Right now, it's all about good vibes for Cyclones Head Coach Tyler Zunkel. The first-year baseball coach is confident in his lineup and excited to see what his largely new team will do this spring.
Zunkel replaces Mike Kane, who led the Cyclones from 2014 to 2016 and then from 2022 to 2024. He started last summer and recruited a team full of transfers and freshmen who are ready to work.
"The whole starting lineup is new except for [Christian] Rosales. I'll experiment with guys in different positions during spring training, then we'll have a set lineup when we're home," he explained.
One of Zunkel's priorities is for his batters to keep their strikeouts down and hit early in the count. This will give them more chances to get on base. He also wants to use bunting more situationally.
"In preseason, we were doing situational training at game speed to train their eye and also doing a lot of technical work. We grinded all winter. We want to be competitive right away," Zunkel added.
That ambition is demonstrated in the tough schedule Zunkel put together this spring. He has the team facing nationally ranked colleges during spring training and is adding any games he can to the schedule to prepare the players for every challenge.
"I made the hardest schedule we've ever had. We're going to be road warriors this year and probably have more games on the road. We'll play anywhere, any time," he said. "The main goal is making the region tournament. It's what we talked about. We play 50 region games. Winning conference would be nice, but I want a region title and be in the NJCAA playoffs, that's what really matters."
Helping the Cyclones in their quest for success is a mix of talented transfers, freshmen and sophomores. Outfielder Rosales (Richards), infielder Jayden Armstrong (Thornton Fractional South) and southpaw Xavier Aguilar (Bremen) are back and looking to make a difference. Whenever Aguilar is on the mound, he sets the tone for the game. When he did so in the fall, the Cyclones would win, Zunkel said.
Alejandro Munoz (Evergreen Park) is a shortstop who transferred from Concordia University Chicago. At the plate, he'll be slotted in the three hole and is set on improving his game. Zunkel said Munoz should be the top hitter and is already fielding offers from four-year universities.
Among the incoming, true freshmen, Aiden Radtke (Tinley Park) will be a vocal leader as catcher while Andrew Phelan (Lemont) will play outfield or DH and use his speed to the team's advantage.
On the mound, College of DuPage transfer Troy Vosburgh (Oswego) will be used extensively as the closer. Joshua Keller (Plainfield East), a transfer from Florida Gulf Coast University, will be the No. 2 pitcher followed by Saint Xavier University transfer Lucas Hicks (Westmont) at No. 3. Hicks will make an impact along with Christopher Newport/Roosevelt University transfer Preston Lund (Homewood-Flossmoor) at catcher and third base.
Other newcomers to watch this season are Seth McWilliams (Lincoln-Way West), a first baseman and DH who transferred from Sauk Valley Community College and should make an impact at the plate; Caston Norris (Morris), an athletic infielder and outfielder transfer from Joliet Junior College, who will do a lot of pitching; and Timothy O'Connell (St. Rita), an infielder who transferred from College of DuPage and should be one of the top hitters.
"I'm grateful for the guys who stepped up to lead this season. A lot of the guys are holding each other accountable," Zunkel explained. "Some days, certain guys could be player of the game, everyone has a chance. It's a good feeling having the confidence with my lineup going into the season."
Although Zunkel has some nerves about his first year leading the program, he and the players are ready to go.
"I don't think there's one word for how I feel about the season, maybe hopeful, excited, prepared. It all makes my first year here exciting," Zunkel noted. "Every game will be tough, but I want to surprise other teams."
Zunkel will be joined in the dugout by assistants Andy Gaytan and Austin Loehman.
The Cyclones lucked out with the weather and had their season opener on Feb. 23 with Spoon River College. Their next home game is March 22, noon and 3 p.m., against College of DuPage.