Selection Monday isn鈥檛 always a happy occasion for 蜜柚直播 Wildcats baseball coach Jay Johnson, but it鈥檚 always eventful.
Twice during his tenure here, Johnson has learned on Memorial Day morning that his team had qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The past two seasons, 蜜柚直播 just missed the cut.
Johnson felt extremely confident that this year鈥檚 team would make the 64-team field. We鈥檒l never know.
The coronavirus pandemic wiped out most of the 2020 season, leaving college baseball coaches, players and fans across the country to wonder what could have been.
Although Johnson mostly has moved on to the offseason and whatever lies ahead, his mind still wanders to that place on occasion 鈥 especially over the holiday weekend.
鈥淔or sure,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 natural, because there鈥檚 so much invested in that process, not just with the six or seven months we were together. You can go back five years from the day that I was hired here 鈥 then getting to Omaha (in 2016) and allowing us to recruit some of these players because of that success.
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鈥淪o there鈥檚 certainly some disappointment in that, that we鈥檙e not having the opportunity to compete in this year鈥檚 postseason. I really liked where our team was headed 鈥 in every phase.鈥
蜜柚直播 had a 10-5 record when the season was halted in mid-March. The Wildcats won three of four games during the final week of competition, and the early returns on the program鈥檚 investment in new pitching coach Nate Yeskie were overwhelmingly positive.
Johnson discussed the 2020 squad, the abbreviated 鈥20 MLB draft, future scheduling and other topics in an interview with the Star. The conversation has been lightly edited for context and clarity.
Do you believe the 2020 team was on track to make the postseason?
A: 鈥淗undred percent.鈥
What leads you to that conclusion?
A: 鈥淎 few things. Offensively, I don鈥檛 feel like we had hit our stride yet, but I felt like we were starting to. That just tells you how high the expectation is there; we were averaging close to eight runs a game (7.53), and we felt like there was more in the tank.
鈥淭he last week we had kind of gotten the pieces in order defensively of how we wanted to move forward and created a good foundation there, so I feel like our best baseball as a defensive team was in place.
鈥淥n the pitching side of it, two things: We were striking a few more people out, so that was taking some pressure off of the defense; and just simply, we weren鈥檛 giving away as many free bases, so we were really controlling the strike zone.
鈥淎nd then just kind of the makeup of the team. We weren鈥檛 perfect. But anytime we didn鈥檛 play well, we followed it up and played well the next day. (The 鈥20 Wildcats never lost two games in a row.) We were not going to be a team that was going to go into any long rut, because each phase of the team could win a particular game.鈥
Would you say that you鈥檙e over it at this point? Or will that never be the case?
A: 鈥淗onestly, you have to get on to the next thing. That鈥檚 how I鈥檝e always approached it. So the answer is yes, because it doesn鈥檛 matter whether I am (over it) or not. We have new challenges and new processes of developing the program in front of us.鈥
What鈥檚 your take on MLB reducing the 2020 draft from 40 rounds to five?
A: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big change. In a lot of ways it鈥檚 good, because maybe the guys that are supposed to go to professional baseball or have a real purpose in being in professional baseball are going to go, and it鈥檚 probably going to keep more guys in school that should finish college and should get a degree. So I think it鈥檚 a win-win.
鈥淒oes it hurt some guys鈥 chances of maybe checking a box or fulfilling a dream that they were in professional baseball? Sure. That鈥檚 definitely impactful and important, but I think it is probably going to slot more guys where they should be.鈥
Your catcher, Austin Wells, is projected to be a first-round pick, so we鈥檒l call him a lock. What about utility man Matthew Dyer and outfielder Donta Williams? Where do they fit in a five-round draft?
A: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know. I鈥檝e certainly fielded questions from teams on both of them. And they certainly are professional players, in my opinion. I think the professional baseball industry will decide if that鈥檚 this year or next year.
鈥淚鈥檝e heard rumors of no minor-league season. So if you think about it, the guys that sign in this draft won鈥檛 really play a competitive game until after the college season鈥檚 over next year. So there鈥檚 really no advantage from a timing (standpoint) by signing in this draft.
鈥淪o if it doesn鈥檛 make sense, or they don鈥檛 get drafted, there鈥檚 really nothing to feel bad about, because the guys that are getting drafted aren鈥檛 really gaining any time on them relative to when they would start their pro career. By coming back, they鈥檙e just exchanging a full college season for spring training. That鈥檚 really the only tradeoff.鈥
Are you thinking about roster construction for next season in the usual manner? Or is it different because you鈥檙e probably going to get more guys coming in from high school as well as a couple of guys who would have left coming back?
