2007 Baseball Preview
 Scorpions Anxious To Begin Season - NAIA Style

Projected Starters
C Chris Walker
1B Joey Garcia
2B Gilbert Gonzales
3B Bryan Dombeck
SS Scott Price
LF Andres Monterrubio
CF Gabe Cruz
RF Jacob Yousif
DH Hawk Scott
Projected Starting Pitchers
P David Belleperche
P Trey Garcia
P Jon Ali
P Julian Moya
P Kevin Cantu

Posted February 1, 2007

The anticipation is over.

Coach Joel Barta

Scorpion baseball begins a new era -- its first-ever campaign as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the 2007 season.

"Being the one to start a four-year program for the first time is extremely exciting," said first-year head coach Joel Barta. "A lot of people on campus and the community are excited, too, and we will be putting a good product on the field."

The Scorpions begin a 47-game schedule on February 9 against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at Belton. They hope to be still playing in the postseason, all the way up to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho May 26-31.

Only one Scorpion team has advanced to the postseason since 1977, that coming in the 2000 season when UTB/TSC was playing in the junior college level. Scorpion baseball started in 1974 as Texas Southmost College, and after 33 seasons in JUCO, the big jump to a four-year program is here.

"Our job is to change that mindset, of little success here in the past," Barta said. "Our job is to graduate our student-athletes, and to change how the baseball program is viewed. It's not just what happens on the field."

What will be on the field will be a mixture of players representing UTB/TSC never seen before on campus. Out of the 29-man roster, five are from Brownsville, four from other cities in the Valley, 12 from other parts of Texas, two from other U.S. states, four from Canadian states, and two from Puerto Rico.

"'We're going to have some quality athletes and they will make quality decisions to bring success on the field," Barta said. "We're trying to make them comfortable with the expectation of winning, which is something we preach."

Prior to joining UTB/TSC, Barta served as the head baseball coach for the Northland (Wis.) for seven seasons. He has also worked as an assistant coach at Mayville State University and Hastings College, both NAIA institutions. He also managed the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League, a summer wood bat summer developmental league for college-eligible student athletes.

His assistant coach is Derek Waddoups, who is also new to campus and who will be the pitching coach.

The Scorpions will field a 29-man active roster, 16 of whom are freshman. There are five sophomores, six juniors and two juniors -- returning second baseman Gilbert Gonzalez (La Feria) and designated hitter Hawk Scott (El Paso Coronado). The only other returning starters are sophomore left fielder Andres Monterrubio (Galveston Ball) and sophomore center fielder Gabe Cruz (San Antonio Clark). Junior Chris Walker (Brownsville Porter), who played in the infield last year, moves over to take over duties at catcher.

"Our strengths are team speed, baserunning and defense," Barta said. "This team will hit more for average. We have designed our offense to manufacture at least one run per inning. We will also bunt a lot to take advantage of our speed."

Other projected starters are freshman first baseman Joey Garcia (Brownsville Porter), freshman third baseman Brian Dombeck (Rockton, Ill. Hononegah), sophomore shortstop Scott Price (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), and right fielder freshman Jacob Yousif (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada).

The projected starting five rotation will consist of returning junior David Belleperche (San Diego, CA, Sweetwater), sophomore Trey Garcia (League City Clear Creek), junior Jon Ali (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), freshman Julian Moya (Brownsville Porter), and freshman Kevin Cantu (Brownsville St. Joseph).

"We feel good about this team," Barta said. "I've been around a lot of winning and a lot of quality players, and I'm excited about this product we're going to put on the field. We should be exciting to watch. There's no doubt in my mind that this team should have success."