MIDWAY, Ky. -- After having to rearrange the weekend schedule on two separate occasions, the Midway baseball team packed their bags on Saturday and headed south to Mobile (Ala.) as they get set to open their season this weekend in the 'Yellowhammer State'.

Luther Bramblett – who started the program back in 2016-17 – is entering his seventh season as head coach of the program and his 22nd season overall as a head coach. His team is scheduled to play a doubleheader on Sunday and wrap up the trip with another twinbill on Monday.

The Eagles are coming off a season that saw them post a 19-31 record overall and a 13-10 mark in River States Conference play. They made a run in the RSC Tournament where they finished in third place coming up one game short of making the championship game.

Bramblett returns a healthy amount of experience from that team including the RSC Freshman of the Year and three All-Conference selections. Midway welcomes back five different players that started in 30+ games including four that appeared in at least 45 games.

On the bump, the Eagles return several arms including those that are starters as well as those coming out of the bullpen.

Infield

Josh Halterman (Lexington, Ky.) returns for his second season after being named the RSC Freshman of the Year last season. The sophomore first baseman started 46 games last year and recorded a .419 batting average with three home runs, 15 doubles, and 72 total hits.

Joining Halterman on the right side of the infield is Noah Phillips (Greenville, Ky.) who is expected to fill the void at second base. The sophomore joins the club as a transfer from Frontier Community College.

The left side of the infield sees a pair of newcomers filling each spot. Ayden Sciandra (Jacksonville, Fla.), a transfer from Cleveland College, is expected to takeover at shortstop, while Bramblett has a couple of options at the hot corner.

Brady Alexander (Normal, Ill.), a sophomore transfer, and Eli Glasscock (Danville, Ky.), a true freshman, are expected to see time at third, while Zane Patton (Georgetown, Ky.), a returning sophomore who appeared in 41 games last year, could also see time.

Behind the plate, Bramblett will turn to the trio of Barrett McGill (Bloomfield, Ky.), Preston Howard (Nicholasville, Ky.), and Nick Eastham (Morehead, Ky.). McGill is a transfer from Kentucky Wesleyan, Howard caught 25 games last year, and Eastham appeared in 45 games.

Outfield

The outfield is where the Eagles return most of their experience. Cameron Nichols (Owensboro, Ky.) returns as a Second Team All-Conference performer last season, while Ryan Davis (Paris, Ky.), an All-Conference honoree in 2021, also returns after seeing his 2022 campaign cut short due to injury.

Grant Hotchkiss (Richmond, Ky.) is back after making 49 starts last season, while Jonathan Watson (Williamsburg, Ky.) is back for his junior season after playing in 32 games last year. Eastham could also see time in the outfield, and Shane Taylor (Morehead, Ky.), a transfer from Frontier Community College, joins the fold to provide depth.

Pitching

On the mound, Blake Kincaid (Columbia, Tenn.) is back after earning First Team All-Conference honors last season. The right-hander picked up five wins and fanned 90 batters over his 76.1 innings.

Gus Garrison (Cynthiana, Ky.) returns to Midway after making 14 starts in 2019, Dylan Burton (Somerset, Ky.) could also see time in a starting role, while Owen Clark (Knoxville, Tenn.) a transfer from Cleveland State Community College is expected to fill a starting role this season.

Midway also returns the services of Skyler Lucas (Elizabethtown, Ky.), Josh Plasencia (Orlando, Fla.), and Jose Aviles (Hatillo, Puerto Rico) who could either start or come out of bullpen.

Cameron Head (Salem, Ky.), Ryan Lee Hayes (Lebanon, Ky.), and John Davis (Princeton, Ky.) are expected to chew up innings out of the pen, while Jesse Komoroski (Memphis, Tenn.) could potentially be penciled in as closer after making two saves last season.

"From top to bottom, our overall pitching depth is better than it's been since we started the program in 2017," said Bramblett.

After making the trip to Mobile this weekend, the Eagles are scheduled to open up at home on Feb. 17 when they host IUPUC (Ind.) for a single game at 2 p.m. ET.

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