2019 Baseball Preview - Outfielders

Coming off a difficult 2018 season, the College of Idaho has retooled their line-up in preparation for the new campaign, with the Coyote outfield filled with experience and high expectations.
 
The anchor of the outfield unit looks to be Carter Vieira, who moved to center field midway through last season and has gap-to-gap range. The sophomore was one of the top hitters on the squad during the final month of last season – including a 5-hit game at Corban – and much-improved power during the fall practice period. Vieira is a versatile player – who could also see time this season at either third base or second base.
 
Transfer Matthew Clay looks to make an impact after two quality seasons at Monterey Pacific College in California. The British Columbia native earned All-Coast Conference honors as a sophomore after hitting .318 with five homers and 29 RBI and had a stellar prep career with the Coquitlam Reds in the BC Premier Baseball League.
 
Four returners will be battling for playing time in the outfield – junior Keaton Elledge and sophomores Nick Mooney, Weston Miller and Jon Gonzalez – after playing behind graduated senior Ryan Murkle in 2018. Elledge missed most of last season due to injury, but earlier in his career, served as one of the top pinch runners on the squad.  Mooney made 12 starts last season and finished the year hitting .270 with eight RBI, while Miller and Gonzalez combined to play in 29 games as freshmen.
 
A pair of true freshmen will be pressing for playing time at the corner outfield positions – as both Payton Lewis and Caden Jensen had quality fall workouts. Lewis helped Rocky Mountain High to the 2017 5A state title, while Jensen was a two-sport standout at Sam Barlow High in Oregon.
 
C of I opens the season next weekend, traveling to Arizona for a four-game series at Benedictine Mesa.