Claflin University Baseball Returns a Veteran Team for the 2016 season

Morris Wright

2/4/2016 4:49:00 PM

Orangeburg, S.C. – When the Claflin University baseball team takes to the field this weekend in its 2016 opener, it will look very similar to last year. The reason…Veterans.

The Panthers will open the season on the road, this weekend, Friday-Saturday, Feb. 5-6, taking part in the Francis Marion Invitational in Florence, S.C. In the two-day event, Claflin will face Augusta University (Feb. 5), followed by host Francis Marion (Feb. 6).

Claflin head coach James Randal returns 21 players from last year's team that compiled an 18-29 overall record. The group finished second in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) East Division at 13-7.

"I'm extremely excited about this team," Randall said. "I'm excited with the number of returning players which includes six starters. Our returnees have the luxury of playing together over the last two years. I feel they've meshed together from an athletic standpoint."

The returning group will be led by Damien "Rashad" Bivens, the SIAC Conference Player of the Year.

Bivens, a junior infielder, led the team in all major offensive categories. He batted (.321) with nine home runs, 48 RBIs and 51 hits. The All-SIAC first team performer had a team-high 89 total bases.

Another productive starter is Jesse Minter, a senior utility player. Minter had a .295 batting averaging and provided the Panthers with speed on the base path. He was 24-of-24 in the stolen base department.

As a team, Claflin stole 88 bases in 108 attempts for 81 percent.

Senior Jabari Brown, another infielder with speed, swiped 14 bases in 18 attempts, while hitting .290 and collecting 45 hits. He also drove in 26 runs.

Also making significant contributes were juniors Reginald Rogers and Johnny Stevenson.
Rogers, another infielder, was second on the team in runs scored 28, pounded out 31 hits and led the team in walks with 32.

Stevenson showed a lot durability behind the plate for the Panthers, starting 44 games. During that period, he ripped 34 hits, including a team-high 12 doubles, with 5 home runs and 25 RBIs.

"I like the makeshift of this team," Randall said. "We have the capabilities to do a lot of things. We can put the ball in play, steal bases, manufacture runs and hit for power. We're also a pretty good defensive team."

Claflin had a 94% defensive rate last season, averaging just under two errors a game.

The question mark for Randall lies in the bullpen with no returning starters.

Randall will rely on junior left-hander Wendell Ferguson to lead a talented group of newcomers.
Last season, Ferguson pulled double duty, pitching and playing first base. He started 30 games at the corner position, batting .281 with 27 hits. On the mound, Ferguson made nine appearances with seven starts.

Joining Ferguson in the rotation will be a pair junior transfers in Lyndale Morley and Christopher Gilliam along with freshmen Dillion Parker.

"Although we lost our weekend (conference) starters on the mound, I still feel good about our returning pitchers and the newcomers," Randall said. "We will be young and inexperienced in the pitching department, but the potential to accomplish great things is there."

Schedule
Claflin will play a 50-game schedule. The slate includes several NCAA Division II ranked teams and a tough SIAC East Division lineup.

"Our schedule is tough," Randall said. "From the non-conference portion to our division, it's very competitive. I like playing tough competition early in the season. It allows our guys to stay focus and improve before conference play."

The Panthers will make their home debut at Historic Mirmow Field on February 8 when they host Lincoln Memorial University. The contest will be followed by a doubleheader with Florida Memorial University at home on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

Rounding out the non-conference teams on the Claflin worksheet will be Lander University, St. Augustine University, Coker College, Florida Southern College, Selma University, Rollins College, Flagler University, Kentucky Wesleyan College and Armstrong State University.

The Panthers will entertain four of their seven SIAC East Division opponents at home this season. Claflin will begin league play with a pair of three-game series in Orangeburg, facing defending champion Albany State University (March 12-13) and Clark-Atlanta (March 19-20).

The next two conference series will be on the road against Morehouse College (March 25-26) and Benedict College (April 2-3) before returning home to taking on Paine College (April 9-10).

A rematch with Albany State will be played in Albany, Ga the weekend of April 16-17. The Panthers will close out the regular season at home against Kentucky State University (April 23-24).

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