While the official schedule for the 2021 Azusa Pacific baseball season has not been announced, the Cougars are expected to be among the national contenders when their games do begin. The Collegiate Baseball Newspaper released its annual Pre-Season NCAA Division II Poll in late December, and Azusa Pacific was ranked 17^th, which is the highest of any West region program. Additionally, Osvaldo Tovalin, A.J. Woodall, and Nick Estrella were named West Region Players to Watch, while Cory Dawson was highlighted as a Newcomer to Watch.
 
As was the case with the rest of the teams across country, the Cougars' 2020 campaign was cut short after just 20 games. The final game in which the team took the field was on March 6, a game that ended in a 9-1 victory over Hawai'i Hilo that raised the Cougars' record to .500 at 10-10. While it was a relatively slow start if one took a quick glance at the numbers, Azusa Pacific was ranked 19^th and was considered to have played the toughest schedule in Division II baseball at the 20-game mark according to the Boyd Ranking System.
 
"It felt like we were beginning to hit our stride when the cancellation was announced," said head coach Paul Svagdis, "We were coming off of 16 straight games on the road and we were eager to play at home. I am always proud of our players, but how last year's group handled playing that long of a stretch on the road is something I look back on and appreciate."
 
While a few key bullpen arms graduated and will not return, the Cougars retain nearly all of their starting position players and three starting pitchers. Among the returners is the trio that was tabbed Players to Watch, as Tovalin, Estrella and Woodall will be expected to help lead the way for Svagdis' ball club.  
 
Tovalin, who was an All-American third baseman as a sophomore in 2019 (.396 avg/19 HR/17 2B/62 RBI), continued his growth as a player in the shortened 2020 season and is expected to do big things in 2021. "Osvaldo is a terrific player," said Svagdis, "In the early part of last season, he was singled out as the guy our opponents did not want to get hurt by, and he handled that in a mature fashion."
 
Estrella has been a dominant weapon for the Cougars both as a pitcher and a hitter over his career, as he was an All-West Region First Team honoree in 2019. On the mound last season, he posted a 2-0 record with a 1.46 ERA over 24.2 innings, while at the plate he hit for a .357 batting average with five homeruns, eight doubles, and 17 RBIs.
 
Woodall will be looked to as a reliable starter for the Cougars in 2021, as he enters his third year with the program. As a sophomore in 2019, he was an All-West Region Second Team performer, and was rounding into form as the '20 season was ended.
 
In addition to Tovalin, Estrella and Woodall, the Cougars have a roster full of experience, as well as a few young players who have shown promise in their brief time with the program. Casey Dykstra, who has predominately played in center field for the Cougars over his career, has become a weapon for Svagdis out of the bullpen. Dykstra's fastball sits in the upper 90's, which will allow him to serve as a future closer for Svagdis. At the plate in 2020, Dykstra hit for a .286 batting average, with 8 RBI and a homerun in his first at-bat of the year.
 
Another piece in the Cougar pen will be David Wylie, who emerged as a reliable option in 2020, allowing just one earned run over four appearances. Svagdis also has a pair of young pitchers, Korey Shepard and Isaac Mendez, who showed signs of future success as starters in their freshman seasons last year. Shepard made seven relief appearances, posting a 2.84 ERA and a 1-0 record, while Mendez started five games, including two outings in which he did not allow a run over four innings of work.
 
Another player who is expected to be a key performer for the Cougars is Aaron Roose, who Svagdis referred to as a "unicorn" in baseball in that he is a starting catcher who also serves as the lead-off hitter for a dangerous lineup. While Roose's numbers show he is a solid hitter (2020: .274 BA, 11 RBI, 4 2B, 1 HR), Svagdis points to his baserunning and attitude at the plate as the main reasons in which he has become the Cougars' go-to option at the top of the lineup. "Aaron is great on the bases, and he is also extremely tough to punch out at the plate as he never gives in during his at-bats," said Svagdis. Over 62 plate appearances in 2020, Roose struck out just eight times.
 
Tido Robles, who was the 2019 PacWest Freshman of the Year, will be returning for his third season at Azusa Pacific. After playing first base exclusively as a true freshman, Robles showcased his versatility in 2020, as he saw time at both second and third base. The growth in Robles' game will allow Svagdis to utilize his powerful bat in the lineup in more ways, which will bode well for the Cougars. In just two seasons, Robles' career numbers are .296 BA, .596 slugging percentage, 56 RBI, and 14 homeruns.
 
While many of the players in uniform for the Cougars this season are familiar faces, Svagdis is eager for the debuts of the incoming group of newcomers to the program, particularly Cory Dawson (RHP), who was identified as a Newcomer to Watch. Dawson arrives to Azusa Pacific after a great career at Westmont College, where he finished ninth all-time in program history for strikeouts (171), and was an All-GSAC performer. In 2020, Dawson posted a 5-1 record over seven starts, and had an ERA of 2.91 over 43.1 innings thrown.
 
It has been nearly 11 months since the Cougars were on a baseball field together, and Svagdis is eager for the return of his club, "I am looking forward to getting back on the field as a team and preparing for the 2021 season." Stay tuned for any news or announcements regarding the 2021 schedule by regularly visiting APUCougars.com, or follow Azusa Pacific Athletics & Azusa Pacific Baseball on social media.
 
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