January 31, 2020
Broncbusters aim for bounce back 2020
By Mike Pilosof
Photo by Adam Shrimplin
If you have followed Broncbuster baseball since Chris Finnegan's arrival as a short-term assistant; then the team's full-time manager in 2006, you know, year in and year out, the program has been a model of consistency. He's guided Garden City to winning seasons in 11 out of his first 14 years. Four times, the Broncbusters have won 40 or more games, and four times, they have made it to the Region VI final four, falling one game shy of the World Series in 2007.
But last year was the outlier; the anomaly that most coaches endure during such a long tenure. The 2019 campaign marked the first time under Finnegan's watch that the Broncbusters finished with losing records in back-to-back seasons.
"It's really unacceptable with the standard that we've set here," Finnegan said. "We've been through plenty of ups and downs over the years, but we have to be better."
Garden City closed last season by losing eight straight games, including a sweep at the hands of Johnson County in the opening round of the Region Tournament. Yet, things started out so well. Finnegan's bunch won 10 out of their first 11 and were 12-2 entering conference play on Feb. 25. But they lost all four to Barton to begin the league year. After taking three of four from Dodge, including a comeback from eight runs down, the Broncbusters managed to win just one series the rest of the way, finishing seventh in the Jayhawk West.
"There were a lot of things that cost us this year," Finnegan said following his team's postseason exit. "But we will get back to work and get this thing right."
THE RIGHT PIECES
Most of the teams that finished towards the top of the league last year, all had something in common: at least two quality starters and a deep bullpen, two areas where Garden City was really inconsistent. The Broncbusters posted a 6.15 ERA, which was the fifth highest in the conference. Their bullpen, which in years past was such a strength, was more of an Achilles heel. Those relievers tallied a 7.25 ERA, giving up a season-worst 12 runs vs. Barton. In fact, 17 times, the pen surrendered three or more runs.
"At this level, you have to have guys who can get outs out of the bullpen," Finnegan said. "We gave up way too many leads this year, and it's because they were so inconsistent."
To help remedy some of those pitching woes, Finnegan hired former Northern Colorado pitching ace Justin Mulvaney to help with the staff.
A mix of some lefty talent should also help. Garden City had just one southpaw, Jordan Yates, on the roster. This year, they have two, Raul Garcia, a freshman from Puerto Rico, and first-year hurler Michael Thorne, who missed his senior season after having ankle surgery. But even with a year off, Thorne is expected to be a pretty nice piece, this after posting a 1.27 ERA in 55 innings, leading Faith Christian to a state championship. He struck out 86 while opponents hit just .192 off of him.
"We've got a lot of guys who can do different things on the mound," Finnegan said. "We are still trying to figure out who are main guys will be at the top."
Figuring into the starting rotation has to be Malachi Crone and Connery O'Donnell, two returnerss from last year. Crone was arguably Finnegan's second best pitcher, winning six of his 11 starts, while striking out 56 in 64 innings. He posted a 4.76 ERA.
"Malachi should be ready to roll," Finnegan added. "Connery is back to the guy who we signed at the beginning of last year."
That's a major key, considering O'Donnell really struggled in the second half of last season. His low point was Apr. 27 vs. Cloud where he allowed nine runs on three hits and never made it out of the the third inning in a 22-2 loss. But there were plenty of highlights including a seven-strikeout performance vs. Barton and a one-hit shutout in a win against Western Nebraska.
"He (O'Donnell) looks pretty good," Finnegan said. "Obviously, we'll see."
The other guys vying for a spot in the rotation are Raul Garcia, another lefty from Puerto Rico, Rhett Halstead, a freshman who missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, and Nayton Agosto, a guy with pretty filthy stuff who is still figuring things out.
"We don't know what his (Agosto's) best pitch is just yet," Finnegan said with a smile. "But he has a chance to be pretty good."
Damian Acosta has a chance to be in the mix after showing some positive signs in 2019. In eight appearances, he posted a 5.84 ERA with 11 strikeouts. He tossed
back-to-back scoreless games vs. Frank Phillips and Seward County. But there was still a pretty steep learning curve for the freshman, who spent a year after high school at Georgetown Prep. He allowed a home run in each of his last two appearances. This year, look for a much improved array of pitches from Acosta, including his slider, which is said to have more depth than 12 months ago.
"Just like the other guys, Damian can throw it," Finnegan said. "But we aren't sure, just like with our other guys, whether he is a starting guy or someone that comes out of the pen."