A: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fluid situation. It鈥檚 on my mind every day, trying to figure out what鈥檚 best for the team, what鈥檚 best for the individual players both in the program and the incoming players. We鈥檝e made some headway on it. It鈥檚 moving in the direction of where it鈥檚 gonna be. There鈥檚 still some unsaid things relative to the NCAA granting us relief in terms of the roster size and the numbers of players that can be on scholarship.
鈥淲e do like the core of our team that most likely is returning. I鈥檓 really excited about the best-case scenario of it kind of merging together like this.鈥
Bowling Green and Furman decided to drop baseball to save money amid the pandemic. What was your reaction to that?
A: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 disappointing. You talk about a roster of 35 players (apiece) that chose those schools and programs for a reason, like it fit good into their life plan and their life structure, so that鈥檚 a big rug to be pulled out. And there鈥檚 six or more people that basically lost their job because of those decisions, and that impacts a lot of people. It鈥檚 unfortunate. I heard some things that Bowling Green was trying to rally some support to keep it alive. My hat鈥檚 off to those people for trying to do that.鈥
Schools are trying to cut costs and boost revenues. What are some of the things that you and your fellow coaches have been talking about specific to baseball?
A: 鈥淚 can only speak to our situation specifically, and I feel very supported by our administration. We have to kind of buckle our chinstrap, so to speak, in the immediate, but in terms of scheduling guarantees, protecting us to build the schedule we need, to build the proper RPI to develop our team, I feel very supported in those things at 蜜柚直播 right now. That鈥檚 been really positive.
鈥淎s coaches throughout the conference, we really want to try to protect 鈥 the full 56-game schedule. We want to protect the ability to schedule the way that we want to.鈥
Your boss, Dave Heeke, said recently that there鈥檚 a push for more regional scheduling in all sports. Could you put together what you would consider to be a competitive schedule under those restrictions?
A: 鈥淵ou have to be creative. 鈥 For instance, next year, we鈥檙e going to go to the Tony Gwynn Classic (in San Diego), but we鈥檙e going to play two teams from outside the West. I think it鈥檚 Creighton and Villanova, so we鈥檙e staying in the region but playing teams out of the region. We have a great facility, so we can bring teams into 蜜柚直播 for two of the four (non-conference) weekends.
鈥淵ou go to UCLA, and you play Cal State Fullerton on a Wednesday or Long Beach State. We鈥檝e done those things, and my guess is we鈥檒l just continue to do that.鈥
Inside pitch
- 蜜柚直播 had four seniors, all right-handed relievers, who gained an extra year of eligibility to return in 2021. Johnson said Preston Price and Vince Vannelle are expected to be back, while Nate Brown and Davis Vainer are not. Vainer, a graduate transfer from Alabama, pitched only one inning as a Wildcat, securing what turned out to be the final three outs of the 2020 season.
- The June 10-11 draft will have 160 selections, and three of 蜜柚直播鈥檚 鈥20 signees rank in Baseball America鈥檚 top 120: outfielder Chase Davis (57), infielder Nick Yorke (87) and catcher Daniel Susac (117).
Spring Stars: Some of Southern 蜜柚直播's best high school athletes, 2019-2020
Rachael Fox
Sahuarita High School senior Rachael Fox, posing for a photo, April 18, 2020, Sahuarita, Ariz. She maintained a winning record for all four years of high school. Before school and sports were cancelled in March, Fox was the Mustangs' top player with an undefeated record.
Dakota Crabtree
Academy of 蜜柚直播's Dakota Crabtree, posing for a photo, April 16, 2020, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., In four years at AOT, 18-year-old Crabtree has managed to break several school records, starting with the long jump. He set the school record one during the opening meet of his sophomore season, and has gone onto break it every year since.
Leo and Ivan Villa
Leo Villa, left, and twin brother Ivan, senior baseball players at Walden Grove High School in Sahuarita. Ivan Villa is hoping to attend the University of 蜜柚直播 next year and major in civil engineering. Leo hopes to major in architectural engineering, academics could win out when it comes time to make the choice.
