MOUND MEN
The 2021 season was a banner one for Gonzaga. The Bulldogs went 34-19, won the West Coast Conference and were the No. 2 seed in the Eugene Regional. It was by all measures, one of the most successful seasons in program history.
After the season, Gonzaga lost several key players from its lineup, including third baseman Brett Harris and shortstop Ernie Yake, who were both drafted in the top 10 rounds.
With 18 new players joining the roster, coach Mark Machtolf knew the Bulldogs would be young in 2022. A strong pitching staff would give them a chance, but returning to the heights of 2021 wouldn’t be easy, even as they entered 2022 as the WCC favorites.
“I felt the pitching was going to be strong,” Machtolf said. “We have 18 new players this year. We’re the youngest team in the league. I knew there was going to be a learning curve offensively.”
In many respects, Machtolf’s initial read of the 2022
