MWC hopes to build off recent success

Could the Mountain West actually be a rising conference?

It’s certainly a possibility. Time will tell.

The conference surprised us last season by putting three teams in NCAA regionals. TCU stormed to the regular season title and reached the Austin Super Regional. San Diego State put together a solid regular season resume and made the Irvine Regional. Then there’s Utah, which earned a bid by winning the MWC tournament.

Even New Mexico and BYU had legitimate claims for postseason bids.

With last season serving as a confidence builder, the MWC and teams such as San Diego State and Utah hope to establish some consistency.

That’s the goal of fall workouts.

Air Force

Biggest loss. OF Daniel Walker

What to watch. The Falcons finished at the bottom of the Mountain West last season, and likely will be back there in the spring if the pitching staff doesn’t improve. The Falcons finished last season with an 8.34 ERA and had just one pitcher with an ERA below 6.97. That simply is unacceptable. The pitching staff has much work to do, but the offense is in good shape. The Falcons finished last season with a .291 batting average and welcome back several key hitters, including Matt Alexander, Addison Gentry, Blair Roberts and Ben Ausbun. AF will have the ability to score some runs in the spring, but there’s no question the pitching much get infinitely better.

BYU

Biggest loss. OF Kent Walton

What to watch. The Cougars put together an impressive campaign for much of last season, but stumbled down the stretch and were unable to make an NCAA regional with a 30-24 record. BYU heads back to the drawing board this fall with several huge holes to fill. For starters, the Cougars lost four of their top six hitters in the offseason. They need Bryce Ayoso, Chad Nacapoy, Alex Wolfe and Sean McNaughton to rise to the occasion this fall and in the spring. Most important, though, the Cougars need to shore up the pitching staff. They’re in the midst of fall workouts with only three returning productive pitchers from last year’s team. That’s not good. BYU has much work to do to field a team as good as the ’09 squad.

New Mexico

Biggest loss. OF Brian Cavazos-Galvez

What to watch. The Lobos had one of the nation’s better offenses last season and compiled an impressive 37-20 record. However, they were left out of the NCAA regional discussion because of a less than stellar non-conference schedule. UNM hopes to leave little doubt in the spring, but that’ll take some work. The Lobos are without a few key hitters at the plate, but should be fine with the return of key cogs Rafael Neda and Ryan Honeycutt, which each finished last season with batting averages above .400. The Lobos have some huge holes to fill on the mound with the departures of staff ace John Hesketh and reliever Cole White. They need Gabe Aguilar, Travis Dirk and Rudy Jaramillo to have productive falls and even better springs.

San Diego State

Biggest loss. P Stephen Strasburg

What to watch. The Aztecs grabbed some headlines in the offseason when Stephen Strasburg was the No. 1 pick in the MLB draft and they lured pitching coach Eric Valenzuela away from San Diego. But now that fall workouts are in session, the Aztecs have something to prove. No longer do they want to be known as a program that occasionally competes for regional berths. They want to be a household name. The Aztecs finished last season with a .291 batting average and are fine at the plate with the return of Cory Vaughn, Mitch Blackburn, Brandon Meredith and Pat Colwell. On the mound, though, they have some huge holes to fill. The Aztecs must replace Strasburg, Tyler Lavigne and Jon Berger. The trio accounted for 33 starts last season. SDSU is in good shape if the pitching staff rises to the occasion.

Texas Christian

Biggest loss. 1B Matt Vern

What to watch. The Horned Frogs took a huge step forward last season by reaching the Austin Super Regional. But after falling short against the Longhorns, the Frogs would love nothing more than to make a trip to Omaha in the spring. TCU must find a way to replace its top three hitters, but still welcomes back talented bats such as Jason Coats, Taylor Featherston, Matt Curry and Bryan Holaday. The Frogs will have an excellent pitching staff. In addition to freshman sensation Matt Purke joining the program, the Frogs also welcome back Paul Gerrish, Kyle Winkler, Tyler Lockwood, Eric Marshall, Trent Appleby, Greg Holle and Erik Miller. TCU can be an Omaha team if the offense rises to the occasion.

UNLV

Biggest loss. OF J.J. Sferra

What to watch. It’s time for the Rebels to make a statement. They have failed to contend for the MWC title the past few seasons and compiled a 26-32 record last season. We get the feeling it’s put up or shut up time for the Rebels. They’re in the midst of fall workouts with several holes to fill at the plate. However, they welcome back four key hitters, including Drew Beuerlein, who was hitting .407 before an injury sidelined him last season. The Rebels have the most work to do on the mound after finishing last season with a deplorable 6.89 ERA. UNLV will be fine at the plate, but the pitching staff definitely is a major concern.

Utah

Biggest loss. 2B Corey Shimada

What to watch. The Utes only finished last season with a 28-31 record, but got hot in the MWC tournament and reached an NCAA regional. The Utes would love to build off that accomplishment. Utah is in good shape at the plate even without consistent hitter Corey Shimada. It welcomes back Nick Kuroczko, Tyler Yagi, C.J. Cron, Devin Walker and Michael Beltran. On the mound, the Utes have a few holes to fill, but also welcome back starting pitchers Jordan Whatcott and Bryn Card. Whatcott was 5-3 with a 4.19 ERA in 88 innings last season. Card, meanwhile, was 6-2 with a 5.61 ERA in 67 1/3 innings. Utah is in good shape if it can create more pitching depth.