Nevada baseball team is looking for a winning season in 2023
The Nevada baseball team wants to continue heading in the right direction as it begins its second season under coach Steve Glenn.
The Cubs went 13-17 during Glenn's first season. That was a big improvement from their 3-24 showing in 2021.
Glenn wants to see Nevada continue that upward trend in 2023.
"We didn't beat anybody over .500 last year," Glenn said. "We beat everybody we should beat. This year we'd like to pick up a win or two against an upper-echelon team. Beat a Saydel, Roland-Story or West Marshall. Or we have Gilbert, Boone and Ballard non-conference — maybe get one of them if we can."
It will not be easy. Nevada must replace eight starters off last year's squad.
"The good thing is we've got a lot of young talent," Glenn said. "We've got really strong sophomore and freshmen classes. Hopefully they can fill in some spots for us."
Nevada will be anchored by All-Heart of Iowa Conference pitcher/infielder Karter Beving. Beving went 5-2 with a 3.47 ERA and 59 strikeouts against 23 walks in 34 1/3 innings on the mound in 2022 and he hit .367 with three doubles, one home run, 18 runs and 24 RBIs.
The Cubs also bring back sophomore catcher Anthony Eaton. Eaton hit .229 and threw out 10 base runners as a freshman.
"I'm looking for a big season out of him," Glenn said. "He's gotten stronger, gotten bigger and he'll probably hit in the middle of the order for us."
Freshman Kole Beving could also see time behind the plate.
Senior Colton Leslie will be at first base. Senior Carson Rhodes could also see time there for the first couple of weeks before heading off to join the Iowa State football program.
Glenn said second base will be a revolving door with freshman Drake Hinson, sophomore Easton Gray and junior Calvin Franzen. Hinson and juniors Sam Hanson and Nick Larson could see time at third base.
Karter Beving will be back at shortstop when he is not pitching. Gray and Hinson could also see time at short
In the outfield the Cubs will have freshman Clay Fransen in center field, senior Colyn Groat in right field and sophomore Jackson Burlage and senior Griffin Tamburo in left.
Joining Karter Beving on the mound will be Burlage, Leslie, Hinson, freshman Dawson Lemke, Groat and junior Nick Larson, who is coming off a shoulder injury. Junior Sam Hanson could also see time, as well as Rhodes for the short time he is available.
Glenn said his goal this season is to finish in the top half of the HOIC this season.
"West Marshall should be good again, Roland-Story lost a lot, but Chris (Hill) always does a good job with them and Saydel is going to be tough — Steve (Gebhart) does a good job with those guys too," Glenn said. "Those should probably be the top three teams. But we could slide in there and compete with those guys a little bit."
He wants Nevada to make a run at its first winning season since 2018.
"The ultimate goal is to be over .500," Glenn said. "Just keep building from where we were two years ago."
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: A young Nevada baseball team wants to contend for a winning record
