by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Rick Twyman, Wellington Heat coach/owner, has a projection that will raise a few eyebrows.

“I think we have the potential of being much better than we were last year,” Twyman said.

That’s some heady stuff considering the Wellington Heat were finalists in the 2013 World Series only losing to the Seattle Studs 5-1 in the championship game.

Wellington will have 12 returning players from the year before including four who started in the finals- including the team’s leading hitter Tony Piazza.

“And we have some outstanding recruits coming in,” Twyman said. “Last year, we were hit pretty hard with the Major League Draft, and it took us a long time to put the pieces together. This year we will be hit hard by the draft again, but we have the pieces already in place to keep going.”

The Heat will be embarking on its second season at Sellers Park Friday night when the Denver Cougars come to town at 7:05 p.m. for opening night. Get your free ticket at Bank of Commerce.

The Heat will start the season with a six-game home stand before starting the Jayhawk League schedule with a trip out to see the Dodge City A’s.

Is there anyone in the Jayhawk League who scares the Heat?

“No,” Twyman shakes his head.

Is there anyone the Heat coaching staff circles on the schedule?

“Not really,” Twyman said. “We have had an intense rivalry with the Hays Larks in the past. I think that will be our big games.”

The players

Wellington’s roster is stacked.

“We have the best pitching in the country,” Twyman said of his NBC team. “Our outfield is the best in the country. It is crazy good.”

Twyman said last year Aaron Siple, a returning starter from the University of New Mexico, was without a doubt the best player in the outfield for the Heat.

“This year we have three other players who are as good as he is,” Twyman said. “Our coaches, our players, just look at one another and marvel just what kind of talent we have in the outfield.”

Kirk Rocha, a fan favorite according to a poll on the Wellington Heat website http://www.wellingtonheat.com/, comes from Tabor College having hit .480 last season for the Bluejays.

He will be joined by A.J. Shaw of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock and David Walker of Grand Canyon University.

Heat infielders will include returning first baseman Piazza from Regis University; Luke Doyle of Yavapai College and Rowdy Andrews of Eckerd College.

Twyman has a roster of 18 pitchers including 12 starters. Two of those are Major League prospects. Jacob Doyle will open the season tomorrow night against the Cougars.

The draft 

While the goal for these young players is to sign with a Major League baseball team, it always causes the Heat to have to adjust. Last year the Heat had four players drafted. Twyman said possibly nine players could get drafted this year during the first week of June.

The big prospect currently on the Heat roster is Brad Wieck, who may never don on a Heat uniform. That’s because the Oklahoma City University pitcher has been noticed by the New York Mets which the owner came out to visit. Don’t look for him to stay on the roster long.

Twyman checked off these players who have draft potential: Piazza, Jake Howard, Luke Doyle, Casey Thomas, Siple, Rocha, Shaw, Jordan Watson and Wieck.

“But again we have enough depth to recover quite nicely,” Twyman said.

The schedule

Fans can pick up free tickets at the following location.

Friday, May 30 vs. Denver Cougars – Bank of Commerce;

Saturday, May 31 vs. Denver Cougars – Impact Bank;

Sunday, June 1 vs. Kansas Cannons – City of Wellington at the gate.

Monday, June 2, vs. Diamond Dawgs, Courtesy of Ark Valley Distributing/Budweiser at the gate.

Tuesday, June 3, vs. Denver Cougars – Barefoot Jerry’s.

Thursday, June 5 vs. El Dorado Broncos – Reedy Ford at the game.

The full schedule is as follows.

Wellington Heat Players recently held an autograph session for fans at Reedy Ford in Arkansas City.

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