Oklahoma City University recruited a large group of newcomers hungry to build on the baseball program's rich tradition.
Oklahoma City comes off two consecutive 50-win seasons and appearances in the NAIA World Series. The 2018 Stars went 51-10, reeled in the NAIA Championship Opening Round title and Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season championship and produced four professionals.
OCU continues to have the most victories in college baseball since 1991 with 1,387. The Stars own 16 trips to the World Series and 15 50-win seasons.
The Stars open the season 2 p.m. Friday against Grand View (Iowa). Follow OCU throughout the season via live video, audio or stats  here. Get a baseball season pass for $54.95.
Not only did OCU lead the NAIA in runs scored, runs batted in per game, slugging percentage and triples last year, but the Stars also ranked seventh in earned run average. OCU returns key pitchers off last year's team.
Ace starting pitcher Bryce Milligan and key relief pitchers Tanner Andrews and Tyler Milligan figure to have major roles once again.
"Right now I'd say the strength of the ballclub is the pitching staff," said OCU coach Denney Crabaugh, whose record stands at 1,453-446-2 with the 2005 national title through 30 years. "Those three guys are quality guys who have been through the ropes and shown they can help us win ballgames at the NAIA level and the national level. We've added some other pitchers. All guys will figure prominently in our plans as far as pitching is concerned."
Bryce Milligan, a junior right-hander from Blanchard, Okla., posted a 10-2 record with a 2.33 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 81 inning pitched last year. He has a 13-2 career mark.
Andrews, a senior righty from Asher, Okla., went 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA and seven saves in 2018. Andrews came through with a complete-game shutout to propel the Stars into the World Series.
Tyler Milligan, a senior righty from Wagoner, Okla., had a 1-1 mark, 2.81 ERA and five saves last year. He has earned 11 saves during his OCU career.
A closer look at the Stars:

Returners 

Elliott Cary and Quinton Walbergh provide experience in the OCU lineup. Those two made 87 starts on a senior-laden lineup in 2018. Cary, a senior outfielder from Niceville, Fla., produced a .302 batting average with nine doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 34 RBIs and nine stolen bases. Walbergh, a senior infielder-outfielder from Edmond, Okla., put together a .288 average, 13 doubles, two triples, six homers and 33 RBIs a year ago.
Caleb Davis started seven times in the outfield last season. Davis, a junior from Yukon, Okla., hit .350 with nine RBIs while making several pinch-hit appearances. Dillon Goddard, a sophomore from El Reno, Okla., has regularly made appearances as a courtesy runner.
Kolin Marley, a junior right-hander from Norman, Okla., supplied a 3-1 record, 2.95 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 21.1 innings last year. Marley made one start.
Caleb Evans, Seth Jones, Daxton Marley and Evan Maun expect to vie for roles after sitting out last year as redshirts. Jones, a sophomore from El Reno, Okla., provided depth at catcher as a freshman. Marley, a senior from Norman, Okla., came to OCU from Mid-America Christian.

Pitching  

OCU brought in several newcomers to round out its pitching staff. Justin Berry, a junior left-hander from Union City, Calif., served as the closer for College of San Mateo (Calif.), racking up eight saves with a 1.29 ERA.
Brandon Goldston, a junior right-hander from Leedey, Okla., went 7-1 with a 4.84 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 57.2 innings for Connors State.
Chris Goldston, a freshman righty from Leedey, Okla., played on four state championship teams in high school.
Dylan Grove transferred to OCU from the University of Oklahoma. Grove, a senior right-hander from Moore, Okla., had a 6-5 mark, 4.16 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 97.1 innings pitched for the Sooners.
Jake Patterson, a junior left-hander from Ardmore, Okla., closed out games for Eastern Oklahoma State, collecting nine saves with a 2.87 ERA.
The Stars brought in freshman recruits from Oklahoma in Chris Bennefield (Owasso, Okla.) and Spencer Flatt (Ardmore, Okla.) and Kansas in Connor Thomson (Olathe, Kan.).

Position players

Oklahoma City added to its returning core with many newcomers. John Anthon, a junior catcher from Dublin, Calif., provided Diablo Valley (Calif.) with a .253 average, one homer and 10 RBIs.
Noah Barks, a freshman infielder from Mustang, Okla., brings speed.
Peyton Crispin, a sophomore outfielder from Lookeba, Okla., hit .360 with a homer, 19 RBIs and nine steals for Connors State last year.
Garrett Horton, a junior from Edmond, Okla., provided depth for Connors.
Bryson Lierle, a junior infielder from Altus, Okla., had a .293 average with four homers and 31 RBIs for Northeastern A&M.
Dylan Taylor, a junior catcher from Tulsa, Okla., hit .247 with 13 RBIs for NEO.
Tyler Williams, a junior outfielder from Peoria, Ariz., showed pop at Arizona State with a .235 average, five homers and 28 RBIs as a sophomore there.
OCU added freshman recruits from Oklahoma in Grant Harrison (Jones, Okla.), Jared Hazeldine (Norman, Okla.) and Hunter Hughes (Tuttle, Okla.) and Texas in Joseph Garza (Spring, Texas), Michael Spetter (Grapevine, Texas) and Tristan Williams (Southlake, Texas). 

The Stars enter 2019 at No. 8 in the preseason NAIA top 25 and the favorite to win the SAC title. OCU will spend the early portion of the season acclimating its new faces with the returners.
"Those guys who are going to have to perform for us," Crabaugh said. "It's going to depend heavily on those guys carrying the load and some of the guys we have coming in. We'll know a lot more halfway through the season."