2022 UPIKE Baseball Season Preview

1/13/2022 2:11:00 PM

BASEBALL IS BACK

The grass has never looked better at Johnnie LeMaster Field, signaling that baseball season is near. Over the next several months, UPIKE baseball enters a new chapter for the program complete with a brand new coaching staff, a solid core of returners, and a few new faces to get familiar with. There's a lot to unpack as the Bears get set for a January 28th start for a squad with a fresh demeanor.

CODY ANDREYCHUK

Head Coach | 1st season

After spending three seasons as the Head Coach at Lindsey Wilson College, Andreychuk is set for his first season at the reigns of the program. After leading a successful collegiate playing career himself, Andreychuk first got familiar with UPIKE in 2016 where he served as an assistant under Jim Pitt. The Bears led a 27 win season in 2017, making it all the way to the MSC tournament final site. The young head coach approaches the new journey with an outlook centered around “pulling the same rope”, understanding that a successful program is a process that takes patience and a culture that encourages growth.

TYLER RUSSELL

Assistant Coach | 1st Season

California native Tyler Russell joins UPIKE baseball alongside Andreychuk in 2022, also coming from the Lindsey Wilson program. Russell began his collegiate baseball career in 2014 at Eastern Michigan University as a pitcher and has since played at Palomar College and Lindsey Wilson. In 2016, Russell aided the Blue Raiders to an NAIA World Series appearance in a season where he hurled 91.1 innings. He currently sits at second all-time in LWC baseball for single season starts with 16.

UPIKE Baseball has gone through an array of changes in the past couple of seasons, and one of the most important of those is the push for a shift in culture. For Andreychuk this starts with his team motto, Climb The Mountain, which represents the culture goal of the team. “In order to get to the top we all need to be climbing at the same pace, pulling on the same rope,” said Andreychuk. It all starts with learning the players and their personalities and ultimately shape quality young men.

A LOOK BACK

The 2021 campaign unfolded in the midst of the ever-difficult COVID-19 pandemic and saw growth from the young team. The Bears finished with a 12-34 regular season record and a 6-8 mark in conference play. Since 2015 the program has cumulated an overall record of 141-174. Last year's team finished with a team batting average of .245, totaling 328 hits, 15 home runs, and an on-base percentage of .338.

2021 UPIKE Baseball Statistics

Offensively the Bears were led by Tyler Freas with a .355 average and a team leading 54 hits. In the last five seasons the program has a record of 99-123 (30-54 MSC). The Bears last trip to the MSC Final Site happened at the end of the 2017 season.

2017
2018
2019
2020
2021

27-24 (6-12 MSC)

27-23 (7-11 MSC)

24-27 (10-11 MSC)

9-15 (1-2 MSC)

12-34 (6-18 MSC)

It's almost here ???#BearNation pic.twitter.com/PIzrjcrF3s
— UPIKE Athletics (@UPIKEAthletics) January 18, 2022

2022 UPIKE Baseball Schedule

The 2022 stretch features 54 games for the Bears and begins with a three game series against Reinhardt University on the road starting Thursday, January 27th. After four games with Voorhees it's on to Athens, TN for a test against (5) Tennessee Wesleyan who made it to the NAIA Opening Round last season. The Bears are slated for 25 home matchups at Johnnie LeMaster, opening the home schedule with a double-header against Cleary University on February 11th. The MSC schedule begins (fittingly) against Lindsey Wilson on Friday, February 25 in Columbia, KY. All said, the Bears take on five top-25 opponents and wrap up the regular season on Tuesday, April 26th for round two with Tennessee Wesleyan.

RETURNERS

The 2022 roster features some familiar faces taking the diamond for the Bears including a solid returning core of infielders like seniors Jairemy Pulido and Jared Kirkman. Offensively, the top five hitters from 2021 return to the plate including Tyler Freas and Noah Helton who accounted for 32% of the Bears hits last season. Coach Andreychuk also brings back a few solid arms to take the mound in 2022 including Ethan Cernohous, Nolan Fernandes, Braxton Ratliff, and Ty Crall. In total, 20 returners will take to the mound in 2022, here are a few of the many difference makers returning to the diamond.

BRINGING THE ENERGY

Freas is one of those unique players you just can't miss, with a huge personality tightly packed in a 5'11" frame. The Georgia native is quick, both witted and on the basepath, packing a punch at the top of the order.

Center field is HQ for the sophomore who is entering his third season with the Bears, leading the team in batting average and hits a season ago. His 2021 performance earned him Second Team All-MSC Honors. Freas earned himself a spot on the Edmonton Prospects, a team Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL), a collegiate summer baseball outfit in Alberta, Canada.

Speed is one of Freas' specialties that comes into play both in the field and on the basepaths. His ability to stretch a base hit saw Freas club five triples a season ago which was second in the MSC.

RELIABLE AND STRONG

In stark contrast to Freas, Helton's calm and steady demeanor positions him in a growing leadership role in the lineup. The right fielder suits up for year three with the Bears following a 2021 campaign where he led the Bears in doubles (14) and on base percentage (.428).

Through 46 games, Helton found a way to score, leading the team with 33 runs on 50 hits. The Kentuckian showed some power as well, knocking a pair of home runs and finishing the season with a .462 slugging percentage.

THE TEXAN

Returning to the mound in 2022 for his second season with the Bears, Ethan Cernohous looks to build on his growth from 2021. Originally from Bulverde, TX, Cerno is a utility player who found a role as a closer for the Bears a season ago. The senior has ample collegiate experience, spending two years at Dakota Valley Technical College out of high school before coming to Pikeville.

In 2021, Cernohous offered 30 innings of action finishing with a 3-3 record. He sat down 25 on strikes and notched his first save against Campbellsville in April.

Like Freas, Cernohous will spend his summer in the WCBL as a member of the Prospects.

2022 UPIKE BASEBALL ROSTER

FRESH FACES

Taking over the reigns in late July presented some unique challenges for Andreychuk and Russell, especially in the recruiting process. A recruiting season was out of the question for the brand new coaching staff so the approach was heavily focused on learning the players, building those relationships, and establishing a culture. That said, there are a handful of fresh faces in the programs rank this season and most are just getting started in their collegiate career.

"Ryan will be one to watch have a run at Freshman of the Year at the end of the year. Has good tools and understands the game at a very high level." - Coach Andreychuk

"Schwalbach, an outfielder, that has a lot of tools plays the game hard and is very athletic" - Coach Andreychuk

GO TIME

Two days separate the Bears from their season opener as they prepare for the 373 mile journey to Waleska to take on (21) Reinhardt. First pitch is slated for Thursday, January 27th at 4PM for game one. Friday's action begins at 1PM and will be a double header.