WISE, Va. - - Entering his 23rd season at the helm of the baseball program at his alma mater, Hank Banner has one of his more experienced clubs during his tenure at UVa-Wise. Overall, the 2019 Highland Cavaliers return 20 letter winners from last season's squad that posted a 16-16 mark in Mountain East Conference play despite being besieged by injuries.

Picked to finish in a tie for fourth place in the MEC South, UVa-Wise will rely heavily on its experience, specifically in its pitching staff when the team begins the season Saturday at King University.

Junior right hander Greg Duncan posted a breakout 2018 campaign. The 6-foot-2, Centreville, Va. native posted a 5-4 record with a 2.25 ERA over 13 appearances last spring en route to Honorable Mention All-MEC acclaim. The hurler tossed four complete games while adding a pair of saves in 60 innings of work. In total, Duncan fanned 45 hitters while holding opposing hitters to a .227 batting average.

Expected to join Duncan in the starting rotation is redshirt senior Landon Faulkner. Yet to throw a pitch in a Cavalier uniform, the righty missed all of 2018 with an injury after transferring from the University of Arizona. Known for his superb control, the Kennesaw, Ga. product is a four-pitch arm that knows how to pitch and is regarded as having the club's best changeup.

Sophomore RJ Vanvickle returns for his second season of collegiate baseball after a stellar freshman campaign. The 6-foot-4 right hander made 10 starts in 2018, claiming three mound victories. The Fredericksburg, Va. native finished second on the staff in innings pitched with 53 while his 37 strikeouts also ranked second on the team. Vanvickle has worked over the offseason to improve his changeup while his slider remains his best pitch.

The final spot in the weekend rotation is open as the team prepares for its season opener, freshmen Jacob Stuart and Devin Mathis will join redshirt Junior Trevor Nevill and sophomore Jake Osburn as those competing for the final weekend spot.

A right-hander from Galax, Va., Stuart is a three-pitch arm that is known for his solid control and mound demeanor. Stuart's success will lie in his ability to adjust to the collegiate game, his slider is his best pitch.

Mathis has shown an ability to compete while having a fastball with good movement since reaching campus in the fall. A 5-foot-10 right-hander, Mathis (Roper, N.C.) has plus command and an improving changeup.

Nevill presents the option for Banner and veteran pitching coach Doug Bates of having a southpaw in the rotation. Recovering from injury, Neville has worked to add a cutter to his repertoire to go with his fastball, changeup and slider. The 5-foot-11 Hoover, Ala. native must command his fastball to work his way into the weekend rotation.

Osburn made nine appearances and six starts a freshman. The 6-foot-4 righty began the year by allowing just four earned runs in his first 12 collegiate innings before showing fatigue down the stretch. Known for his deceptive delivery, the Great Falls, Va. product must develop his secondary pitches to sustain long term success as a starter.

In the bullpen, the team should receive a boost from a healthy Nate Thompson who is slated to anchor the unit as the club's closer. An all-league performer as a freshman, Thompson (Wise, Va.) will be counted on to pitch high leverage innings for the Cavaliers throughout the spring. Back healthy, the 6-foot-3 right-hander has plus velocity, good fastball command and a wipeout slider. In 2017, he posted a 1.65 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 32 2/3 innings of work. Opponents hit just .207 against Thompson has he made nine appearances, claimed two wins, two saves and hurled a complete game.

Sophomore Jimmy Vanosdale has the ability to join Thompson as a lethal backend after posting a solid inaugural collegiate season. The Rockwood, Tenn. native posted a 3.68 ERA overt 22 innings of work while holding a 3-1 mound record in 2018. Vanosdale fanned 16 hitters against five walks as he made 14 appearances all out of the bullpen. The 6-foot-2 righty possess the ability to throw multiple innings on back-to-back days and the ability to close games.

The most experienced bullpen arm is senior right-hander Kellen Larkin. Slated to pitch in middle relief the 6-foot-2 Larkin (Christiansburg, Va.) earned a save over league foe Glenville State College last spring while tallying a 1-1 mound record.

Redshirt junior Dylan Luttrell (Woodford, Va.) along with redshirt sophomore Will Stamper (Lebanon, Va.) are working to return to form after battling injuries last season. Both right-handers should see time in middle relief.

Freshman Jeremiah Ball (Kingsport, Tenn.) impressed the coaching staff during the fall and has made the club as a walk-on. A 6-foot, 180 pound righty, Ball showed an ability to compete with a high baseball acumen along with a well-timed changeup.

Fellow freshman Garrett Stiltner (Johnson City, Tenn.) also had a solid fall and has the ability to pitch in relief or as a starter. A three-pitch pitcher with a high ceiling, the 5-foot-10 righty could also be used in a one inning role.

Known for his submarine delivery, freshman Tyler Hayes (Knoxville, Tenn.) had success getting out right-handed hitters in the fall. The righty pitcher has improved since arriving to campus and his unorthodox delivery should provide him an opportunity to see time this spring.

