RALEIGH, N.C. (Jan. 31) – Saint Augustine's University opens the 2018 baseball season against the University of Virginia's College at Wise in a three-game homestand this weekend. The site is the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
A single nine-inning game is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 2, at 3 p.m. and a doubleheader is set for Saturday, Feb. 3, at 1 p.m. Admission is free to the general public.
Pitchers Marquis Johnson (Sr./Richmond, VA) and Amilcar Yanez (Jr./Valencia, Venezuela) headline a talented group of 13 returnees. A preseason All-CIAA pick last season, Johnson threw a no-hitter against Chowan University in 2017. He was named to the CIAA All-Tournament team in 2016.
Yanez posted a 3.27 earned run average last season which is the lowest among the team's returning pitchers. Hector Pichardo (Jr./Dominican Republic) garnered All-CIAA first-team honors as a utility player and Johnathan Sierra (Jr./Raleigh, NC) was an All-CIAA second-team pick as a designated player.
The Falcons will also rely on catcher Carson Davis (Jr./Oakboro, NC), infielder/pitcher Ruben Pinero (R-Sr./Bronx, NY), infielders Kilvio Garcia (Jr./Bronx, NY), Brandon Bly (R-Jr./New Castle, DE) and Tre'Vohn Jeffery (So./Raleigh, NC); pitchers Jeffrey Guzman (Sr./Raleigh, NC) and Brian Freeman (So./Atlanta, GA); and outfielders Alton Brown (So./Durham, NC) and Stephon Hines (R-Fr./Coatesville, PA).
The newcomers are outfielders Cody Harris (Jr./Lumberton, NC), Keanu Thompson (So./Nassau, Bahamas) and Rashad Hilton (Sr./Manning, SC); outfielder/pitcher Derrick Rabb, Jr. (Fr./Charlotte, NC), infielder/outfielder Jamal Keels (Jr./Manning, SC), infielder Nick Roets (Fr./Charlotte, NC), utility player Avery Rosania (Jr./Catonsville, MD) and pitchers Jayvon Green-Springfield (Fr./Chester, PA), Hunter Davis (Fr./Charlotte, NC), Tyus France (Fr./Jacksonville, NC), Chris Isaac (Fr./Charlotte, NC) and Deaunte Ford (Fr./Charlotte, NC).
The Falcons, guided by Head Coach Charles Whitaker and Assistant Coach Tom Stewart, are competing as an independent this year. They will play a 49-game regular-season schedule.
