Red Devils Have Pieces for Exciting Season

EUREKA – Sixth-year Eureka baseball coach Jerry Rashid couldn't have asked for a better day to come back to Henry Sand Field.

On Wednesday, with the sun shining and the temperatures in the high-50s, low-60s, the Red Devils officially opened the 2023 season with a dominant, 12-0 rout over Knox. Rashid's squad limited the Prairie Fire to three hits in seven innings and didn't commit a single error.

It was the legendary coach's first game coaching in a full-time capacity after missing the majority of the 2022 campaign due to a heart attack.

"It was a nice day to come back and coach again," Rashid said. "Obviously, the key to that one was our pitching, but even though few balls were hit, we made every play defensively. Offensively, we didn't have a lot of hits, but the balls we hit were pretty solid."

After notching the team's third season-opening victory of the past six years, Rashid said that he was "cautiously optimistic" about the rest of the 2023 season.

Eureka brings back 13 players from last year's team, including a handful who have considerable experience.

In 2022, the Red Devils managed to record 16 wins for only the fourth time in the program's modern era and the second time under Rashid. They recorded the team's best start in the program's modern era, winning seven of the team's first 11 games, and finished in the top six in the conference for the first time since 2010.

"Last year was a tough year to be a coach -- it was a tough year to be a person," Rashid said. "But I thought they played well. They did a great job under the circumstances."

This year, pitching looks to be the team's strength. The maroon and gold have a deep and improved pitching staff that includes three proven returners and several promising new talents.

The top two arms in the rotation belong to senior ace Nathan Garard and sophomore transfer Mike Dunne, both of whom contributed to Wednesday's win.

Garard, a right-hander, threw three scoreless innings while striking out five batters and only allowing two hits. Dunne, a southpaw transfer from Lincoln Land Community College, fanned seven in three scoreless and hitless innings to collect the win.

Garard led the Red Devils in wins (5), innings pitched (64.5) and strikeouts (66) last year. Chief among his highlights were nearly throwing a no-hitter and striking out 14 batters in a 7-1 win over Knox, notching 11 strikeouts in a 12-0 shutout against Principia and holding Spalding to one unearned run on three hits and five walks in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. He also had a productive collegiate league summer season.

"That experience really helped him," Rashid said of Garard. "He's stronger. He throws harder, he's got a great slider, a great curve ball, and he's a real competitive and knowledgeable pitcher."

Dunne, a former Limestone Rocket, brings a sense of toughness, a confident, competitive spirit and an impressive curve ball to the Red Devils' 1-2 punch.

Following Garard and Dunne in the rotation are a pair of experienced veterans in junior Ryan Bredeson and senior Parker Brodine.

Chase Ulrich, a junior from Illinois Central College, has potential to be a strong closer, Lincoln transfer Michael Wiley will be in the mix, and several others will likely have opportunities to contribute to the pitching staff as well.

The Red Devils also have a lot of experience in the infield, starting with returning First Team All-SLIAC and ABCA Third Team All-Region honoree Braden Cox. The senior first baseman was one of the top players in SLIAC last season, leading the league in hits in league play (33), ranking second in batting average (.429), third in home runs (nine) and fifth in slugging percentage (.740).

"He's a force offensively and he's excellent defensively," Rashid said. "He's the kind of guy who can absolutely win a game, not just offensively, but defensively as well.

"He's a very strong personality – one that guys like to follow."

In the middle infield, the team brings back a familiar pair in second baseman Austin Davis and shortstop Nick Rulevish. Davis is a senior who has improved every year, and on Wednesday, he crushed his first career home run off the top section of the scoreboard against Knox. Rulevish is a sophomore leadoff hitter who worked hard in the offseason to add muscle and become a stronger player.

At third base, the Red Devils welcome another big bat to the lineup in Ulrich, who will bat in the cleanup spot and make it impossible for teams to pitch around Cox.

At catcher, returning starter Karter Hostetler is beginning the season sidelined due to injury, but he will be back in action within the next month. In the meantime, the team has a slew of other options in freshman Hayden McKenna, who started on opening day, junior Kelton O'Grady, freshman Brandt King, junior Lincoln transfer Brenden Eigenbrod and senior Demetrius Schupp.

"We've got two returning catchers and three new ones who are fighting every single day to get playing time," Rashid said.

The outfield is a whole new unit.

Senior Tate Stone, an infielder and pitcher in past years, has emerged as the starter in center field. Knox transfer Cole Tanner started and made a tough catch in right field on Wednesday, and the left field spot is currently up for grabs between Williston State transfer Garrett Flaagan, returning sophomore contributor David Hidden and sophomore Ty Kapp, who will also add depth to the team's bullpen.

All told, Rashid likes what he's seen from his team. After starting strong but fading down the stretch last season, he thinks this year's squad has the chance to compete with everyone they play – and to make it into the top four in the SLIAC.

"I think we're going to be a better club this year," Rashid said. "I think our chemistry is better than it has been for a few years, and they really feel passionate about making history in being the first .500 team in school history, even with a tougher schedule this year – that's how condiment they are."