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Kansas State Baseball Prepping for Season Opener

By Dan Horton

Jun 18, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; General image before the games in the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 18, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; General image before the games in the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Spring is in the air (sort of) and the Boys of Summer are out getting ready for Kansas State’s BatCats first action of 2017.

The Kansas State Wildcats baseball squad has been working tirelessly to get ready for its season to open up. The BatCats get things going in just two days in sunny Kissimmee, FL.

Kansas State returns nine seniors along with 15 letter winners from last season. Among those, are Big 12 2016 New-Comer of the year, Jake Scudder, and All-Freshman Team catcher Josh Rolette.

Returning seniors, aside from Scudder, include Jake Wodtke (INF), Steve Serratore (OF), Parker Rigler (LHP), Colton Kalmus (RHP), Nick Jones (RHP), Jordan Floyd (LHP), Josh Ethier (INF), and Quinton Crandall (INF).

Brad Hill begins his 14th season as the Wildcats skipper and Tyler Kincaid remained as pitching coach. But a new face will be in the BatCats dugout this year and that man’s name is Mitch Gaspard.

Gaspard will be Hill’s Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator. If the name is not familiar to you, and you follow NCAA Baseball, it should be.

Gaspard comes to Manhattan by way of Tuscaloosa, AL. He was previously the head man at the University of Alabama and is very well respected and trusted man in college baseball circles.

Gaspard led Alabama for six seasons from 2010 to 2016.

"“Boasting a career head coaching record of 444-331 (.573), Gaspard led UA to consecutive NCAA Regional appearances on two occasions in 2010 and 2011, and again in 2013 and 2014. His 2010 squad won 42 games and advanced to a Super Regional, finishing just one victory shy of the College World Series. The Crimson Tide also advanced to the championship game of the NCAA Tallahassee Regional in 2011 and 2014.” – Mitch Gaspard bio, via kstatesports.com"

The Wildcats have got one of the better coaches in the game in their dugout and I think this year could see the Cats make it back to post-season play.

In Kissimmee, the Wildcats will face Ohio State (twice), Pitt, and Delaware. From there, they head to South Carolina for match-ups against the University of South Carolina, St. Johns, and Liberty (twice).

Next: Kansas State President: Stop the Nasty Chant at Games

The BatCats return to Tointon Family Stadium on March 3rd to face E. Illinois in the home opening series. That game is scheduled for a 4 PM EST (3 Central) start time.

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