Isabel Cordova
Track and Field senior at Empire High school Isabel Cordova poses for a portrait at Empire High School, 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way, in 蜜柚直播, Ariz., on April 21, 2020. Last year, she took second place in state for javelin (her favorite event) with a throwing distance of nearly 115 feet.
Refugio "Kito" Del Cid
Baseball senior at Desert View High school Refugio "Kito" Del Cid poses for a portrait at Jacobs Park, 3300 N. Fairview Ave., in 蜜柚直播, Ariz., on April 21, 2020. With the quarantine in effect, Del Cid's been pitching and hitting ground balls against the wall in his back yard in an effort to stay in playing shape and keep baseball alive in his life. He says his teammates and this season鈥 even in its shortened state鈥 were his favorite part of high school.
Cheyenne Hudson and Laneya Wright
Marana softball players Cheyenne Hudson (pitcher and shortstop) and Laneya Wright (centerfielder) stand for a portrait at Marana Heritage River Park, on April 24, 2020. Laneya Wright and Cheyenne Hudson started playing softball on the same club team a decade ago as little girls, growing up together on the fields.
Ethan Lee
Rincon/University High School junior tennis player Ethan Lee on April 26, 2020. A member of Rincon's tennis team for the past three years, Lee was state champion last year for men's singles, after taking the runner-up spot his freshman year. Always one for a challenge, Lee was considering pursuing a state championship in doubles tennis this spring, before the season was cut short.
Kaitlyn Rendon
Flowing Wells High School junior Kaitlyn Rendon at Jacobs Park in 蜜柚直播, Ariz., on April 26, 2020. Rendon plays on FWHS's soccer, track and field and cross country teams as well as on FWHS ROTC rifle team. She has a 3.9 unweighted GPA and is ranked 10th in her class. She's also president of her school's Interact Club, and a member of several others, including National Honor Society.
Preston Gibbons
Mountain View High School senior volleyball outside hitter Preston Gibbons on May 1, 2020. Gibbons is ranked seventh in his class at Mountain View and will be attending the University of 蜜柚直播 in the fall.
Alyssa Lopez
Canyon del Oro High School senior Alyssa Lopez, shown on April 29, 2020, was the school's No.1 tennis player. Several months ago, Lopez started working as a gymnastics coach for kids at Heart and Soul Gymnastics. While the gym is closed because of COVID-19, Lopez has been creating at-home workout videos for the kids.
Kristiana Watson
Amphitheater High School senior Kristiana Watson says the things she misses most about the season cancellation are losing a chance to play with her cousin and her final year of being coached by her mother on the Panthers鈥 softball team.
Jesse Avina
Sierra Vista Buena High School javelin thrower Jesse Avina is planning to join the Air Force after he earns his four-year degree. He鈥檒l start this fall by enrolling at Paradise Valley Community College. He will be on the Paradise Valley track and field team.
Amya Legarra
Canyon del Oro senior pitcher Amya Legarra was 8-0 with a 2.39 ERA and three complete games when the season was halted. She plans to move to Logan, Utah, this summer, and will soon be majoring in human movement science and playing softball for Utah State University.
Candice Pocase
Santa Rita High School junior track athlete Candice Pocase on April 24, 2020. "In my 20 years of coaching, Candice is one of the most hardworking, dedicated, coachable and fun athletes that I have had the honor to coach," said Luis Blanco, who is also Pocase's track coach. "The words 'no' and 'can't' are not in her athletic vocabulary.
Emily Flowers
Emily Flowers, a sophomore at Catalina Foothills High School, won a state championship last year and hopes to play at a Division I school someday. Before the coronavirus hit, Flowers was training six days a week at the Smith-Perry Tennis Academy and an academy run by UA tennis coaches. She鈥檚 trying to ensure that her game is impacted as little as possible by the change in routine.
Briana Garcilazo
Briana Garcilazo, a senior at Rio Rico High School. Softball is something of a family tradition, as both of her sisters also play. Garcilazo, a pitcher, first baseman and outfielder on Rio Rico鈥檚 team, will be continuing her career in college, signing on to play with Mesa Community College next year.
Leo Felix
Leo Felix, senior at Douglas High School, poses for a portrait at 15th Street Park, E. 15th st., in Douglas, Ariz., on May 5, 2020. Felix, outfielder for the Douglas High School Baseball team, is graduating in the top 10% of his class and plans to continue his baseball career in college. "I'm definitely going to try to play somewhere, and I'm going to continue my studies in college," said Felix, adding that he plans to major in business.