Louisa, Va.'s Ethan Fletcher could also see time in the outfield for the Cavaliers this spring. A right-hander who transferred to the program after one year at Danville Community College, Fletcher pitches from multiple arm angles and is known for his plus slider.

Sophomore Anthony Wertz made seven relief appearances as a freshman where he struck out four hitters in seven innings of work. The Blue Ridge, Va. native is a hard worker who gets outs by relying on his control.

Freshman Josh Thomas could be the bullpen's lone left-handed reliever. Brother of senior David Thomas, the younger brother is a two-sport athlete at UVa-Wise where he also plays on the school's basketball team. Thomas has improved immensely over the spring and has a big upside. His role on the club will depend a lot on how quickly he can catch back up to speed after joining the team at the conclusion of basketball season.

This year's infield is one of the more experienced groups the program has had since making the move to NCAA Division II.

Junior Tyler Blaum (Mechanicsville, Va.) is back behind the plate after making 79 starts over his first two seasons. The 6-foot-2, 195 pounder has worked to put on muscle to increase endurance which has also led to a quicker bat. The team's top returning hitter for average, Blaum lined 10 extra-base hits as part of a sophomore season that saw him line 43 hits en route to a .333 average. Senior Cal Bailey (Suffolk, Va.) will float around the diamond as a true utility player but will see time at catcher. A year ago, he hit .273 with a double to go with his solid receiving skills.

The team also has sophomore Ryan Patrick (Lebanon, Va.) and Tyler Hardeman (Pensacola, Fla.) as options behind the plate. Patrick is more a defensive catcher who is known as a superb blocker while Hardeman is more of an offensive catcher that has gap-to-gap power.

At first base, seniors Brock Smith (Amissville, Ga.) and Gabe Wurtz (Deatsville, Ala.) will be in the mix for playing time in a variety of roles. Both players have the ability to play first base or DH while Wurtz could also see time in centerfield. A year ago, Smith led the team with 15 extra-base hits as part of a junior season that saw him post a .476 slugging percentage. Wurtz, a West Georgia University transfer, is a power bat that has an above average arm and presents a big throwing target at first base.

Second base will be manned by fifth-year senior Brett Yates. An all-conference performer earlier in his career, Yates is back healthy after dealing with injuries over parts of the last two seasons. An improved stick that should present gap-to-gap power for Yates should expand is his offensive game. Slated to hit near the top of the order, the Lynchburg, Va. product led the team with 51 hits while scoring 28 runs in 46 starts as a junior. Redshirt freshman Bret Roberts could also see time at second base which would provide diversity to the lineup as Yates would move to the outfield. A nifty baserunner, Roberts (Cumming, Ga.) also handles the bat well and is a good contact man at the plate.

Two-year starter Jordon Turner (Berryville, Va.) is back at shortstop after making the move to the position from centerfield. A high energy guy, Turner played in 45 games as a sophomore where he produced a trio of multi-hit games. Freshman Isaac Whitehead (Bristol, Tenn.) should also see time at shortstop. An athletic player with tremendous upside, Whitehead has a plus arm and is working to catch up to the speed of the collegiate game.

A pair of juniors, transfer Tristan Peccerelli (Vienna, Va.) and Dawson Cagle (Seagrove, N.C.) will play third base. Peccerelli transferred to the program after playing two seasons at Danville Community College while Cagle was the team's most productive power bat before being injured last spring. A good defensive third baseman, Peccerelli also has the ability to be a middle of the order bat that can be a counted on run-producer. A switch hitter, Cagle can also DH and has worked hard to get in shape. As a sophomore he smashed a team high six homers in 74 at bats while boasting a team-leading 1.103 OPS.

Older Thomas brother, David is slated to hold down the left field position. A senior, the Goodview, Va. native is physically stronger and has improved outfield defense. Also a DH candidate, David Thomas belted five homeruns and seven doubles as a junior. Sophomore Hunter Brown (Abingdon, Va.) could see time as a late inning defensive replacement or as a pinch runner. Brown has plus speed and a plus arm which allow him to be a vital asset to the team's success.

In right field, two-year starter Matthew Branham (Wise, Va.) has improved at tracking balls off the bat and has one of the team's best outfield arms. At the plate, Branham led the team with 11 doubles as a sophomore in 2018 while sporting a .372 OBP. Senior Matthew Church (Atlanta, Ga.) can play a corner outfield spot and has the ability to be a valuable bat off the bench. A good clubhouse guy, Church has improved his bat speed which should pay dividends this spring.

Schedule wise, things will not be easy for Banner's boys. UVa-Wise is slated to play 16 consecutive road games to begin the year before opening home play on March 23 against MEC North Division member Notre Dame College. Overall, the Cavs are scheduled to play 16 games at Stallard Field this spring.