FIRST PITCH
• OUAZ will open the 2020 campaign – the third season in the program's history – with three games in the first-ever Maricopa Cup. The in-state competition features a round robin of games against the other NAIA baseball programs in Maricopa County.

• The Spirit will host the first day, Thursday, January 23, with their season opener starting at 1 p.m. against No. 25 Benedictine Mesa on Texas Rangers Field No. 3 at the Surprise Recreation Complex.

• OUAZ will then play against Arizona Christian at 6 p.m. on Friday, January 24, at Apollo High School in Glendale before closing the event against Park Gilbert at 6 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, at Tempe Diablo Field No. 2 in Tempe.

• The new season brings new optimism for an OUAZ squad that looks to rebound from a misleading 6-45 record in 2019. The Spirit started last season 18-12 before those wins were changed to forfeits due to NAIA rule violations.

• This 2020 Spirit team returns 12 players that saw time for the team in 2019, including 2019 All-NCCAA Third Team member Derek Hayenga, and two-year starter Adrian Salazar.

HOW TO FOLLOW
• OUAZ's first two games of the season are scheduled to be broadcast live on the OUAZ Digital Network (ACU will produce Friday's game) available at OUAZSpirit.com/digital. Those games will also be available on the NAIA Network OTT app on Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku devices. Live stats will also be available for each game. Coverage of Saturday's game is yet to be determined. Links for all live coverage are available at OUAZSpirit.com/live.

MARICOPA CUP
• A complete schedule with results, stats, and leaders of the first-ever Maricopa Cup is available at OUAZSpirit.com/maricopacup. The event features two games each day with OUAZ, Arizona Christian, and Benedictine Mesa hosting one day each. First-year program Park Gilbert is the fourth team in the event.

AT THE PLATE
• The 2019 Spirit finished the season with .290 batting average and .754 OPS. They scored 5.88 runs per game with 77 doubles, 21 triples, and 17 home runs.

• OUAZ swiped 113 bases last season and they finished 10th in the NAIA by getting 2.22 stolen bases per game. 

• Derek Hayenga is back after hitting .329 with a team-leading 12 doubles last season. Hayenga posted a .856 OPS and totaled 25 RBI.

• Adrian Salazar returns for his junior season coming off a 2019 campaign that saw him hit .325 with an .800 OPS. Salazar starts the season second in program history with 113 career hits and 12 away from taking over as the leader.

• Jared Crockett is expected to make a return to the lineup in the early part of the season after playing just six games due to injury last season. In those appearances, Crockett hit .368 with three RBI and four stolen bases.

• Other returners from 2019 include Fernando Lugo (.268) and Juan Navarrete (.190).

ON THE MOUND
• The 2020 Spirit are less experienced on the mound this season with just three pitchers returning that had at least 15 innings on a staff that posted a 5.85 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, and .302 opponents batting average last season.

• Taylor Campos had the most experience of the returns with 21 appearances and one start. In 30.2 innings pitched, Campos went 0-3 with five saves and a 4.11 ERA. He finished with 25 strikeouts and 13 walks.

• Dylan Chelini made 11 appearances in relief and had an 8.66 ERA in 17.2 innings of work. He did record 23 strikeouts against only four walks.

• Travis Turner ended 2019 with a 2-1 record and 9.87 ERA. He posted 25 strikeouts in 17.1 innings pitched, including striking out 10 of the first 11 batters he faced to start the season.

• The other returners to take the mound for the Spirit in 2019 feature Robert Jesionowski (7.2 IP), Bryce Lopez (5.2 IP), Riley Grivette (4.1 IP), Navarrete (4.1 IP), and Travis Bailey (3.2 IP).

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
• Benedictine Mesa will start the season with a No. 25 national ranking after finishing 44-13 and unexpectedly being left out of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. The Redhawks led the nation with an average of 11.88 hits per game last season while ranking seventh in the NAIA with their .333 batting average.

• Arizona Christian finished the 2019 regular season by winning 23 of their final 29 games to finish second in the GSAC and earn a trip to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round where their season ended with a 39-21 overall record. The Firestorm batted .323 as a team while placing 12th in the NAIA by averaging 10.83 hits per game.

• Park Gilbert is in its first season of competition in 2020 and they started the season by going 2-1 against Bethesda last weekend. Led by head coach, and former major league player, Kelly Stinnett, the Buccaneers hit .339 with 11 doubles and seven triples in their opening series.

LOOKING AHEAD
• After taking a week off from competition, OUAZ will return to action with a three-game series against Park Gilbert on February 6-8. All three games will be played in Surprise Stadium with the first two games starting at 5 p.m. and the finale slated for 1 p.m.