Abigail Russell
Salpointe Catholic鈥檚 Abigail Russell will next compete for the UA beach volleyball team. She also played the indoor version for the Lancers. When Russell was 10, she discovered volleyball and fell in love. Her brief flirtation with track, dancing and everything else was over.
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Emmanuel Corral, 18, is looking forward to running for Pima College in the fall.
Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage
Softball player Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage poses for a portrait at Salpointe Catholic High School on May 7, 2020. 蜜柚直播鈥檚 2019 All State Catcher and Defensive Player of the Year, Aguilar-Beaucage plans to continue her softball career at Grand Canyon University like her older sister.
Ryan Zuniga
Ryan Zuniga is hoping to follow his cousin鈥檚 footsteps and earn a college scholarship. Keith Zuniga played at Bethune-Cookman and was a 35th-round selection of the Miami Marlins, though he did not sign.
Shelby Thompson
Softball player Shelby Thompson of Ironwood Ridge High School on May 12, 2020.聽
"Shelby... took giant steps from a freshman year, when she pitched less than 10 innings, to her senior year when was expecting to pitch in her third straight State Championship game," said softball coach David Martinez. "Shelby聽worked extremely hard on improving her whole person, from her mental toughness to her physical strength. Shelby聽is our leader and has been incredible in that role."
Gabrianna Gonzalez
Gabrianna Gonzalez, 18, is a discus thrower on the track and field team at Cholla High School. She plans to attend the University of 蜜柚直播 in the Fall. May 14, 2020.聽
Gonzalez is one of Cholla's few three-sport female athletes. She also competed in volleyball and basketball.
Of the three sports, track is her favorite. So much so that she passed up on the opportunity to graduate early in order to make a run at state.
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Former Sabino High School standout Sydney Gray played at Nebraska as a true freshman before suffering a knee injury that required surgery. She has been rehabbing daily ever since.
Bryan Cruz
Bryan Cruz joined the Amphitheater High School volleyball team in 2018 after moving back to 蜜柚直播 from Cucurpe, Sonora.
鈥淔irst and foremost, he is a true student-athlete,鈥 said Amphi volleyball coach Mike Frederick, who believes Cruz is one of the best volleyball players in the region. 鈥淗e may be the most underappreciated player in the city. 鈥 But to us, he is everything. Not only is he our leader on the court but off the court as well.鈥
Angel Addleman
Senior basketball and track and field athlete Angel Addleman at Palo Verde High School, 1302 S. Avenida Vega, in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on May 19, 2020. Addleman will play basketball at Pima Community College.
With the track season halted early and Addleman's brief musical career behind her 鈥 she spent two years performing in the folk group Copper Wren with her sisters and some friends 鈥 Addleman found herself with some time to fill during the quarantine. But unlike some athletes who require specialty equipment or teammates to train, Addleman was able to wing it.
Blaise Biringer
Blaise Biringer, 18, on the softball field at Cienega High School on May 11, 2020. Biringer plans to attend the University of Mississippi on a softball scholarship.
Prior to the shutdown, Biringer was selected to play for the Mexican National team this summer in the inaugural Triple Crown International Challenge. She was also selected by Premier Gold Fastpitch to represent the Mountain Region as an All-American (on a roster that includes fellow Spring Stars Anjolle Aguilar-Beaucage, Sydney Gray, Amya Legarra, Carlie Scupin and Kristiana Watson.)
Cameron Fimbres
Cameron Fimbres, Pueblo High School senior volleyball player, at Silverbell Crossroads Park, on May 15, 2020. Fimbres will be going to McKendree University in southern Illinois.
"My favorite memory of high school would have to be volleyball," Fimbres said. "It's either my escape from stress and stuff or where I could show off to friends, but sophomore year was also very fun. I got to play with my brother before he graduated and it was probably my team's best year."
Gerardo Grijalva
Gerardo Grijalva, 17, plays pitcher and first base for the Sunnyside High School baseball team. He will be returning to Sunnyside in the Fall as a senior.
While Grijalva would love to play college in baseball after he graduates, preferably at University of 蜜柚直播 or UCLA, he's also focused on his future career as a robotic engineer.
"I heard that robotic engineering has a lot of math in it, and most people don鈥檛 like math, but that鈥檚 one of my best subjects in school," Grijalva said. "Right now, really don鈥檛 have an idea of where I might go, but I for sure know that I really want to play baseball in college at the next level."
