This season, which at one point looked fairly promising, has turned south with 13 consecutive conference losses.
Current RPI at 129 and non conference record of 14-8 indicate mediocrity, not ineptitude. There are some things
to build on. Looking out to 24-25 season this is what I see:

IF. This looks fairly promising. I would think the lineup here will look like this:
!B Cooper Vest. Proven hitter with good power. 883 OPs and 11 HRs. Has over 500 career PAs. Excellent fielder.
2B Luke Anderson. Decent power for 2B. Has had a disappointing year at plate. Over 400 career PA.
I don't know if he is a good fielder at 2B. Has played more OF but he is a plus hitter at 2B.
3B Easton Jones. Proven hitter with excellent power. 921 OPS and 14 HRs lead team. Nearly 400 PAs. Decent
fielder.
SS Brock Watkins. Has another year of eligibility. Not sure if he will stick around for what would be a sixth year
in the program. Excellent bat for a SS. Over 600 PAs.
UT Chipper Beck. Didn't hit at all this year. Was starting SS at beginning of year.
C Parker Goff. Backup to Collin Reuter this year. I assume that Reuter will be drafted this year and won't return.
Really good hitting catcher. Nearly 250 career PAs with 866 OPS. Not sure what to think of him defensively.
That seems to me to be a very experienced, good hitting IF.

OF. This is much more unsettled. Of course coaches may decide to play Vest and/or Anderson in OF.
Bryker Hurdsman. Injury plagued season. Played well prior to injuries. Likely starter.
Ryker Schow. FR getting his feet under him. Heavily recruited out of HS. Has not seemed overmatched.
Keoni Painter. FR. Seems fast and good OF defense. Has held his own.
Crew McChesney. FR. Had hardly seen the field until very recently. Has looked really good in small sample size.
I would think the coaches are looking to bring in at least two OFs with big bats.

DH. Assume more of the same.
Kuhio Aloy. Has had a solid FR season. Plus power. Should be better next year with a year under his belt.

SP. Not much to say here.
Ben Hansen. Has started for two years. Looks like he should be really good. Has started 23 games, over 120
IP but ERA of 6.84. Have to hope he takes a step forward.
Cutter Clawson. Throws really hard. Drafted out of HS. Has been a struggle for him. Has now pitched 72.1
innings and put 70 batters on base through BBs or HBP. Have to hope things come together.
Payton Gubler. I put him here since he started last night. 30 career IP, 39 batters BB or HBP, 7.80 ERA.
Sufficient to say that help is needed here in the worst way.

RP. Decent material to work with. Bullpen has performed fairly well this year.
Stone Cushing. Has exceeded expectations (at least mine) with a really solid year as the closer. Gets into trouble
primarily when called upon to pitch more than one inning.
Candon Dahle: Has been up and down. Throws hard (over oneK/IP). Useful part of a good pen.
Jake Porter. Not overpowering so walks a fine line. But has been effective this year for the most part. 4.50 ERA.
Hayden Coon. Other than an unfortunate start vs Baylor he has been great.
Luke Sterner. Brother Justin is pitching really well in AAA and may well see MLB time this year. Luke hasn't had
great success. 21.2 IP with 7.06 ERA. May well be a much bigger contributor next year.
Carter Foss. Big, hard thrower. Looks the part but has 38.1 IP, a 10.57 ERA and has put 48 batters on with BB and HBP.
Maybe he puts it together next year.
Justis Reiser. Electric stuff. 18/3 K/BB ratio and 1.23 ERA in 14.2 career IP. The problem has been health. Season
ending injuries both years in the program. If he could get healthy would be a huge lift for the team.
Losing Olson and Mabeus really hurts. But should be a strength again next year.

I think that Coach Pratt has the building blocks for a much improved team. I assume that he will be under a lot of
pressure if team has another year like this one. He needs to have a successful recruiting year. Pitching, a backup C
and a couple of OF bats seem the priorities. And there are likely some players in the program who I have overlooked
due to injuries or redshirts.

Hoping for an improved team next year. GO COUGS!!!