Austin Peay baseball leaders look forward to wins as opening day approaches

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay State University baseball team will look to prove themselves as one of the best clubs in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2022. Opening day is Friday, Feb. 18. APSU comes off a year where they went 23-33. They were able to finish the campaign on a high note by going 16-14 against conference opponents.

Their season begins with the team taking on Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Boston College, which finished 2021 with a record of 21-28, but went 11-5 against non-conference teams.

To better understand how Austin Peay baseball has progressed throughout the off-season and the expectations set by the team for the new year, Clarksville Now sat down with some of the leaders that make up the team. These include head coach Travis Janssen, catcher Jack Alexander, infielder John McDonald, utility player Gino Avros and left-handed pitcher Harley Gollert.

Leading by example to the win

Alexander started his collegiate baseball career in South Bend, Indiana, where he played for Notre Dame University. His time with the Fighting Irish didn’t last and he transferred to Austin Peay. Alexander is one of two players this season given preseason All-OVC honors.

“The achievement was great to see, and it felt rewarding to be selected. With that being said, the season is right around the corner, and being prepared for opening day is my priority,” he said.

Avros has lived in Clarksville all his life. He attended and graduated from Rossview High School.

He and the others agreed it’s an honor to be able to lead the young group of guys. They said they’ve been thrilled to see their teammates develop throughout the season and acknowledged it is their duty as leaders to show newcomers the ropes. With this in mind, they hope the culture they help build will transition to competitive play on the field.

Gollert and McDonald have been on the team for five years. Gollert was the Governors’ leader in innings pitched last season, playing a major role in the rotation.

He said the team is too experienced and eager to start the season off slow. The goal is to lead by example, and he wants winning to become contagious throughout the program, setting a precedent for the underclassmen.

McDonald said winning the OVC is a definite possibility. The first baseman said he feels as though the team is set up for more success than any other year. He spoke on various reasons he felt this way, such as the amount of guys who returned and that enough guys will step up to elevate the team’s overall play.

Coach Janssen

Question: What have been some points of emphasis the coaching staff has stressed throughout the off-season?

Answer: As opening day has been on the horizon, the coaching staff has preached playing for one another. The collective team goals should be valued first and foremost over any individual goals. This is an important thing to stress as the season will continue to advance.

Q: What players have impressed up to this point as the season is about to begin?

A: A lot of guys perform on the team and execute certain roles. Position players in McDonald, Avros and Alexander are great examples of this. Pitching wise, the team has guys such as Gollert, Drew McIllwain and Luke Brown that make up our pitching core. The list goes on and the team itself has worked hard overall. The group is hungry, and their preparation for the season is eye-opening. The next step is taking all the preparation and making it all come together in games.

Q: Do you expect Alexander and McIllwain to step up as leaders on and off the field after being named All-OVC?

A: I do expect them both to step up. Alexander and McIllwain are both standout young men who have great character, so the selection was well deserved. The way they perform on the field, plus their ability to lead are exciting combinations. More than anything, they are ready to show they deserved the preseason honor.

Q: What are your expectations with the team predicted to finish fourth in the OVC?

A: When the projections came out, it was a surprise to see. This is due to the amount of players who have returned to the team. If you look at our pitching rotation, the majority of innings pitched have returned. In addition, six in-field starters are a part of this year’s team too. We as a team plan to use these projections to our advantage as the season unfolds. Austin Peay baseball seems eager to finish higher than fourth place.

Q: As the team is headed into a three-game series against Boston College, what are the keys to come out on top?

A: When a team goes up against a power 5 opponent such as Boston College, they will have guys who stick out on the stat sheet and as athletes. No matter who the team plays though, it will be nice for the coaching staff to see how players handle in-game situations. A number of questions will be answered as well, so it is exciting for the process to finally begin.

Q: What do the leaders on the team mean to you?

A: The team leaders mean so much to the Austin Peay baseball program. The staff talked to our guys about when the collective group is right, its when the players lead. It is important for players to be the ones who hold one another accountable. When this is the case, there is a chance to grow more throughout a season and a chance the team progresses further.