With a veteran team coming back, the Averett University baseball team hopes to repeat the success it found in 2015 when it compiled the program's 11th 20-plus-win season in program history. The Cougars finished last year's campaign with a 25-13 overall record to go along with a 19-11 mark in USA South Conference play.

Averett returns nine seniors from last year's club that finished third in the USA South Conference regular season standings. Head coach Ed Fulton, in his 20th season, will look to the team's senior leadership to provide the Cougars with a spark this season.

"This is their club," Fulton said. "It's how they're going to finish and we've put the leadership role in their hands."

Seniors Nic Futrell, Drew Evans and Mike Moore will provide the Cougars with plenty of offensive firepower in 2016. The trio batted a respective .310 last season, while driving in a combined 69 runs. Fulton also expects senior Kyle Walsh to play a key part in Averett's offense this season as well. With four potential impact players returning, Fulton feels good about the direction in which the offense is headed.

On the mound, the Cougars return two veteran starters in seniors Joshua Hatcher and T.J. Viracola. Fulton also hopes to work Evans and Walsh into Averett's mid-week rotation as well. Rounding out the Cougars senior presence on the hill is senior Brandon Goff who has the ability to be a lockdown closer. With a plethora of battle-tested pitchers, Fulton feels the Cougars' pitching staff will be their greatest strength in 2016.

"We've got some great arms out there," Fulton said. "We'll look to them to provide us with some depth and believe they have the ability to carry us this season."

Moore, Evans and Walsh along with seniors Noah Greenblatt and Billy McLaughlin all are veterans Fulton believes can make an impact in the field for Averett in 2016.

With a mix of talent, leadership and experience, the 2016 season is looking bright for Averett.

The Cougars open their season on Feb. 12 when it hosts Marymount University at 2 p.m. on Owen-Fulton Field.

Here is a breakdown of the team by position:

CATCHERS

Averett will be strong behind the plate this year, returning its entire catching staff from 2015. Futrell and junior Trey Wall will split time at the position in 2016 depending on the pitching rotation. Futrell was the starter last season, playing in 37 games and making 36 starts. Wall has played in 22 games, while making 16 starts in his three-year career at Averett.

According to Fulton, the duo are seasoned players who possess strong defensive abilities and understand what the Cougars are trying to do from a pitching standpoint. The two also know how to work the field, which Fulton says is key to being effective behind the plate.

Futrell provides Averett with power in the middle of the batting order. He finished fourth in the USA South Conference with 41 RBIs and recorded a team-high 16 doubles on his way to a .338 batting average last season. Wall will also pose an offensive threat to opposing pitchers. Expect to see Futrell and Wall hitting in the middle of the lineup when earning the starting nod.

INFIELD

The return of sophomore Kyle Vidano and Hunter Ashworth will give Averett a huge advantage in the middle of the field. According to Fulton, Vidano and Ashworth are hard-nosed players who understand their positions and roles on the team.

"They don't try to do too much. They're consistent and know how to play the game," Fulton said. "They'll get in front of balls, they dive for balls and they like playing in the dirt. They're the guys we want the balls hit to."

Vidano and Ashworth will also be a dangerous duo offensively. Vidano will hit at the top of the order, while Ashworth will support him in the number two spot. Both are solid contact hitters and will serve as setup players for the three, four and five hitters in the lineup.

Vidano hit .357 with seven doubles and 22 RBIs in 2015, while leading the team in stolen bases with 12 on 16 attempts. He also started all 38 games for the Cougars and picked up two USA South Rookie of the Week nods. Ashworth was also solid on offensive last year, finishing with a .297 batting average and 22 RBIs.

Both players are blue-collared players and understand the system the Cougars run and what they want to accomplish in the infield.

 Greenblatt and McLaughlin are two tough defensive players who will earn the starting nod at third base and first respectively.

OUTFIELD

Smithers, Evans and Walsh will anchor the Cougars' outfield in 2016. All three provide Averett with both offensive and defensive support and Fulton will look to them to step up this season. Moore will periodically take over duties in left field, while junior Ramel Reynolds will carry some responsibility for center.

According to Fulton, the starters will be determined based on the starting pitching for each game along with the relievers Averett has available in the bullpen. Fulton is confident that Smithers, Evans, Walsh, Moore and Reynolds can provide the Cougars with both defensive and offensive prowess.
 
PITCHERS

Averett lost two of its main starting pitchers from last season in the faces of Timothy Coston and Taylor Davis. However, Hatcher and Viracola are two players Fulton expects to step up and fill the roles left by Coston and Davis. Hatcher went 5-3 last year and finished with the second lowest ERA on the team at 2.88. He throws an effective fastball and has a nasty slider and knuckleball to accompany his fastball.

Viracola will pitch in either the two or three spot for Averett this season and possesses a tough combination of fastballs and sliders that will help keep opposing hitters on their toes. He recorded 55 strikeouts last season in his first year as a starter.

Junior Daniel Elliott will also see time as a starter on the mound. Elliott, a transfer from Danville Community College, throws a tough fastball and has the ability to throw tough breaking pitches that confuse hitters. Fulton also hopes to work Evans and Walsh into some mid-week starting roles as well in 2016. Evans picked up three saves in six appearances last season, while finishing with a 1.80 ERA. Walsh pitched 17 games in relief last season and posted a 2-0 record to along with 15 strikeouts in 17.2 innings thrown.

Averett's bullpen also has the ability to provide quality innings and strike hitters out on a consistent basis. Goff will anchor the relief staff in 2016, while Fulton has also been impressed with senior Cody Johnson and junior Gavin Horton. The Cougars also have sophomore Dallas Smithers, freshmen Dillon Roberts, Jordan Snead and Matt Tuggle along with sophomore Patrick Long and McLaughlin to round out depth in the bullpen.