UC DAVIS AGGIES
UC Davis baseball, softball

JJ Wagoner will have a versatile role in 2012, seeing time behind the plate and in the outfield as one of the top returning hitters.
Photo: Wayne Tilcock, Davis Enterprise

Aggie Baseball Preview

In a way, the 2012 season marks a new era for the UC Davis baseball team since, for the first time in nine years, a different name appears under the title "head coach." Matt Vaughn was appointed to the position last August, but he has over 20 years of experience as a player and member of the Aggie coaching staff.

He isn't the only veteran looking to lead UC Davis this year. Vaughn inherits a team that returns 16 letter winners, including nine seniors, and this group is positioned for great success in 2012.

The weekend pitching rotation consists entirely of seniors. Dayne Quist assumes the Friday start for the third straight year while Anthony Kupbens resumes his role as the Saturday starter. Last year Kupbens registered a 2.36 earned run average, the lowest by an Aggie since 2002. Tom Briner returns to a starting role for the first time since 2009.

The starting rotation is supplemented by a wealth of junior college transfers and underclassmen. Sophomore Harry Stanwyck turned in a solid 2011, starting nine games as a true freshman. Transfers Ben Burke and Patrick Hennessey will look to make an immediate impact, while 6-foot-4 freshman Spencer Koopmans should turn some heads early in the season.

Eric Johnson and Paul Politi return to the infield, manning first and third base, respectively. Johnson is yet another multiyear starter and is highly touted as one of the best first basemen in the Big West Conference. Politi was one of UC Davis' top hitters in 2011 before injury forced him to sit out the second half of the season.

But there is one Aggie bat that stands out from the rest. David Popkins has held the team's highest batting average in each of the last two seasons, resulting in back-to-back All-Big West Conference first-team selections.

The 2012 schedule features three teams ranked in Baseball America's preseason top-25 poll. Familiar faces such as San Jose State, Stanford and area rival Sacramento State are a schedule staple, while new names such as Arizona and Creighton will match up with the Aggies for the first time in program history. A major trip to Honolulu highlights the end of the nonconference schedule before the ever-challenging Big West Conference slate begins April 5.

Aggie Softball Preview

UC Davis looks to be back on the Big West and NCAA scene in 2012 after advancing to the NCAA Tournament in the 2010 season. Last year the Aggies finished with a 22-28 overall record and a 7-14 mark in conference play. Despite graduating a trio of seniors that were four-year players, the team is hoping for a standout season with the influx of 10 freshman in 2012.

A class of standout recruits for 2012 figures to be an integral part of this season's squad. The Aggies and head coach Karen Yoder (eighth season) hope to have significant contributions from pitcher Justine Vela and outfielder Cassandra Ginnis, among a competitive group.

Leading the returners at the plate is junior outfielder Megan Guzman, who was named to the All-Big West Second Team as a center fielder last season. Guzman posted a .315 batting average in 2011 while adding a team-best 18 stolen bases. Junior right-hander Jessica Thweatt is primed to take over as the No. 1 pitcher on staff after recording a 6-7 record last season to go along with a 3.21 ERA in 89.1 innings.

UC Davis will play perhaps the most competitive schedule in program history, complete with 56 games and 21 conference tilts. The Aggies play 12 games against teams from the Pac-12, SEC, Big 12, Big East and ACC. They also face member schools from the Mountain West, Conference USA, WAC, Atlantic 10, PCSC and American East. The Aggies' home schedule is highlighted with single games against Stanford and Sacramento State.