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Griffons open season Thursday against Midwest Nationals
The first pitch of the Nevada Griffons 2016 season is set for 7 p.m. Thursday against the Midwest Nationals at Lyons Stadium. The Griffons posted a solid 27-16 overall record last season, while finishing 24-15 in MINK League play en route to the South Division title.
Having sustained success in summer baseball can be challenging according to Ryan Mansfield, who enters his eighth season as the Griffons head coach. (Mansfield is currently an assistant coach at Longview Community College in Kansas City).
Part of the challenge is working with an almost entirely different roster than from a season ago, as the Griffons return only one player from last year's team ---- first baseman Cole Johnson, who attends Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash.
"It's good to have at least one guy back the following year to show some of the new guys the ropes," Mansfield said.
Currently, the Griffons have 31 players on the roster, including 17 pitchers.
"The toughest thing about summer ball is trying to figure out what guys are going to fill what roles," Mansfield said. "The biggest things right now is trying to figure out how to win as soon as possible."
Mansfield said former Nevada High School standout Cole Sanderson, a catcher, planned on joining the Griffons prior to suffering a knee injury. Mansfield added that it remains a possibility that Sanderson will join the team for the second half of the season.
Griffons '16 roster
Pitchers: (Note Right-handed pitchers are listed as RHP, left-handed pitchers are listed as LHP;): Doug Molzahn, RHP, Southwestern Oregon Community College; Bobby Johnson, RHP, Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College; Aaron Barteau, RHP, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor; Clayton Luley, RHP, Maryville University; Bryce Tassin, RHP, Southeastern, Louisiana University; Matt Riney, RHP, Ranger College; Reid Bukowski, RHP, Clarendon College; Riley Ulery, RHP, Neosho Community College; Jack Burk, RHP, University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Cole Butler, RHP, Nicholls State University; Tyler Butcher, RHP, Shippensburg University; Andrew Crum, LHP, Shippensburg University; Brandon Marsonek, LHP, Alabama A&M University; Adam Bosch, LHP, Cameron University; Troy Hall, LHP, Mars Hill University; Jarred Scott, LHP, Alabama Southern Community College; Dalton Minton, LHP, NW Mississippi Community College.
Middle infielders
Samuel Mitchell, Southwest Oregon Community College; Nick Guaragna, Yavapai College; Ethaniel Valdez, Nicholls State University; Tanner Wetrich, William Woods University.
Corner infielders
Cole Johnson, Pacific Lutheran University; Justin Bennett, Southwest Oregon Community College; Adam Eskil, Saint Martin University.
Catchers
Conner Pomering, Drury University; Jake McPhail, Northwest Community College; Nate Hunter, Longview Community College.
Outfielders
Jaxxon Fagg, Yavapai College; Tyler Pagano, Oakland University; Judah Zickafoose, Arizona Western; Kainalu Pitoy, NW Oklahoma State.
Griffons schedule
(Home games in bold)
---- June ----
2: Midwest Nationals, 7
3: @ Sedalia, 7
4: Branson, 7
5: St. Joe, 7
8: @ Joplin, 7
9: Sedalia, 7
10: Branson, 7
11-12: Chillicothe, 7
13: Youth camp (Ages 4-6)
14-16: @ Clarinda, 7
17: @ Joplin, 7
18: @ Branson (DH), 2 p.m.
19: St. Joe, 7
20: Youth camp (7-and-up)
22: Midwest A's, 7
23-24: Ozark, 7
25: Sedalia, 7
26: St. Joe, 7
28-29: Clarinda, 7
30: @ Ozark, 6
---- July ----
1: @ Sedalia, 7
2: Sedalia, 7
3: Chillicothe, 7
5: Clarinda, 7
6: @ St. Joe, 7
7: All-Star Game @ St. Joe's
8: Branson, 7
9: @ St. Joe, 7
10: @ Ozark (DH), 5
11: @ Sedalia, 7
13: @ Chillicothe, 7:05
14: Chillicothe @ Trenton, 7:05
15: @ Chillicothe, 7:05
16: @ Joplin, 7
17: Joplin, 7
19: Joplin, 7
20: @ St. Joe, 7
22: Ozark, 7
23: @ Branson, 5
24: Joplin, 7
26-27 Divisional playoff, times to TBA
28-30: League Championship series, times to TBA
Upcoming promotions
* June 2: Home opener vs. Midwest Nationals, 7 p.m. Fan appreciation (free admission), free lemonade and cookies, and dollar dog night presented by Skills Unlimited.
* June 4: vs. Branson, 7 p.m., free admission, sponsored by Fidelity Communications, and baseball bingo.
* June 5: vs. St. Joe, 7 p.m., Church Night. Free Admission to anyone bringing their church bulletin. The church with the most attendees receives a $75 donation to its church youth group.