Pitching and strength up the middle: check.

A change in the bats that could play to its strengths: Yeah, the Bryan Viking baseball team has that on its side, too.

While things look good, Bryan coach David Powers is cautiously optimistic.

"We've had several of those years and then somebody gets hurt or sick or whatever," Powers said. "You miss a key player and it's tough. But I've got to brag on our offseason. We've tested better than we have ever tested. We had 11 guys at 4.9 and under in the 40."

With the new bat restrictions, which follow the move made by colleges a year earlier, that speed could be essential, allowing the Vikings to beat out infield hits. Bryan has shown that in its scrimmages.

Left-handed pitcher Ty Culbreth is the ace of what should be a strong three-man starting rotation. Culbreth came back from an injury to close his season impressively. The senior, who has signed to play at Texas, had a 4-0 record as a junior with a 0.20 earned run average. He also batted .361 with five homers and 34 runs batted in. He returned to the lineup in the outfield before he climbed back on the mound and will stay active in the outfield when he's not on the mound.

"Pitching has been the most pleasant thing, not a surprise because we expected our pitching to be there," Powers said. "Especially pitching depth. Culbreth, [Marshall] Laine and [Travis] Gibson have been lights out in our three scrimmages. They have pitched two innings every time and looked really good and all three had really good summers."

Junior Carson Bohler and senior Tyler Jordan bolster the staff. Jordan returns after Tommy John surgery.

"In football you start with defense," Powers said. "In baseball, you start with pitching."

They've got a good guy to throw to, as well, with senior Jacob Huckabay set to call most of the pitches this season. Huckabay, a stellar backstop since starting as a freshman, had a strong junior season at the plate. He's batting cleanup after he batted .357 with 32 RBIs and had a .622 slugging percentage as a junior. That included four homers and three triples.

"Defensively, he is phenomenal," Powers said. "Pan Am thought they were taking him as an infield, because he is a great infielder, too. Then they got a look at him and said, naw, he's going to play catcher."

Bryan had an excellent shortstop-second base combo last season with Casey Skalaban and Colin Fry. That duo is unlikely to change. In his junior season at shortstop, Skalaban hit .324 with 15 RBIs and four triples, earning 12-5A's first-team spot at his position.

"They have played since they were little bitty, and they know one another," Powers said. "You feel really good about that."

Fry will be the Vikings' leadoff hitter and Skalaban is batting third.

Zac Slaydon, one of the few juniors who will start for Bryan, is leading the way at first base, with Alex Garcia providing a challenge. Slaydon's defense gives him an edge, but Garcia has hit well. Mike Miner, the Vikings' starter at the end of last season, is at the end of his rehab from a football injury.

Austin Gallego has picked up his defensive play and is the leader at third base.

The questions might be in the outfield.

"Outfield is where the most competition is," Powers said. "Culbreth is going to be there, but he'll be on the hill. It could be every other game and sometimes it's every third game. If you are going to play Consol and Belton, you're going to flip your rotation. You just are.

"When Culbreth is pitching, we've got to have a centerfield and right now we're looking at [Chandler] Russell."

Defense will be the key to winning an outfield position, but the Vikings' coach also needs competitors at the plate. Junior Ryan Way, along with Jordan and Laine, could be part of the outfield plans. Hunter Maphet, another player injured during football season, could also be in the mix, along with Matt Muniz, who has struggled early at the plate. Muniz could be a late-game substitution, though, if the Vikings have a lead.

Either Aaron Dugan or Travis Gibson will likely win the designated hitter job.

Bryan opens the season Monday at Magnolia West. The Vikings host the Bryan ISD Tournament on Thursday through Saturday. The team will also play in the Brenham/Montgomery Tournament (March 1-3) and the College Park Tournament (March 8-10). The District 12-5A opener is March 13, at home against Killeen Ellison.

Bryan Vikings

Number   Name         Class   Position

1  Marshall Laine         sr.        OF/P

3   Tyler Pharr              sr.         OF

4   Chandler Russell    sr.        OF/P

5   Ty Culbreth             sr.        P/OF

6   Clayton Blum          jr.           IF

7   Thomas Pharr         jr.           IF

8   Jacob Huckabay     sr.         C/P

9   Jesse Gonzalez      sr.         P/IF

10  Colin Fry                sr.         IF/P

11  Ryan Way              jr.           OF

12  Tyler Jordan          sr.         OF/P

13  Matt Muniz            jr.            OF

14  Aaron Dugan        sr.           OF

15  Cory Collet           jr.             OF

16  Casey Skalaban   sr.           IF

17  Lane Graul            jr.             P

18  Zac Slaydon         jr.             IF/P

19  Alex Garcia          jr.             IF

20  Carson Bohler      jr.           P/OF

21  Travis Gibson       sr.          P/C

22  Joe Menjares       jr.              C

23  Austin Gallego     sr.            IF

24  Eric Hernandez    jr.           P/IF

25  Michael MinerI     sr.            F

26  Hunter Maphet     sr.           OF

29  Eric Sewell           jr.             IF