After two straight JUCO College World Series appearances, one a Championship in 2019 and the next (after a Covid cancellation) in 2021 in the Championship best of three round, the run for another starts this week. 

Key players returning are: Pitchers Daniel Davila, Drew Sommers, Evan Harmon, Shane Spencer, Cody Brooks, Tyler Woessner, and Liam Evans. Outfielders Dusty Garcia, infielder/outfielder Jaylin Rae, infielders Devon Dixon, Vinnie Lagatta, Tyler Griggs, Logan Valencia, and outfielder/infielder Kiko Romero. 

The Vaquero catchers this year will be Hayden Seldomridge, prized transfer Trey Newman, and last years' starting shortstop Dixon, will move to mostly third base and will do some catching this year.  

There are at least five pitchers who will get regular starting rotation looks in Tyson Heaton from CA, Spencer (Shane), Patrick Steitz, Woessner, and Matt Wilkinson.

Heaton (Yucaipa CA), Sam Rochard (Williamsburg VA), have transfered in to Central, and exciting true freshmen in Steitz (Peoria AZ), Wilkinson (Ladner BC), Blake Avila (Yuma AZ), and Ethan Wood (Lebanon KY) mark another nice recruiting off-season for the Central Arizona College.

"Woessner will be one of our top two guys" said head coach Anthony Gilich.

"Heaton (BYU transfer) is our other top two guy."

"Steitz has been excellent, I expect him to start, and also Wilkinson, true freshman from Canada. 

Shane Spencer who started the JUCO title game is the fifth.

"Daniel Davila is in there and set-up/closer from last years JUCO team Drew Sommers may start a game or two this year. we have quite a few moving parts that can really contribute this year."

Vaquero important new-comers in the infield and outfield include true freshman Chase Valentine who should start right away in there, Ryan Ball from Santa Margarita CA can play infield and outfield right away and true freshman Marcus Harrison (Chandler AZ) should contribute right away in the outfield and posssibly infield. 

Gilich sports that sneaky grin when he talks about his 2022 squad.

"Well first of all, Jaylin Rae had about the best fall of any of our players and he can play almost anywhere" said Gilich.

Rae had visa/Covid problems being from Australia and really couldn't get into the swing of the regular season until later when the lineup was mostly set, so he was a key pinch runner and hitter last year.

That will change this year.

"He can run and bunt, play second, third, and short, left, center, and right" added Gilich. "He's got a lot of layers."

Gilich was asked "can he hit one out?"

"Maybe (grin). He hit one out last fall in a scrimmage."

One of Central's most valauble players last year in Kiko Romero is expected to start in right and hit third or fourth, and finally, after injuries and the sort, Logan Valencia will get on the field after two red shirt years, he is expected to start at Romero's position last year, first base.

"Our pitching and defense this year are very exciting, our hitting is very impressive, and I expect we may have a little less power than last year."

"I want to figure out who our lead-off hitter is this year, I don't really like moving and changing the lead-off hitter, so we want to see who that is" Gilich continued.

"Could be Jaylin, could be Ryan Ball, could be Tyler Griggs, we're going to piece that together in a week or two probably."

Vaqueros baseball starts Thursday in Nevada running through the weekend and Central returns home for the Zinger Classic Tournament Friday February 4th.