ALAMOSA, Colo. - The Adams State Baseball team gets the 2019 season started this weekend with a three-game series against an in-region opponent. The Grizzlies will get a 14-game road trip started this weekend.
OPPONENT: Colorado State-Pueblo ThunderWolves
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 - 1 p.m.
             Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019 - 1 p.m.
             Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 - 12 p.m.
WHERE: Pueblo, Colo. - Rawlings Field
First Pitch
• Adams State will take an RMAC opponent to start the 2019 campaign in CSU-Pueblo. The three-game series will not count toward as conference bouts but will count as in-region games.
• The Grizzlies will look ot bounce back from a tough 2018 season that saw them go 3-47 overall and 3-33 in RMAC play.
• Adams State does bring back a handful of players but also brings in a good amount of newcomers for 2019. The team will rely on the combination of youth and experience to improve this season.
Quick Hits
Adams State Baseball History
• Grizzlies Baseball begins its seventh season as an NCAA sport. The program was reinstituted prior to the 2013 season after a 35 year hiatus.
• Prior to the 2013, Adams State last sponsored baseball in 1976 season when the program was still a member of the NAIA.
• Adams State enjoyed quite a bit of success winning back-to-back RMAC championships in 1973 and 1974.
• The Grizzlies posted the best overall record in the conference in each of the last four years (1973-76) while sponsoring the sport before it was discontinued.
The Capra File
• Head Coach
James Capra has led the Grizzlies Baseball in each of the last six seasons. Coach Capra is a graduate of Adams State (Class of 1980).
• Coach Capra was a member of the 1976 team before it was cut. He also played football for three seasons at Adams State and was a three-year starter at wide receiver.
Returning Grizzlies
• Adams State has a handful of players coming back in 2019 that saw a wealth of action on the diamond a season ago.
Billy Ryan and
Erik Hildebrandt will look to the leaders on this year's squad. Both are the top hitters returning last season.
• Also in the mix of returning players looking to make an impact in 2019 are
Jake Angelopulos,
Dakota Solis,
Patrick Huffaker,
Orlando Romero, and
Nico Nintze. All five players saw quality time on the field and in the hitting lineup last season.
On the Mound
• David Maldanado will look to be relied up on this season. The junior is the top returning pitcher for the Grizzlies from last season. He pitched 53 inning last season in 12 appearances. he made 10 starts, went 2-5, and sported a 7.30 ERA.
•
Orlando Romero and
Trent Hughes will also look to add depth to the pitching rotation as both saw time on the mound last season.
RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll
• The Grizzlies were picked to finish 10th in the 2019 RMAC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll. The team totaled 10 points in the poll and was eight points back on ninth-place Colorado Christian.
Road Warriors
• The Grizzlies will start the 2019 campaign with their first 14 games on the road before playing a single game on their home turf.
• Adams State will play a total of 30 games on the road this season and 20 games at home.
Scouting CSU-Pueblo
• The ThunderWolves will begin their 25th overall season this weekend. The team went 29-23 overall last season and was 19-16 in RMAC competition.
• Head Coach Stan Sanchez has led CSU-Pueblo in each of the last 24 seasons and RMAC all-time leader in wins with 836. He has produced 20 winning seasons in Pueblo.
• Dakota Popham will look to lead the bats for the ThunderWolves this season. The junior was named to the All-RMAC Preseason Team and was named a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason All-American.
• As a unit CSU-Pueblo brings back 15 players from the 2018 campaign. Of the returners, Gilbert Sanchez will also look to help the batting lineup.
• On the mound, Andrew Nero will look to anchor things for the ThunderWolves bullpen. he posted a 1.45 ERA in 2018 is the top returner on the mound.
Up Next
• The Grizzlies will continue their road tour in Texas next weekend as they will take on the Buffs of West Texas A&M in a four-game series, Feb. 8-10.
• Adams State will play a single game against West Texas A&M on Feb. 8 and 10, respectively. The other two games will be a doubleheader on Feb. 9.
