FAIRFIELD — Scott Stover hopes his 20th season as the head coach of the Solano Community College baseball team can be one of his best.
The Falcons open Friday with a three-game series that begins at home against Butte. Solano hasn't won a Bay Valley Conference championship since 2015 and Stover feels like it's as good a time as any to hang another banner.
"I think we're good enough to win the conference title," Stover said. "There's no reason we shouldn't."
Solano has a much-improved pitching staff and three returning all-BVC selections in the field who are potential Division I prospects. It's just a matter of finding the right pieces to fill out the starting lineup and how to balance the influx of arms.
"Our staff has done a phenomenal job of bringing the right guys in," Stover said. "Our strength is that starting pitching and our core big hitters. We still have to figure out the back end. This is a fun group and we're excited to get going."
The Falcons went 17-21 overall a season ago and 11-10 in the BVC. Solano tied for third in the conference race with Laney. Los Medanos was the champion at 18-3, followed by Marin at 17-4.
Stover's team finished three games out of the NorCal playoffs. That was amazing to Stover for a team that lacked depth and finished the season with "no pitching."
"We really had to piece things together at the end," Stover said.
Solano has three solid core players in sophomore center fielder Miles Meadows (Rodriguez), sophomore infielder Conner Ross (Napa) and sophomore pitcher-infielder Kevin Parker (Berkeley). All three earned all-BVC honors.
Meadows is a former Mustangs quarterback who didn't play baseball in high school. He finished the season with a .340 batting average to go with 17 doubles, three home runs and 20 stolen bases, while being a talented outfielder. Ross posted an impressive .405 batting average with 18 doubles and four home runs.
Parker hit .321 with 11 doubles and five RBIs. He also proved to be a reliable presence on the mound. Stover said he will close out games this season.
The Falcons are counting on sophomore pitcher Mateo Santos (Bethel) to be their top pitcher. He played at Napa Valley College two seasons ago. Sophomore Dylan Trammel (Benicia) could slide in to the No. 2 spot in the rotation. Freshman Peyton Czekalewski (Vintage) could also factor in. Sophomore Jacob Regeura (Armijo) should also be a factor on the mound.
Other pitchers on the roster include sophomore Karon Casey (De Anza), sophomore Jasper Dalton-Recht (El Cerrito) freshman Mark Graham (Will C. Wood), freshman Devon Hancock (Will C. Wood), sophomore Cash McCrory (Davis), sophomore Dylan Newman (Napa), freshman Rolando Ramos (Pioneer), freshman Ryne Richard (Armijo), sophomore Gregory Ryan (Will C. Wood), freshman Trevin Seifert (Vacaville) and freshman Tegan Wendt (American Canyon).
The Falcons will try and find some infielders among freshman Charlie Boyd (Cherokee Trail-Aurora, Colorado), freshman Cooper Dwyer (Dixon), sophomore Payton Harris (Miramonte), sophomore Braden Indelicato (River Valley), freshman Trevor Lesperance (Justin-Siena), Richard, freshman Aaron Strong (Rodriguez) and freshman Cameron Taylor (Napa). Those listed among the catching prospects are freshman JJ Dain (Spanish Springs, Sparks), sophomore Jake Rogers (Salesian) and Strong.
Stover has sophomore Joseph Guttmann (St. Patrick-St. Vincent) pinned in as the starting right fielder. Other outfielders who could pair with Meadows and Guttmann include freshman Davion Davenport (Vallejo), sophomore Joseph Guttmann (St. Patrick-St. Vincent), freshman Kai Koizumi (Will C. Wood), freshman Kyle Lewis (St. Anthony-Long Beach) and Ramos.
Stover's coaching staff includes Brian Guinn (second year), Kyle Stafford (second year), Brian Houle (first year) and Michelle Hobbs (first year).