SITUATIONAL BASEBALL
Garden City began last year with an infusion of power. They hit six home runs in their first four games, which had some thinking it was 2016 all over again. That year, the Broncbusters finished with 59 long balls-good for 39th in the country. That squad also featured six guys who had seven or more bombs. But unlike the team from three years earlier, Finnegan's boys couldn't sustain those offensive pyrotechnics. They had just 18 homers over their final 47 games, and only one player, Corbin Truslow, had more than five (he finished with 11).
The end result was pretty easy to read: the Broncbusters finished 14th out of 20 teams in the conference in runs scored and homers, 16th in total bases and compiled the fifth fewest hits in the Jayhawk. So how does Finnegan plan to remedy that in 2020?
"We have to be better situationally," he said. "Our goal is to hit a ton of doubles this year. And I think we have the guys to do that. We weren't good at all situationally last year."
Truslow's bat was pretty lethal last year, but even more so in 2018. The freshman hit 18 jacks and batted .366-earning first-team All-Jayhawk honors. As a sophomore though, his numbers dipped a bit to .360 and 11 homers. Still, he produced a team-best 44 RBI. But the rest of the roster struggled, combining to hit just .277 collectively, fifth lowest in the conference.
This year, don't expect anyone to take aim at the NJCAA home run crown. Instead, the Broncbusters will be a more balanced team. Brennen Nolte could see a lot of time at first base. The freshman from Mullen High School in Thornton, CO, hit .400 his senior year, landing on the All-Centennial League team. Bryce Pearson could see spot time behind the plate, alternating with Colin Stone. The first-year player mashed 15 home runs during a solid high-school career, one that was plauged with arm problems after he separated his left shoulder during the 2018 football season.
Antother guy to watch is freshman second basemen Cullen Glosson. The infielder may have something to prove after being snubbed for the Gatorade Player of the year in 2019. His prep career was filled with video-game like numbers, hitting .733 with four homers and 42 RBI as a senior at Otis High School. He also hit .700 as a freshman while posting a .500 or better average all four years. He was selected to the All-State team four times, this while undergoing UCL reconstruction after dislocating his elbow during a football game his senior year.
As far as the returners, Dakota Finley is back following a freshman campaign that saw him hit .298 with 30 RBI. Jake Barber, who swiped 25 bags in 35 attempts in 2019, could move to the bottom of the order, providing some much-needed stability between the seven, eight and nine-hole hitters. Dyan Rodriguez flashed some nice leather at shortstop as a freshman, turning eight double plays in an injury-shortened season. And Brett Thompson should be a valuable piece on the infield after playing in just 12 games as a freshman. He did however produce four RBI in 24 at bats.
THE SCHEDULE
Chris Finnegan's famous line of the late winter months: "I'm tired of practicing. Let's play some real games."
And with that, the 2020 odyssey begins on Feb. 1 with a single nine-inning game vs. Lamar, CO. You'll notice the early start time; the veteran coach does that every year, trying to get as many non-conference games in before the league year starts on March 5. And, while most are partying on Super Bowl Sunday, Garden City will be playing a doubleheader in Lamar.
"That's when the Super Bowl is?" Finnegan asked sarcastically. "We just need to get games in."
Even last year, when his beloved New England Patriots were playing the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XLIII, Finnegan's squad was battling Trinidad State. So there's nothing new there.
What is new, are some of the opponents, like Iowa Western, who invades Williams Stadium for a three-game series beginning on Feb. 15. Why is that significant? The Reivers are the National Runner-up from last season, losing to Central Arizona in the National Championship Game back in June.
"We have to get ready for conference play," Finnegan said. "This schedule will give us a good, early test on where we are as a team."
The non-conference schedule is littered with home games. Clarendon comes in on Feb. 4, followed by a four-game series with Southeast Nebraska on Feb. 8 and Feb. 9. Other non-Jayhawk games include Clarendon on Feb. 8, Indian Hills on March 21 and Otero on March. 10.
On March 5, the Broncbusters begin the league schedule with a four-game series vs. Butler, the Jayhawk West runner-up. That's followed by a showdown with a much-improved Pratt team before Cloud, and former assistant Eric Gilliland, who's now the skipper for the Thunderbirds, makes a return trip to Williams Stadium on March 26.
All of that is a prelude to their series with Hutchinson, beginning on April 2. The Blue Dragons won 44 games last year before being bounced in the Region VI Championship game by Cowley.
The stretch run includes a series with Colby, who made it all the way to the Region VI loser's bracket final last season, Dodge City, the 2015 Region VI champ, Barton, who qualified for the World Series in 2018, and Seward, who's been one of the most consistent teams in the Jayhawk West year in and year out.