This week, we will take an inside look at the 2011 Texan Baseball team, broken down by position.

First, we will start with the pitching staff for the upcoming season.


STARTING ROTATION            
    Senior Nathan Lewis was a closer last year for the Texans and will be making a move to the starting rotation.  Last season, Lewis set a school record for appearances and saves.  He did not allow a single run over his last 15 appearances, and will look to build on that this year.  Lewis works a fastball, curveball, change-up and a cutter, the newest pitch to his arsenal.   
    Senior Miguel Ramirez was Tarleton's No. 1 last season and will be expected to have a similar effect on opposing batters this year with his four-pitch repertoire.  After a scary incident in a game that Ramirez was pitching where he was hit in the head with a line drive, Ramirez stayed in to finish the last three innings with a complete game shutout.  That is the type of player and young man that Ramirez is, and will be both a leader vocally and on the mound for the Texans.  The New Mexico native will be ready to go after missing six weeks last season with the head injury that hampered his performance in 2010.
    Senior Brandon Van Riper used the off-season to solidify a spot in the starting rotation, working on his consistency and improving his pitches.  Van Riper was drafted by the Kansas City Royals three years ago and has shown that brillance from time to time, however, a knee injury will delay his start in 2011.  With a successful rehab and building up pitche counts, Van Riper will looked upon to complete a formidable starting rotation for the 2011 Texan baseball team.


BULLPEN                    
    Tarleton's bullpen is an assembly of former starters and talented arms.  With a plethora of veterans on call in the bullpen, the Texans do not feel as if there will be a drop-off when relieving their starters.
    Senior Jake Sowell was a starter in 2010 and is known for throwing a lot of sinking strikes.  This season, Sowell will be called upon to throw strikes and keep the runners off the bases for the last few innings.  His ability to force batters into hitting ground balls will be a key part of his game.
    Senior Ryan Salt was also a starter last season, replacing the injured Ramirez as the No. 1 guy.  Salt has a strong arm and can really fool opposing batters at the plate.  The coaching staff hopes Salt will transform into a consistent reliever out of the bullpen.
    Junior Matt Shannon is a transfer from Chandler Gilbert JC, and will be called upon to be a quality middle reliever.  Shannon is not a flamethrower, but forces a lot of groundballs and throws strikes.  He will be a new component in Tarleton's relief strategy.
    Sophomore Shawn Hall is another transfer, coming to Tarleton out of Henderson State, where he was projected to be a starter.  Hall will be asked to contribute early and often for the Texans and his versatility is a major asset for the team.
    Junior Kenneth Stockton was a constant in Tarleton's relief game last season, seeing a significant number of innings for the Texans.  This season, Stockton will be a valuable pitcher out of the bullpen, who has experience pitching in tough situations.
    Other Texans that will compete for playing time will be juniors Tanner Ross, Chuck Brown and Joseph Rubalcaba.  All three relievers have pitched for Tarleton before and know what is expected of them.  They will be versatile arms and used in a number of different circumstances.  
    Look for one of the top pitching staffs in the conference last season to improve on their performances last year.  Tarleton has a deep and experienced line-up with a combination of big arms and a lot of movement on pitches. The 2011 Texans will be force to be reckoned with and opposing batters will find out shortly.


CLOSER                    
    Junior Ryan Turner replaces Tarleton's all-time leader in saves, Nathan Lewis, who has switched to the starting rotation.  Turner is a tall thrower and has the ability to throw in the mid-90's.  After being drafted three times already, Turner continues to improve each year and will be counted upon to close some tough games for Tarleton.  He is a hard-worker and a competitior, and has the opportunity to make a major impact on this pitching staff.

Check back tomorrow for a look inside the infielders for Tarleton.