With 29 new names on the roster this season, the fall campaign is, as always, a key time of preparation for the Weatherford College Coyote baseball team.

"With a lot of new faces on the offense it's an exciting time to coach," said Jeff Lightfoot, head baseball coach. "We get to start from ground zero establishing a hitting plan, find our identity. Our recruiting plan was to be really deep and athletic up the middle (catcher, middle infield, centerfield) and early on we are very pleased with this recruiting class."

The Coyotes are coming off a season in which they finished 31-23 overall and 14-18 in the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference, missing the postseason tournament.

Among the newcomers who could make an immediate impression, Lightfoot said, are outfielder Brandon Uhse from Mansfield, a transfer from Stephen F. Austin; infielder Brett Brown from Godley, a transfer from Texas A&M; infielder Eddie Calconzit from Blanco; and infielder Nate Rooney from Mansfield.

"Brandon started for SFA as a freshman, hitting in the middle of the order and compiling over 60 hits last season," Lightfoot said.

Key returners include right-handed pitcher Bryce Hackett (2-4, 4.72 ERA, 61 innings, 64 strikeouts), right-handed pitcher Michael Stanford, and infielder Hunter Rosson. Hackett and Rosson will join Uhse and sophomore right-handed pitcher John Breaux in the Junior College All-Star Games at Abilene Christian University on Sept. 27-28.

"We have several returners on the mound, but have added a lot of strong competition as well," Lightfoot said. "We wanted to add depth on the staff from the other side and we have done that with five new lefties in the mix, including 6-foot-5-inch, 215-pound Marco Martinez from Monterrey, Mexico; 6-8, 226-pound Karson Kite from Amarillo, and 6-7, 185-pound Cade Farr from Godley, who transferred from Texas Tech."

As usual, the Coyotes' fall schedule is filled with tough opponents, including a pair of games against NCAA Division I opponents. They host Murray State at 1 p.m. on Sept. 25 and travel to San Marcos to play Texas State on Oct. 19 at a time to be announced.

The Coyotes will also host their own WC Fall Tournament Sept. 20-22 where they will face Cisco at 10 a.m. and McLennan at 7 p.m. on Sept. 20, followed by games against Hill at 10 a.m. and Navarro at 7 p.m. on Sept. 22.

"Our tournament will feature some of Region V's finest," Lightfoot said.

In all, the Coyotes will play 15 fall games.