SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State baseball will get the 2019 season started Saturday in a double-header at Santa Clara. First pitch for game one is slated for 1:00 p.m. PT, weather pending. Following the double-header, SJSU and Santa Clara will play the series finale on Sunday at Municipal Stadium.
The Spartans were initially scheduled to start the season on Friday at Municipal Stadium vs. the Broncos, however inclement weather postponed the game. The makeup date is yet to be decided.
Games 1-3
San José State (0-0, 0-0) vs. Santa Clara (0-0, 0-0)
Saturday, Feb. 16 at Santa Clara | Game 1 – 1:00 p.m. | Game 2 – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 17 at Municipal Stadium | 12:00 p.m.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Game 1 – Andrew Mitchel
Game 2 – Tevin Cadola
Game 3 – TBA
PITCHING STAFF ONE OF THE BEST
Coach Brad Sanfilippo returns one of the best pitching staffs in the Mountain West in 2019 led by a pair of 2018 All-Mountain West selections in seniors Andrew Mitchel and Fineas Del Bonta-Smith.
Mitchel, a left-hander from Atwater, California, had a tremendous debut season with the Spartans in 2018. He was a second team ABCA/Rawlings West All-Region honoree and the 2018 Mountain West Co-Pitcher of the Year, as well as a first team All-Mountain West selection. He was the first player to eclipse 100 strikeouts in 14 years and led the conference with 10.45 strikeouts per nine innings.
Del Bonta-Smith made a name for himself as one of the top closers in the conference last season. He finished second in the MW with five saves in league play and had seven saves overall. The right-hander finished the season strong with a 4-0 record and three saves in his final 11 appearances. He also didn't give up a run in his final 10.2 innings and allowed just four total runs over the last 20.2 innings of work.
The Spartans also return senior right-handers Tevin Cadola, Justin Watland and Travis Sanders, senior left-hander Zach Wallace, junior RHP Josh Zanger and sophomores LHP Wesley Clawson and RHP Nicholas Morales. Additionally, SJSU added at least seven new arms to the rotation in their 2019 recruiting class led by Sacramento City College transfer Mitchell Miller.
MORE NEW FACES
The Spartans will have plenty of new faces in the dugout in 2019 as Sanfilippo signed 18 newcomers in his latest recruiting class. Junior College transfers Alex Davis, Troy Viola, Danny Chavez Jr., Mitchell Miller, Toi Moyer, Nick Knecht and Blake Berry will all look to play a major role in 2019
SECOND YEAR FOR SANFILIPPO
Head coach Brad Sanfilippo had an outstanding first season at the helm of SJSU baseball as interim coach in 2018, leading the Spartans to a 27-30 overall record and a third-place finish in the Mountain West standings with a 16-14 record, their most conference wins since 2008. Sanfilippo was promoted to head coach following the season on June 12, 2018.