1K Quest Begins This Weekend

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The 1K Quest begins this weekend for West Alabama baseball and head coach Gary Rundles with three games on the campus of Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia.

The Tigers begin the 2020 season against Albany State at Tommy Carey Baseball Field on the EC campus. West Alabama is scheduled to play a doubleheader with Emmanuel on Sunday. First pitch on both days is scheduled for 11 a.m. central time.

Now in his 20^th season at West Alabama, Rundles has a 992-662 collegiate career record spanning his time in Livingston and at Carson-Newman, leaving him just eight victories shy of 1,000.

"A record like this is more about all the players that have passed through and all the coaches I have had the opportunity to work with over the years," Rundles said. "It's also about the sacrifice your family has made when you are nearing records like this. Nobody achieves a milestone like this on their own."

West Alabama rolls into 2020 believing it has something to prove. Gulf South Conference coaches voted the Tigers to finish 10^th in the league preseason poll. UWA ended the 2019 season on a 10-game losing streak and have not laced up their spikes for a game in a regional tournament since 2017.

UWA is 43-49 overall over the last two seasons, 22-34 in GSC games. The Tigers are 1-1 in neutral site games over the last two years and 23-29 on the road.

On the bright side, three of the Tigers top four hitters return. Returning All-GSC shortstop Trevor Smeeton is back after posting a .337 batting average in 2019. Designated hitter/right-handed pitcher Gavin Rogers returns after hitting .317 last year and first baseman Taylor Clemmons returns off a .304 season.

The top three earned run averages from a year ago are gone with Nathan Nicolosi and Nick Rathke graduating and Cole Waites getting drafted by the San Francisco Giants. A reliever, Rogers leads the returners on the mound after posting a 4.37 ERA and a 1-0 record a year ago. Right-handed starter Peyton Warren returns after a 4-2 year with a 5.05 ERA.

Albany State was 32-20 last season, while Emmanuel College was 25-27 a year ago.

West Alabama will send a pair of righties and a left-hander to the mound in the three games. Right-hander Connor Brooks will get the start against Albany State, while lefty Colin Chamblin will work game one against Emmanuel and righty Warren is set to pitch game two.

Brooks is a transfer from Central Alabama Community College, where he led the NJCAA in games started with 19 in 2019, posting a 4-7 record with a 3.67 ERA. Chamblin transferred from North Alabama where he made 15 appearances, nine starts, last year. Warren was a member of the UWA starting rotation a year ago at 4-2.

All three games will be broadcast on ESPN 104.9, the Twin States Sports Authority. Airtime is 10 minutes prior to first pitch. Kent Partridge will handle play-by-play duties and Brad Montgomery the analysis. Go to www.uwaathletics.com for live stat links.

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Players Mentioned

#38 Nathan Nicolosi: LHP; 6' 0"; Senior; L/L

#10 Nick Rathke: RHP; 6' 3"; Senior; R/R

#35 Cole Waites: RHP; 6' 3"; Junior; R/R

#25 Taylor Clemmons: 1B/3B; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#36 Gavin Rogers: 3B/RHP; 6' 2"; Junior; R/R

#27 Trevor Smeeton: SS; 5' 11"; Senior; L/R

#24 Peyton Warren: RHP; 6' 1"; Junior; R/R

#15 Colin Chamblin: LHP; 6' 3"; Senior; L/L

#31 Connor Brooks: RHP; 6' 3"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#38 Nathan Nicolosi
: 6' 0"; Senior; L/L
: LHP

#10 Nick Rathke
: 6' 3"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#35 Cole Waites
: 6' 3"; Junior; R/R
: RHP

#25 Taylor Clemmons
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: 1B/3B

#36 Gavin Rogers
: 6' 2"; Junior; R/R
: 3B/RHP

#27 Trevor Smeeton
: 5' 11"; Senior; L/R
: SS

#24 Peyton Warren
: 6' 1"; Junior; R/R
: RHP

#15 Colin Chamblin
: 6' 3"; Senior; L/L
: LHP

#31 Connor Brooks
: 6' 3"; Junior; R/R
: RHP