With last year’s heartbreak behind them, No. 16 Texas looks to forge another path to Omaha

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The sting of last season’s loss to Stanford in the super regionals is still there for some of the Texas Longhorns baseball team, but with the first official practice of the 2024 season Friday, the process of putting it behind them took a big step.

“That’s a chip on our shoulder,” third baseman Peyton Powell said, “but we just have a different identity than last year.”

Powell said he felt numb the entire summer after the 7-6 loss in Game 3 of the super regionals in Palo Alto, after a high fly ball that appeared to be routine got lost in the twilight sky and fell between outfielders allowing Stanford to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth inning and advance to the College World Series.

But that was then, and this is now. The Longhorns have a good core group coming back, and as head coach David Pierce put it, the destination in June is the same one every year.

“Our missions pretty clear cut and dry every single year. You know the destination is Omaha, Nebraska,” he said. “Not just to get there, but to position ourselves to have that opportunity. You want to be good at the beginning of the year so you can be great at the end of it.”

Pierce is taking over as the pitching coach this year as well, and he’ll have quite a starting rotation to roll out on the mound. Lebarron Johnson Jr., who was recently named the Big 12 preseason pitcher of the year, decided to come back rather than turn professional. Charlie Hurley figures to be in the mix to start a lot of games and the full return of Tanner Witt is expected. Pierce said Witt has been “outstanding,” since being shut down at the end of last season after some rough.

“The rough summer was probably a good sign for him and us because it allowed him to take a deep breath,” Pierce said. “He didn’t pitch in the fall because he needed to get his body right, but he’s in a really good spot right now.”

Texas pitcher Lebarron Johnson Jr. (57) throws the first pitch against Stanford during the first inning of an NCAA college baseball tournament super regional game in Stanford, Calif., Sunday, June 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)

Pierce said Cody Howard, a redshirt sophomore right-hander from The Woodlands, “has taken some big strides,” and should see some starts, along with lefties Luke Harrison and Chase Lummus.

Sophomore Jared Thomas will move to the outfield after spending most of last season at first base, and the addition of freshmen Will Gasparino and Tommy Farmer IV will help solidify the group patrolling UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Pierce said Seth Werchan, a transfer from Penn who is from Austin, and junior Casey Cummings could also see time in the outfield, along with sophomore Max Belyeu.

Around the infield is Powell at third, Jaylin Flores at shortstop and Jack O’Dowd at second base. Luke Storm, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound switch hitter who transferred from Duke, slugged .492 for the Blue Devils last season and Pierce said his bat should be a welcomed addition to the lineup and see time at first base.

Texas will play its first eight games at the friendly confines of the Disch, opening with a three-game series beginning Feb. 16 with San Diego. The Longhorns don’t play a true road game before Big 12 play begins but have huge matchups with Louisiana State and Vanderbilt in Houston as part of the Astros Foundation College Classic. The first time they’ll play on an opponent’s home field is March 8-10 when they open Big 12 play in Lubbock against Texas Tech.

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