Season Preview: Baseball Prepares to Open 2017 Season With Matchup Against College of Canyons

TORRANCE, Calif. - Baseball is set to open their 2017 season on Friday, January 27th against College of Canyons. Last season the Warriors ended ranked no. 6 in SoCal with a 24-14 record and are looking to have a better year with a strong group of players on the roster.

Coach Fernely shared his thoughts, "we are fortunate to have transfers with experience playing in four year colleges as well as a core group of experienced players."

Catcher Trevor Casanova, a transfer from Lane Community College, will be a valuable asset for the Warriors.  Casanova, who has signed a Letter of Intent with CSUN will be with the Warriors Baseball program for the 2017 before transferring to the Matadores for the 2018 baseball season.

Some of the players to keep an eye out for this season include Taylor Rashi, Kenneth Haus, Cassius Hamm, and Ricky Ramos.

Rashi is a sophomore pitcher from Torrance, Calif. who started in 11 of his 12 appearances for the Warriors his freshman year. He earned 2016 All-SCC Second Team due to his 46 innings pitched and led the SCC in strikeouts with 51, ranking 11th overall.

Haus is an infielder/pitcher from Palos Verdes, Calif. The freshman joins the Warriors in 2017 season after playing all four years in high school for Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. Haus contributed to Peninsula's 7-0 sweep over rivals Mira Costa in April 2016. Haus threw a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts during the matchup, which helped move Peninsula into second place in their league.

Hamm is another returning player for the Warriors who transferred from Chico State. The pitcher, originally from Redondo Beach, Calif. appeared in 15 matches for the Warriors, seven of which were won. He earned 2016 All-SCC First Team with his 48 innings pitched and 46 K. He also recorded a 3.94 ERA on the season. He ranked no. 1 in the South Coast conference in strikeouts with 85 overall and tied for second in games won (7).

Ramos is a freshman pitcher from Bellflower, Calif. During his high school playoff match against Santa Barbara High School he gave up the game's only run in the sixth inning but had a no-hitter going into the inning. Ramos earned Suburban League Pitcher of the Year and an All-CIF selection. He ended his senior year having struck out 51 batters in 68 innings.

As the Warriors enter the season with a matchup against College of the Canyons, Coach Fernely commented, "They are a good team and really competitive. They will be a good test to show us where we are."

Canyons ended their 2016 season 28-10 and a batting average of .350 but lost to Chaffey College in the Southern California Regionals. The Cougars finished their season in the West State South conference in third with a regular season record of 28-8.