Nunez baseball striving for greatness in 2023

Nunez Community College Baseball has been making strides since forming as a program and joining the NJCAA in 2017.

Last season, the Pelicans had their first winning season in school history with a 26-22 record. Head Coach Glenn Powell and his team had a roller coaster ride all the way to the Region 23 Tournament Championship game.

Nunez had a 7-0 lead but lost the final to the eventual champions, traditional power Delgado Community College.

The Pelicans have a lot experience to battle tough opponents that could lift them into a potentially huge 2023 season.

Returning are 12 starters from last season including four starting pitchers. Nunez is led by a pair of All-Conference performers – shortstop Ben Harris (370 avg. – 61 Hits – 16 Stolen Bases) and centerfielder Kyle Landry (.397 with 11 steals) – as well as catcher Landon Manson (.365 with 9 homers and 50 RBI).

The entire Pelicans infield is back as well, with third baseman Alex Roux (.321 avg.), second baseman Alex Crews (.297), first baseman Collin Zeringue (.333) and Dylan Jimenez (.325) all looking to build o solid 2021 campaigns. Caleb Duhon (.321) returns to lead the outfield.

Nunez has a deep pitching staff as well. Paul Howard (7-1 with a 7.24 ERA in 46.0 IP, 47 SOs last season) and Levi Brewster (4-3 with a 5.27 ERA in 54.2 IP)) lead the Pelicans staff.

Payton Cooper (.291 at the plate plus 45.2 IP, 42 SOs and a4-4 record), Colby Smith (3-0, 3.50 ERA in 13.0 IP), Willy Flynn and Trip Wilson are available for either starting or relief duty.

Experience and depth has Powell excited for what could be this spring.

“The skies the limit for our team this year. We are more balanced and we are trusting our pitching staff,” said Powell. “The offense is going to be the key. We have four all conference players returning. We looking for those guys to generate that offense and help us get that conference championship, get to the regionals, and to the JUCO World Series this year.”

Newcomers will also be stepping in immediately. Noah Detillier and Ashtyn Ellis have outfield starting assignment entering the season while Ira Austin, Cole Bordes, Landon Cortez, and Andre Roux are new names to watch on the pitching staff.

with a stronger team built over time as the program itself grew, Powell wanted to make the 2023 schedule tougher to be battle tested for conference play and the postseason. Nunez will have big non-conference matchups against Mississippi Gulf Coast, St. Louis, Southwest Mississippi and Jones College.

As usual, Region 23 will be strong with Baton Rouge Community College and Delgado providing the competition. Nunez will host the Region 23 Tournament at Alumni Field in Hammond on Friday May 19-21, 2023.

“For us to win conference and regionals, we need to beat these kind of teams. Mississippi has the best teams in the country, and that’s who we want to play,” said Powell. “We can only get better by playing better teams.”

Nunez will open the season this Saturday and Sunday with a pair of doubleheaders against Southwest Tennessee Community College and Pensacola State College in Pensacola, Florida.

More with Coach Powell: