2023 Yotes Baseball Season Preview

The Yotes baseball program opens up the 2023 season in Glendale, Ariz. this weekend taking on four teams over a three-day span, starting with host Arizona Christian on Thursday.
 
Thursday's opener will see a mix of returning talent as well as some fresh faces on the diamond, as the Yotes return its top four hitters from last season, along with  one of its top pitchers from a squad that reached the 2022 CCC Baseball Tournament Championship last season.
 
Headlining the returnees is Jonah Hultberg, who had one of the best seasons in program history on his way to NAIA All-American honors. Along with Hultberg, the Yotes also return Alex McFarland-Smith and Skyler Sadora, who made up the top of the everyday lineup in 2022 for veteran head coach Shawn Humberger. The trio along with Ben Gaff will provide a potent lineup for a College of Idaho squad that hit .285 in 2022.
 
On the mound, Colby Durski returns having set the school record with 34 appearances - 33 of which came from the bullpen - in 2022. Among other key pitchers returning for the Yotes includes Jack Stewart, Kaden Lapp, and Luke Brewer.
 
Among some of the newcomers that are entering their first seasons with the Yotes are Jordan Kelly, Nate Vidlak, and Jackson Cummins. Cummins is joined on the squad alongside his brother Dawson Cummins, with the latter coming to Caldwell after playing at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls. Kelly joins the team as a transfer from Williston State College. The native Australian hit .409 for Williston State, to go along with six home runs and 53 RBI.