After a historic season last year, the Drovers are hoping to repeat and make it to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Baseball National Tournament for the second consecutive year.

In twenty-four years as a program the Drovers had never been to the Opening Round of the NAIA Baseball National Tournament until their impressive run last year.

The Drovers finished last season with a program record of 41 wins. USAO’s impressive season earned them a bid to play in the Opening Round of the 2013 National Tournament. USAO fell to Sterling College in the first game of the elimination round. The Drovers then beat Northwestern (Iowa) to move on to play second seeded and conference rival Oklahoma City. The Drovers lost a nail bitter to the Stars in extra-innings, 7-6.

Head Coach Mike Ross will start this season with only a few returners from last year’s team.

“Going into a year like this when you have so many new people you have to look at the returners,” Ross said.

One of the returners is junior catcher Owen Adams from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Adams started in 55 games as the Drovers’ catcher, recording a batting average of .307 and hitting two home runs.

Ross will also be looking at senior pitcher Chris Fischer to help the Drovers reach their goal of making it to the National Tournament for the second consecutive year. Fischer recorded a 6-4 record on the mound, starting in 10 games for the Drovers.

“Those guys that were here last year have been through the war,” Ross said. “They know how we have to play to get to where we want to go.”

With such a tough task in matching last year’s squad’s success, Coach Ross is hopeful his team will take on the challenge and get a bid to play in this year’s National Tournament.

“The talent is there,” Ross said. “I believe this team can go as far as they want to go.”

Ross says the toughest test will be on the coaching end.

“I’m still getting to try and know them and who can do what the best,” Ross said.

Ross also says he’s excited about this team and how much depth he has.

“The one thing I’m really excited about is our depth,” Ross said.  “I’ve never had this much depth while coaching here. Normally we have eight to ten guys that go out and play, this year there’s 14 to 15.”

The Drovers go on the road to face Texas College in a double-header on January 31.