Baseball: Lopers look for fast start

KEARNEY, Neb. — The University of Nebraska at Kearney baseball team hopes to hit the ground running this weekend as it starts the season at Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla.

The Lopers and Riverhawks are scheduled to play noon doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday. However, the four-game series is likely to be cut to three games due to a storm moving into the area on Sunday.

Under coach Damon Day, UNK has had a habit for getting hot in May and storming through the RMAC tournament en route to an NCAA berth. Last year, UNK placed fourth in the conference during the regular season but won its first two tourney games, pushing its RMAC tournament win streak to 10 straight games.

While the Lopers didn’t win a third straight tourney title, finishing up at 26-32, the team once again proved it’s dangerous when it matters most. This year, Kearney wants to get off to a fast start to avoid having to get hot again in May.

UNK will be led by Kearney seniors Blake Cover and Jared Loschen.

Cover, a 2009 all-region pick at third base, is moving over to shortstop while Loschen, a 2010 preseason All-America candidate like Cover, is slated to fill the void left by Ryan Sheldon, the RMAC’s pitcher of the year in 2008 and 2009.

Led by Loschen, the Lopers should have their deepest rotation under Day. Senior right handers Nick Hall (Lincoln Pius) and Ryan Seefus (Blair) have been workhorses the past three springs with junior Ricky Muir (Easton, Conn.) earning All-RMAC honors last spring. Junior college transfers Roy Metter (Scottsdale C.C., Ariz.) and Andre O’Connor (McCook C.C.), along with 2009 redshirt Todd Stachura (Western Nebraska CC), will give UNK three more experienced arms.

Other experienced arms include junior Jake Kresse (Bennington) and sophomore Jacob Hiatt (Lincoln North Star). Returning infielders Brandon Buchanan (Loveland, Colo.) and Mike Nowak (Omaha Roncalli) will likely add pitching duties as well.

Joining Cover in the starting lineup will be junior first baseman Andrew Haake (Beatrice), a 2009 All-RMAC pick, outfielder Luke Stamp (Persia, Iowa), catcher/DH Mike Stamp (Persia, Iowa) and newcomers Luke Valerius (3B/Scottdale C.C.), Jordan Mitchelhill (2B/Parkland College, Ill.), Duell Higbe (1B-DH/Iowa Western C.C.), and Nick Arapkiles (OF/Otero J.C., Colo.).

Several players are battling to replace departed catcher Leon de Winter. That group includes Stamp, junior returnee Samm Spears (Arroyo Grande, Calif.), junior newcomer Felix Segovia (Salt Lake C.C.), and true freshman Chandler Klute (Kearney).

UNK, picked fifth in the RMAC preseason poll, is scheduled to have its home opener March 2 against Concordia.

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