ALVA, Okla.- The 2021 Baseball season has arrived after multiple early-season postponements. Rangers baseball will play host to Rogers State University on Sunday, February 21 and a doubleheader on Monday 22nd in the non-conference baseball series.
"Our guys have been working hard all year to get to this point. Especially, with our season being cut short in 2020 there's even more anticipation now to get back to playing baseball. I'm excited for our guys to go compete and make a run in the GAC", head coach Ryan Bowen on the upcoming season this weekend.
Northwestern Oklahoma State was 11-13 on the season and was 7-5 in Great American Conference play, before the cancelation of last season from the pandemic. The team hit their stride right before the end winning four straight games including a sweep over Arkansas Monticello. The Rangers were sitting tied in fourth place at the time.
The Rangers will be led by head coach Ryan Bowen as he begins his fourth season in charge of the baseball program at Northwestern. Bowen has a career record of 58-64 here at Northwestern after finishing last season fourth in the conference. The assistant coaches will include Kasey Guinty (pitching coach) Matthew Bickford (Outfielders) and Nathan Weatherly (assistant coach) this season.
Northwestern is slated to finish eighth in the Great American Conference this season right behind Henderson State at seven, and in front of Southeastern at nine. Conference play will begin for the Rangers on February 26th on the road against Arkansas Monticello. The Rangers conference home opener will be March 12th against Southeastern at Glass Family Field at Myers Stadium.
The Red-and-Black will enter the season with a veteran roster bringing back many key players offensively and pitching-wise this season.
"We have a veteran team and we're looking to pick up where we left off last year. We feel like we have a lot of versatility on the mound and in our lineup that will help us win games in different ways."
The Rangers return Yugo Hamakawa who finished the 2020 season with the most runs scored this season, along with leading the Rangers in 2020 in team batting average finishing the season with a .359 average. Daschal Johnson finished with an average of .304 as one of six players above .300 on the season. The senior was also the leading RBI returner for the Rangers this season. Marques Paige will return as the leading returner in homeruns with four homeruns on the season with 12 RBI, while also hitting above .300 for the season. Returning senior, Jake White has been promoted to the starting role behind the plate. The Rangers will also return junior first baseman Parker Base following a three homerun 12 RBI season last spring.
The Ranger pitching staff will be led by Scott Creedon, after finishing last season as the team's leader in innings pitched (35.1), most complete games (2). The Massachusetts native led the teams in strikeouts (35) and wins (3) as well, and will be returning as a starting pitcher. The pitching staff will also bring back their closer in Kaleb Honea, after leading the Rangers bullpen in saves last season with three while posting a 3.68 ERA. Colby Carlson will be returning after finishing last season with a 2-1 record in five games throwing 20 innings for the Rangers. Emilio Lovato finished last season with a 3.52 ERA last season.
The Red-and-Black will look to turn their end of the year success last season into this year starting on Sunday, February 21st with the first pitch scheduled for 2PM.
For the latest news and updates on NWOSU Baseball, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com.
