Flames picked to finish second in the GSC preseason poll

Tim Gooden came out of the Lee bullpen 20 times in 2024 and posted a 2-0 record with a sparkling 1.84 ERA.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - If the 2025 Gulf South Conference Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll is on target, the University West Florida, Lee University and Delta State University will battle it out for top honors in the conference regular season. The Argonauts edged out the defending champion Flames with 112 points and seven first-place votes. Lee received 107 votes and two first place nods while the Statesmen were right in the mix with 103 points and three first-place votes.

The Flames placed two players on the Preseason All-GSC Team. Tim Goode,n who came out of the Lee bullpen 20 times in 2024 and posted a 2-0 record with a sparkling 1.84 ERA, joined Cooper Doughman, a transfer from Auburn University Montgomery. The All-GSC catcher batted .354 for the Warhawks in 50 games last season.

“It’s nice to be recognized as a team that is viewed towards the top of the standings. However, everyone knows championships and top finishes aren’t won on paper. The GSC is a rugged 11-week schedule that will be a challenge for all 12 teams,” explained Lee Coach Mark Brew. “The teams that handle it with consistency will have a chance in the end. I’m excited about the season and looking forward to getting onto the field soon.”

Brew is in his 19th season as head coach of the Flames and in 2024 his team claimed the conference regular season title with a 39-18 record. Lee advanced to the NCAA South Regional and placed second. The tournament was hosted and won by the University of Tampa.

Missing key players

“We lost a lot of our offense with the departures of Dylan Standifer, Brandon Daniels, Riley Black and Cam Suto,” the coach noted. All four hit over .300 with a combined 49 homers, 222 RBI and 234 runs scored. Additionally, the Flames lost two key pitchers. Jack Nedrow, who started 14 games and owned an 11-1 record. He posted an ERA of 3.22 and in 78.1 innings walked 28 and fanned 84. Keegan Gagliardo got stronger later in the season, finishing with a 9.2 record and a 3.87 ERA. In 83.2 innings he had 30 walks and 78 strikeouts.

Looking at 2025 Flames

“We had to revamp our entire weekend rotation,” explained Brew. “The staff has added multiple players to fill voids left by graduation. Left-handed pitchers Will Baker and Cooper Casteel gives us good options, and both will compete for weekend rotation spots. Right-handed pitchers Dylan Van Meeteren has power stuff and will be a key to the rotation. We’ve got an All-Conference pitcher in Tim Gooden on the backend and some quality returning depth with Jax Howard.” Howard missed the majority of last season. He returns after surgery and has looked excellent throughout the early spring. 

Several other key bullpen guys from 2024 are back in Ty Cobb, Hunter Lane, and David White. Colt McKibben, Zachary Lawson, and Nelson Smith all return with experience in roles as starters as well as work out of the bullpen. Eric Boggess, Cal Goss, Matthew Delph and Seth Parker are once again healthy and could be a key contributor to the staff as they work their way back on the mound. Freshmen could help out on the mound, including Alex Brew, Hayden Choate, Samuel Crowell, Braylon Hall, Evan Bloomer, Aiden Schwartz, Taylor Hughes and Zach Tierney.

Banking on key hitters

Coach Brew realizes his top hitters will be hard to replace but he will be banking on a pair who had solid 2024 seasons and a player who is returning from an injury that required surgery. JJ Williams batted .321 in 56 games and used his speed to play a steady centerfield. Williams hit 12 homers and knocked in 49 runs last year.

Luke Collier stepped up and earned a starting job at second base. He was a .296 hitter in 54 games and like Williams he drove in 49 runs. Malachi Cloud returns to the outfield after missing last season with an injury. He had a super freshman season and gained All-GSC honors.

Third baseman and switch-hitting Josiah Miller showed some power with 10 home runs and 40 RBI in 52 games last season. Brew says Brock Sisson, Isaiah French, Gavin Baxter, Dakota Peace, Cooper Isaacs and Ashton Simmons will add more experience to the line-up as well.

 Transfer Tucker Platt gives the Flames an experienced bat at first base. Doughman, who was mentioned earlier, was an All-GSC player at Auburn Montgomery before transferring to Lee over the summer. Levi Cloud was a multiple-year starter at Berry College and several other talented freshmen will fight for playing time.

Infielders among best

Gold-glover Simmons will anchor the solid Lee infield. He had a super season at shortstop last year and has really improved offensively. In 41 games last season Simmons made only two errors and a fielding percentage of .985. Collier appeared in 54 contests at second base and for a few games at shortstop. He made 13 miscues and recorded a .944 fielding mark.

Freshman Braden Gabel has great athleticism and is really improving rapidly. He can play both shortstop and second. Isaacs, a sophomore, has worked extremely hard and has vastly improved and is an option as well. Returner Dakota Peace has improved in several areas and is in the mix at first base. Transfer Platt brings an experienced bat and has shown some excellent defensive work in the fall while working through an injury. Levi Cloud can play first base if needed but will most likely spend most of time in the outfield. Keilin Sanders could play as a middle infielder. Miller is primed and ready for a great senior season at third base. Baxter, a red-shirt junior, has continued to improve and will be an option at third.

Behind the plate the Flames will have three experienced catchers in Doughman, Sisson, and French. All three could see action as designated hitters. Freshmen Matt Stotts and Landon Ward provide depth at the position.

 Quality players in outfield

Coach Brew says his Flames “Aren’t extremely deep in the outfield, but our quality is excellent. We have excellent athleticism in the outfield led by Malachi Cloud and Williams. Both combine a speed/power combo that is a key for our team.” Brew adds that transfer and brother of Malachi, Levi Cloud, also is a dynamic player and will be a key in the offense. Freshmen Ryan Valdes and Sanders are both solid athletes as well and have bright futures.

Upcoming season

“The GSC is always tough and those games are already built into our schedule and will make it challenging.” remarked Brew. “Every game matters so a fast start is important. Our goal is to be ready from day one. It is a short window of three weeks of preparation before we open, but we must find a way to be prepared on January 31.

 “Our non-conference tilts are always challenging as well with Carson Newman University , Young Harris College, Tusculum University and Lincoln Memorial University,” he added. “We have added former (NCAA DII) National Champion North Greenville University this year.”

The Flames open the 2025 slate on January 31 - Februay 2 entertaining Emmanuel University in a three-game series. They will host Lincoln Memorial University in a single nine-inning game on February 5 before Hillsdale College visits for a three game-series February 8-9. GSC play begins on February 14 when Lee travels to Delta State.