Head Coach James Randall is entering his sixth year as skipper of the Claflin Panthers baseball program. The goals for this year are the same as the rest, win the East division, go to the SIAC Championships and win it to earn a spot in the NCAA II National Baseball Championships, and bring home the gold.
This looks like a reasonable feat as Coach Randall will have the core of his 21-23 team returning, in SIAC Freshman of the Year and offensive and defensive award winner Sixto Guerrero who will spearhead the panthers on the diamond. Sixto led Claflin in hitting with a .376 average and a .969 fielding percentage, while committing just three errors the entire season. Senior third baseman Darius Osby hit .366 with a fielding percentage of .944with six errors. Sophomore Leadoff man Jalen Thompson proved to be a tough out. The designated hitter was patient at the plate drawing 19 basses on balls compared to just eight strikeouts in 71 at bats. The Panthers will also be looking forward to Seth Mellen to have a breakout year. The senior has been injury plagued the last two seasons, and feels the need to contribute the way he knows he can. Sophomore shortstop Jabari Brown will return in the infield. Sophomore infielder Dwight Sanders and senior infielder Edward Randolph are other players who received considerable playing time last year.
The Pitching will be a strong suite for the Panthers, as team 'Pitcher of the Year" Sophomore Emanuel Mitchell, who accepted the baseball in long and short relief, will be expected to do the same this season. Junior starting pitcher Dalton Tresvant is back hopefully fully recovered from an arm injury, which hampered him most of last season. Senior Dezmond Moore (6-3) was the ace of the staff last year, and will help the young hurlers along, and lead by example. Sophomore Demitrius Bryant threw 21 innings in relief and showed he could be counted on to get people out late in the ball game.
Coach Randall feels good about how his team will stack up against SIAC powers , Stillman, Tuskegee, Benedict, Kentucky State, and Paine, with the additions of newcomers; Johnny Stevenson from Chicago, IL, Morgan Park High School. Johnny is a catcher who will compete against catcher Jessie Minter's a transfer from Southern Union, AL. "I am excited and look forward to both battling for the starting job this fall and winter." Darius Boykin a native of Fresno, TX and Westberry Christian High School , can play multiple positions and can fill in at just about any of them. "He can come in and have an immediate impact on the ball club, he is just that talented." Wendell Ferguson from Chicago, IL and Brother Rice High School "is another multi-talented athlete who was high sought after as both a pitcher and a position player. Wendell will come in and contribute immediately." Jalen Purchase from Chicago, IL Rich Central High School will be on the mound. "He had an outstanding senior year, where he lost just one decision on the mound. We are definitely excited about what he brings to our pitching staff. And Reginald Rogers another Chicago, IL, Morgan Park High School product, is a real talented kid. "He also plays multiple positions. And is the type of talent who must be on the field. He gives us four or five different options as to where to play him."
