THE CHAPARRAL NINE
• LCU are playing their home opening series this weekend after three games on the road to start the 2019 season
• Chaps were 21-6 at home last season and are 99-30 there over the last five seasons
• Last time Lubbock Christian played Cameron was April 5, 2016 (midweek game)
• Lubbock Christian leads the Heartland Conference with four home runs
• Aggies are 3-1 after an opening weekend series at Texas A&M-International
• LCU batters leading off an inning are hitting .393 this season
• Chap starting pitchers have a combined ERA of just 1.80
• Lubbock Christian is 23-18 against Lone Star Conference opponents in the last five seasons
• Chaps are second in the Heartland Conference with 36 strikeouts as a pitching staff

FRIENDLY CONFINES

Lubbock Christian will play the first four of 22 scheduled home games in the 2019 season this weekend as they take on the Cameron Aggies. Originally dedicated on April 29, 1978 as Chaparral Stadium, the complex was renamed Hays Field in 1999 to honor the L.D., Pearl, Larry, and Daren Hays families for their dedication and commitment to the ideals and values of Lubbock Christian University. The playing dimensions of Hays Field measure 340 feet down the lines, 380 feet to the power alleys, and 400 feet to straight away center. LCU was 21-6 at home last season and is 99-30 in their own ballpark since the start of the 2014 season. 

HOT HITTING
Six of LCU's starting nine currently have batting averages above the .300 mark, including team leader Andrew Pratt, who had two hits in the series opener and has an overall batting average of .357. Pratt was the team leader in most offensive categories last year, batting average included. James Hardberger has the most hits this season with six, while Keaton Greenwalt's .688 slugging percentage leads the team. 

CAREER K'S
Ryan Johnson made his first start of the season last weekend and picked  up right where he left off in 2018. The Canada native was on the mound for six innings and gave up three runs, but struck out a carer-high 12 batters during that time. Johnson held opposing batters to an average of just .182 in that game. Johnson went 6-5 with a 3.30 ERA in 2018, striking out 59 batters on the season. 

SENIOR STARTERS

LCU's three-man starting rotation during the opening weekend of the 2019 season included three seniors on the mound. Ricky Contreras, the Opening Day starter, has been with the Chaps since his freshman year in 2016, while Callan Johnson and Ryan Johnson both joined the team last season after JUCO careers. The three starters combined for 20 innings pitched, 24 strikeouts and an ERA of just 1.80 with an opponent's batting average of .186.

STIRRING START

In Friday's 2019 season opener, the Chaps earned a win and did so in about the most exciting way you can win a baseball game -- a walkoff. LCU had struggled at the plate most of the game, recording only three hits (all singles) before the 10th inning. With one out though, Chase Whetsel doubled for the team's first extra-base hit. Andres Negron quickly followed with a double of his own to score Whetsel and win the game. 

2000 AND COUNTING

Since the inception of LCU's baseball program in 1971, the Chaparrals have been one of the best baseball teams at whatever level they were playing at. Lubbock Christian has played 3,075 games throughout all those years, posting an overall program record of 2,075 wins and 1,004 losses in that time for a winning percentage of .674.

HOMEGROWN PRODUCTS

Of the 33 players on the Lubbock Christian University baseball team this season, exactly one third (11) played high school baseball in Lubbock. Another three players on the 2019 of LCU's baseball team are from the surrounding area of Lubbock, including Idalou, New Deal and Shallowater. 

ROAD WARRIORS

The Chaps will play 18 of their first 23 games this season away from the friendly confines of Hays Field and City Bank Clubhouse, playing just one home series (vs. Cameron Feb. 8-10) and one midweek game (vs. New Mexico Highlands Feb. 19) before March 14. LCU was 13-14 in games away from Lubbock last season and is 72-60 in road or neutral site games over the last five seasons. 

COACHING CONSISTENCY

Lubbock Christian is bringing back the same three main coaches that have been with the team each of the last six seasons. Pitching coach Justin Sundlie, who played catcher at LCU in 2005 and 2006, is the newbie of the group, entering his seventh season with the Chaps, while head coach Nathan Blackwoodand hitting coach Bob Fannin have been leading the program for the last 15 seasons. Together, the group has led LCU to a pair of first place finishes in the Heartland Conference, two NCAA South Central Regional appearances and a 217-109 (.667) won-loss record. 

OUT OF THE PARK

Chap hitters did well at the plate in the 2018 season as the team averaged 9.7 hits and 6.4 runs per game while hitting .303 as a team. The offensive prowess, however, came from their power. LCU led the Heartland Conference in slugging percentage at .493 (27th in the nation), home runs with 63 (32nd in the nation) and doubles with 108 (29th nationally). 

PRESEASON PROWESS

With three players on the All-Heartland Conference Preseason Team, LCU was the conference leader. Catcher Andrew Pratt (2018 Heartland Defensive Player of the Year), reliever Chandler Casey (2018 All-Heartland Conference First Team) and outfielder Will Clark were all selected for the preseason honor. LCU was picked to finish No. 2 overall behind St. Edward's, but received the same number of first place votes (7) as the Hilltoppers. 

IN THE POLLS

LCU was recognized in a pair of national polls prior to the start of the 2019 season, including a No. 15 ranking from Perfect Game USA. In the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper preseason poll, the Chaps were selected as the 40th best team in the country, while the National College Baseball Writers Association top 25 did not include Lubbock Christian. The NCBWA did include LCU in its preseason South Central Regional poll, placing the Chaps in sixth place.