The 2019 Mystic baseball team will open up their season in sunny Tucson, AZ, March 9 at the Tucson Invitational Games. The Mystics will play 11 games in 7 days to kick off the year, facing some of the top teams in the country along with some familiar opponents from the north. All games will be at Kino Sports Complex which is the former training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox. The highlight of the trip is a double header against Division I Eastern Arizona in the 12,000 seat Veterans Memorial Stadium Wednesday, March 13. The Mystics will play two games each day except Monday, which is an off day, and a single game Friday before heading home. There will be live stats at bscmystics.com
The lineup will have many familiar faces including Connor Burgess (.418, 4HR's), Alec Battest (.400, 2HR's), Matt Guenther (.375, 2HR's), Ian McDonald (.375), Jared Binsfeld (.288, 2HR's), Seth Brewer (.284, 5HR's), and Drake Flesche (.283, 1HR). Transfer Ryan Moormeier (.424 9HR's), and ND Gatorade Player of the Year, Jake Faircloth (West Fargo, ND), figure to be key additions.
The pitching rotation was a major area of concern after last season and the coaching staff is very pleased with who they have ready for the season. Seth Brewer (34K's 26IP), and Ian McDonald (16K's, 20IP) return to anchor the staff that will also include Ryan Bourassa (West Fargo, ND), Carter Stonecipher (Rapid City, SD), Dawson Penticoff (Rapid City, SD), and Ryan Moormeier as they will open with a 6-man rotation. The bullpen should be a strong point for the Mystics with a few flamethrowers the coaching staff will have at their discretion. Connor Burgess, Mason Thorenson (17K's, 13IP), and newcomer Rylan Aamold (Fargo, ND) will be at the back end along with 5 or 6 arms that should make for a competitive bullpen.
The Mystics look to build upon two straight winning seasons with Coach McGlauflin's third year at the helm. The Mystics were Mon-Dak Conference Champions in 2017.