic and is a very positive guy. He has tons of years of experience and I am looking forward to working with him during in-game situations. As a pitching coach, you have to be decisive, and he has the experience and ability in that area of our profession.”
Former Aggie outfielder Nate Shaver also joins the team as the volunteer assistant coach. Shaver was a 2009 second team All-WAC selection and hit .354 with 57 RBI that season.
“Nate Shaver is a young guy who is well beyond his age,” Ward said. “He was always a great player and a good guy who never said much. Since he has been with the coaching staff, he has shown efficiency and has closed the gap between the coaches and the players.”
The Aggies open the year with the Annual Alumni Game, Saturday, Feb. 11 at Presley Askew Field and open regular-season play with a four-game series against Wake Forest at home starting Feb. 17. Keep up with the 2012 Aggie baseball team at www.NMStateSports.com.
Source: NMSU Athletics
