FAMU baseball coach Jamey Shouppe 'pleased with everything' ahead of season opener
Here's to a new season.
Friday marks the beginning of Florida A&M baseball's 2023 campaign as it hosts Eastern Illinois at Moore-Kittles Field for a three-game, three-day series.
The Rattlers return from a 29-30 (19-11 SWAC) 2022 season and head coach Jamey Shouppe is optimistic of the heights that his team can reach ― on the field and in the classroom.
"It's been a good and very competitive preseason for us," he said. "I think we're talented ― especially offensively to compete for a SWAC Championship and get FAMU's third NCAA Regional Tournament appearance."
As a team, FAMU baseball has a 3.21 grade point average. Eight of those players have a perfect 4.0 GPA.
"This fall was one of better semesters in the classroom ― ever," Shouppe said. "I love these kids because it seems like every year they display their character by the job they do in the classroom.
"I'm excited about the season and can't wait to get started. I've been pleased with everything. And you don't often hear coaches say that."
FAMU opens its season at home Friday against Eastern Illinois at 4 p.m.
The Panthers traveled from Charleston, Illinois to Tallahassee during the COVID-suspended 2020 baseball season and swept the Rattlers, 3-0.
EIU went 33-20 in the 2022 season and is led former New York Yankees pitcher Jason Anderson.
"They're a pitching-rich program," Shouppe said. "They're inside right now probably, due to weather, so they'll bring in some arms and come out wanting to be outside and want to swing the bats.
"It's going to be tough and we just got to scrap and claw to do everything we can to win two out of three this weekend."
MORE RATTLERNEWS COVERAGE
Meet the opponents:Analyzing and predicting the Rattlers' 2023 season
FAMU softball update:Camise Patterson says 'I like where we're at right now'
'Bo' Knows:FAMU football signee Levontai Summersett spurned Power 5’s to fulfill lifelong dream
A new season for FAMU baseball, but some old faces remain to help reach the next level
The Rattlers had three Preseason All-SWAC selections headlined by senior pitcher Hunter Viets making the first team.
Viets, a senior, is working with new pitching coach Todd Alford ― who was the head coach at Gordon State College in Georgia.
"We're going to have to pitch," Shouppe said. "(Alford) brings some new things to the table and is a really hands on coach with those guys.
"We'll go as far as the pitchers take us and hopefully that's far enough to win a SWAC championship and go to the NCAA Regional Tournament."
Senior left fielder Ty Hanchey and junior second baseman Joseph Pierini were also selected as Preseason All-SWAC — getting second team nods.
Hanchey missed significant time with a broken right hand last season before returning for the postseason and made the SWAC All-Tournament team for his ability to swing the bat.
"We still had issues with it (hand) here and there but they put a screw flush in there and I haven't had a problem since," he said. "I was blessed that we had the season we did last year and that I was able to be a big factor in the tournament because I was really worried that my season was over."
He's sporting a different look after cutting his mullet and growing out a mustache, but Hanchey is hoping his postseason run with his old appearance travels into the new year.
"I'm really confident in the offense this year," he said. "We got a lot of good hitters and I'm pretty confident that we're going to put up a lot of runs. Hopefully, I'll have the same stats that I had last year up at the plate and get another All-SWAC selection at the end of the year."
FAMU baseball players to watch
Returners: Left fielder Ty Hanchey; second baseman Joseph Pierini; pitcher Hunter Viets; third baseman Jared Weber; right-handed pitcher Xerian Ximenez
Newcomers: Outfielder Janmikell Bastardo, right-handed pitcher Grant Harrison, outfielder Ty Jackson, right-handed pitcher Cameron Kelly
FAMU vs. Eastern Illinois Series Information
When: Feb. 17 (4 p.m.), Feb. 18 (2 p.m.), Feb. 19 (1 p.m.) ― Eastern Time
Where: Moore-Kittles Field, Tallahassee, Florida
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.
Follow the Tallahassee Democrat on social media at Tallahassee Democrat (Facebook), TallahasseeDemocrat (Instagram), and @TDOnline (Twitter)
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Baseball: Shouppe's Rattlers making him proud entering opener
