After posting its first winning season in program history last year, Lourdes looks to carry that momentum into 2023 as the Gray Wolves take the diamond for the new season.
 
Head coach Josh Bradford begins his third season at the helm of the Gray Wolves looking to build off a 25-22 overall record in 2022.  The Gray Wolves finished 9-13 in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play, placing eighth.  Lourdes would like to continue climbing the standings in 2023, with hopes of returning to the WHAC tournament.
 
Lourdes should have the ability to score runs this season, while its depth defensively will allow Bradford to keep the hot bats in the lineup.
 
The battle for the starting catching spot is a fierce one in the preseason.  Cord Noble batted .326 as a freshman and returns after missing last season due to injury while Caelen Cunningham saw action in 21 games last season behind the plate.  The returning duo is being pushed by a pair of local freshmen.  Jackson Kennedy is a product of Clay High School while Eastwood High School product Andrew Arnstson is also vying for action in the receiving role.
 
At first base, Carson Barker returns for his senior season after playing in 22 games one year ago while Hunter Mix will also look to make an impact after sitting out the 2022 campaign.  On the other corner, Steve Haugh started 46 of 47 games at third base one year ago, leading the team with a .329 batting average with six home runs and 37 runs batted in.  His .454 on base percentage made him a threat every time he stepped to the plate.  Zack Mon will also look for some at bats at the hot corner this year.
 
The Gray Wolf middle infield is interchangeable with six players that will see time at either second base or shortstop.  Josh Hare and Caleb Dugan both batted about .280 last season and return for their senior and junior seasons respectively.  Michael Strzelewicz is another senior that is back and battling for time at second base.  Freshman A.J. Brinson along with transfers Joel Suraganan and Andrew Flowers will look to break into the lineup immediately as well.
 
In the outfield, Harrison Jackson is set for his senior season after hitting .284 last year where he was a mainstay in center.  Ryan Jagodzinski and Joey Oehlers both nearly batted .300 one year ago, giving Lourdes an experienced outfield.  Nick DiGennaro also will look for some time in the outfield along with newcomers Skylar Mays and Nick Zito.
 
Matt McEachern will look to be the team's designated hitter again this season after batting .309 with 15 runs batted in as a junior.
 
The pitching staff may be the key to the team's success as Bradford will look to his hurlers to keep them in each game.  The Gray Wolves return their top three starters from 2022, Wyatt Smith, Oehlers, and Caleb Loboschefski.  Oehlers had a team-high five victories while Loboschefski struck out a team-leading 37 hitters in 46.2 innings of work.  Bryn Biemiller is also back among the Gray Wolves' starting rotation as is Anderson Strunk.  Jake Boyd had the team's lowest ERA last year at 4.54 but is battling injury to begin the year while freshman left-hander Brenden Holland will also make a bid to enter the rotation.
 
Lourdes should have a strong bullpen as well.  Austin Ford, Braden Zuber, Jagger Geck, and Harrison Gargus combined for all the Gray Wolves' saves last season while Deion Kurtz and Spencer Rader both logged innings as well.  Newcomers Ryan Butler, Levi Hillard, and Riley McKinnon will also see innings on the hill in their first season wearing the terra cotta and black.
 
Lourdes will open the season Feb. 18-19 at Pikeville with a pair of doubleheaders as the team's first 11 games, and 19 of their first 21 will be played away from home.  The home opener at Mercy Field is set for March 18 when Indiana Tech visits for a doubleheader.
 
If the Gray Wolves can get solid pitching to go along with timely hitting, Lourdes has the potential for a successful season.  With just one WHAC tournament appearance in program history entering the season, the Gray Wolves would like nothing more than to double that number in 2023.