2013 preview: Southern Wesleyan

10th in a series
Answers provided by Southern Wesleyan coach Mike Gillespie

PSB: After what you saw in fall workouts, what are your team's prospects for the 2013 season?

MG: We had a very productive fall as we welcomed back a good mix of returning players and newcomers. This mix allowed us to continue the development of our upperclassmen and work the newcomers into our system.  We have five seniors that have played a large amount of innings in our conference and this should help us with experience in the SSAC that will once again be the toughest conference in the NAIA.

PSB: What are your biggest areas of concern entering the 2013 season?

MG: Pitching, depth and staying healthy, is always a concern. We will need our entire staff to raise the level at which we perform each day. If we have some younger guys step up and have some juniors on our staff show some positive results in their development we will be in better shape.

PSB: In what areas does your team appear to be improved from the 2012 season?

MG: Offensively we should be much improved. Our lineup has the opportunity to show a balance of guys hitting from both sides of the plate and we are capable of producing speed from top to bottom.

PSB: Based on fall workouts, which returnees from 2012 (including redshirts) look best prepared to play a bigger role in 2013?

MG: Kendall Ray and Joe Taylor are two position players that need to play a bigger role in 2013. They both have played a ton of innings since their freshman year and now need to put that experience in play and have good senior years.  If we can get these two in the lineup and producing it will help strengthen the lower part of our order and make us even more productive at the plate. On the mound we need two juniors, Daniel Chappell and Justin Adams, to really breakout this spring. They have showed steady improvement since their freshman year and if they come out and have good years it will really strengthen our staff.

PSB: Based on fall workouts, which newcomers are most likely to contend for major roles in 2013?

MG: Julio Lara and Johnny Ponder, both transfers, could play major roles in 2013. Lara battled a knee injury late in the fall and might be limited behind the plate, but can DH and play third. Ponder is someone that could hit, play the field and see time on the mound.

Monday: Wofford.