There is a lot of hype around this year’s Liberty Flames baseball team. Not only will they open up a brand new $8 million stadium, they will try to de-throne their biggest rival, Coastal Carolina, who has won every league championship, both tournament and regular season since 2007. Liberty will be a lot of analyst’s preseason favorites to win the Big South Conference this year, which would be their first title since 2000. The Flames have had 2 of their last 3 seasons end in 40+ wins. There is no better time than this year to think that they can not only beat out Coastal for the number one spot, but also make a run in the NCAA Tournament. This version of the Flames team will be led by captains Trey Wimmer, Bryan Aanderud, and Ryan Cordell. It will be a very tough schedule for the Flames who start out with 3 games on the road against preseason #7 South Carolina. They will open up the brand new Liberty Stadium February 22-25 against Penn State.

Pitching

Liberty P Carson Herndon

Last year the Flames were dominate on the mound, posting the lowest ERA in the history of the school, 3.04. This was also good enough for second best in the Big South and 15th best in the country. To edge out Coastal this year they will have to duplicate their pitching performance.  The Flames will have to replace a few key starters from the 2012 team. Who will be called on? Look no further than Carson Herndon and Trey Lambert. Herndon is a sophomore who was really a spot starter last year making 13 appearances, 6 which were starts, and went 3-1 with a 4.60 ERA. The ceiling is believed to be very high with Herndon who played shortstop in high school and is new to the mound. Herndon also had the best fall ERA while pitching 24 innings. Lambert, a junior, is the best bet to be the opening day starter. Lambert made 14 appearances and was 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA. Lambert throws hard with a low 90’s fastball. The rest of the pitching is up in the air. Brooks Roy, who is a senior, could have a big year. He made seven starts last year posting a 2.49 ERA.  Look for the guy who is probably the most versatile on the team, playing multiple positions, Danny Grauer to be in the mix.  Also, Josh Richardson, who battled injury last year, is back and healthy this year.  Adam Parks who had a medical redshirt last year is also expected to be in the mix. Big South freshman of the year and Liberty’s starting 1st baseman Alex Close will probably get his chance on the mound as well.

Offense

Liberty 1st baseman Alex Close

Liberty was strong last year at the plate and should be again this year. The Flames scored the 16th most runs in all of baseball last year. This year they are expected to do it again. They are very deep and talented at the plate. Liberty has never been the team that will hit a lot of homers, but they do all the small things well. Trey Wimmer, Bryan Aanderud, Ryan Cordell and Alex Close will lead the offense. Wimmer has been a member of the Flames for 5 years. Last year he was coming off a medical redshirt and had a solid year, making the All Big South Tournament Team. Hopefully he will carry that momentum over to this year. Next is Bryan Aanderud. Bryan is a senior and captain. He had a big season last year, leading the Flames in batting average, hits, RBI’s and OBP. He was 2ndteam All Big South last year. Alex Close was named Big South Freshman of the year in 2012, he set a Big South freshman record by going deep 14 times, which also led the conference in 2012.  Ryan Cordell, who is a junior, hit .301. A lot of people think he could have a really big year for the Flames in 2013. There are a number of guys who could also step up. One of these is Justin Sizemore, he started 15 games, mostly at DH, and hit .317. Also the guy who should be the 2013 every game starter at 3rd, Dalton Sype. Sype hit .297 last year with 31 RBI’s. There is a lot of room for the newcomers to get an opportunity. The Flames need someone to step up at shortstop and in the outfield, and there are a number of guys that could.

Final Thoughts

Every Flame fan needs to mark down May 21-25 for the Big South Tournament that comes to Lynchburg this year.  This just adds to the reasons that this is a big year for the Flames.  The Big South is broken up into two divisions the North and the South for the first time this season with Liberty beings the coaches preseason pick to win the North.

The Flames look to christen brand new Liberty stadium with a 2013 Big South Championship