Baseball season is near and broadcaster Shane Dennis joins the podcast to discuss the 2021 Shockers. We talk about newcomers to the pitching staff, the impact of a healthy Paxton Wallace on the lineup and how the Shockers might navigate four-game weekend series. Dennis also details how coaches Gene Stephenson and Jim Thomas handled losing spades games on baseball bus trips in the 1990s, his favorite teammate nicknames and the case for playing Cooper Elliot at all nine positions in a tribute to former Shocker Mike Jones.
Bartlett, a senior outfielder on the baseball team, is a transfer from Saint Louis University. He talks about his first impressions of the coaching staff, talking hitting with his teammates, why he keeps a journal and the Shocker pitcher who causes him the most headaches. Bartlett also discusses dealing with failure in baseball, a future in school psychology and which teammate is the best hunter/fisherman.
Fall baseball is finished and Wichita State baseball pitching coach Mike Pelfrey takes us through the developments – and some Halloween fun. We talk about his starting rotation, newcomers such as outfielder Seth Stroh and shortstop Andrew Stewart and the development of pitchers Connery Peters and Aaron Haase. Pelfrey dives into “spin rates” and how technology figures into coaching. He explains why and how Shocker coaches teach that worshipping velocity can be counterproductive for pitchers.
Junior pitcher Liam Eddy discusses the Shocker World Series, how adding a cutter expanded his repertoire and helped him rebound from a disappointing 2019 season. He reveals his father’s game-day superstitions and talks about hunting in Colorado.
The Shockers open their home schedule this weekend with a three-game series against Texas Southern. Senior Preston Snavely, one of three Shocker starters who turned in strong effort in the season-opening series, gets you ready for the season. He discusses the evolution of his beard, baseball superstitions and routines, how he’s dealt with coaching changes at Wichita State, his plans for a career in law enforcement and why catchers calling pitches helped in the opening weekend.
Mike Sirianni discusses fall scrimmages against Nebraska and Missouri State, his return to Wichita State and his connection to former Shocker great Casey Blake. He explains how coaches evaluated their new team and updates the fall performances of Shockers such as Hunter Gibson and Paxton Wallace.
