Cullowhee, N.C. – The largest position group, both by design and necessity, for the Catamount baseball team is the pitching staff. Under the direction of second-year pitching coach Dusty White, Western Carolina has 24 players listed as pitchers, including 17 right-handers and seven left-handers.
 
The second of four position previews continues with the frontend of the battery after Monday's catcher preview, and will be followed by the position players, divided by infielders and outfielders, ahead of Friday's first scheduled meeting against George Washington University in #CatamountCountry.
 
Off the top, the Catamounts must deal with the loss of two underclassmen to the MLB from last year's roster. Dusty Revis was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 11th round before being dealt to Cincinnati in mid-January, and closer Brandon Langley, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Diego Padres in late July 2025. WCU also lost two arms with double-digit appearances in 2025 to graduation in Evan Langston and Cannon Pickell.
 
However, WCU has 10 returning pitchers from last season who recorded double-digit appearances on the mound, including four with multiple starts.
 
Highlighting the Catamount pitching staff are three preseason All-Southern Conference selections, including left-handed senior starter Davis Wright, a first-team selection, and left-handed senior relievers Owen Austin and Ryan White.
 
Wright started 15 games last season, tied for the team lead, finishing 5-7 overall with a 4.50 ERA over a team-best 86.0 innings. The Ridgeway, S.C., product led the Catamounts with a SoCon-best 88 strikeouts, which included a SoCon-leading 30 looking. Austin posted strikeouts in 20 of his 22 appearances, punching out 47 on the season over his 40 innings of work. The Easley, S.C., native went 3-2 with a 5.85 ERA, making 18 relief appearances and toed the rubber four times as a starter. White made 17 of his 60 career appearances last spring, 16 as a reliever and once in the starting role. He struck out an impressive 30 against just eight walks in 21.1 innings and is poised for a solid senior campaign.
 
Looking to make a second-year jump after a strong freshman season is hard-throwing right-hander Carter Burnette. The Asheville product made the third-most appearances last season with 21, 14 out of the bullpen before being inserted into the starting lineup – three in the midweek and his final four on the weekend. Burnette tossed 43.0 innings with a 5.65 ERA, striking out 30 against 18 walks.
 
WCU is expected to look to freshman LHP Evan Myers for a third weekend starter heading into opening weekend. A product of Denver, N.C., Myers was a three-time All-Catawba Shores Athletic Conference selection, posting an unblemished 12-0 record on the mound with a pair of saves and 186 strikeouts. He was the conference pitcher of the year as a junior before seeing his senior year on the mound cut short by injury.
 
Additional Catamount returning pitchers that saw double-digit outings last year are sophomore Jacob Arnberger (10 app., 15.1 IP), junior Davis Budd (11 app., 11.0 IP), redshirt sophomore Kaden Fuller (12 app., 12.2 IP), junior Griffin Guinther (15 app., 16.1 IP), redshirt junior Shane Huntsberger (17 app., 16.1 IP), and junior Josh Ossiander (16 app., 23.0 IP). Among those returners, Budd was named to the Valley Baseball League All-Star game over the summer, while Huntsberger had a tremendous preseason camp in limiting his teammates at the plate.
 
WCU's staff also includes returners in hard-throwing RHP Bryant Kimbrell and Winston-Salem product John Lobs, as well as returning redshirts Caden Haywood (Harrisburg, N.C.) and Colton Starling (Marshville, N.C. / Southeastern CC), who missed last season due to injury.
 
Through the transfer portal, WCU has added several arms that come with collegiate experience, including left-handed graduate transfer Scott Templeton (Newberry / Univ. of Charleston) and southpaw redshirt sophomore Trey Wheeler (South Carolina / UCF). Right-handed additions from the collegiate ranks include junior Mason Snyder (Berry College), junior James Fordham (Georgia Southwestern State), redshirt sophomore Bryce Davidson (Rockingham CC), and redshirt sophomore Caleb Williams (Rice).
 
Fordham was a second-team All-Peach Belt Conference selection last spring, who finished the year 7-2 after winning his first seven decisions, posting a 4.15 ERA over 78 innings. His 85 strikeouts were second on the squad. Fordham led the PBC with the lowest opposing batting average in conference play (.201) and ranked seventh in strikeouts (46).
 
White and the Catamount pitching staff also feature five total freshmen. Myers is joined by first-year arms Davis Jabaley (Dunwoody, Ga.), Tyler Oaks (Madisonville, Tenn.), Ryan Perzanowski (Fawn Grove, Pa.), and Deegan Randall (Cander, N.C.), each expected to see some time in the center of the diamond this spring.
 
The Catamounts open the season this weekend (Feb. 13-15) against first-time opponent George Washington at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.
 
Both season and single-game baseball tickets are on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office, located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and online any time at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets. Season tickets start at just $51 for adult general admission or $26 for youth general admission. Additional seating options include reserved field-level chair-back seats and upper-reserved chair-back seats under cover beneath the press box.

Fans can also purchase the "Baseball and Bo's Flex Tickets," presented by Bojangles of Sylva. This special flexible package includes 15 general admission ticket vouchers redeemable for any home baseball game and coupons for four FREE Cajun filet biscuits from Bojangles, all for just $50.
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount baseball and WCU Athletics through social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountBSB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountbsb).
 

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Catamount Pitching Staff:
9 – Kaden Fuller, R-So., RHP (King, N.C.)
10 – Evan Myers, Fr., LHP (Denver, N.C.)
12 – Ryan White, Sr., LHP (Randleman, N.C.)
17 – Shane Huntsberger, R-Jr., RHP (Coral Springs, Fla.)
19 – Josh Ossiander, So., RHP (Northampton, Pa.)
20 – Jacob Arnberger, So., LHP (Atlanta, Ga.)
21 – Colton Starling, R-So., RHP (Marshville, N.C.)
22 – Carter Burnette, So., RHP (Asheville, N.C.)
25 – Mason Snyder, Jr., RHP (Ocilla, Ga.)
26 – Davis Budd, Jr., RHP (Acworth, Ga.)
28 – James Fordham, Jr., RHP (Chester, Ga.)
31 – Davis Wright, Sr., LHP (Ridgeway, S.C.)
32 – Griffin Guinther, Jr., RHP (Roswell, Ga.)
33 – Owen Austin, Jr., LHP (Easley, S.C.)
35 – Bryant Kimbrell, So., RHP (West End, N.C.)
37 – Bryce Danielson, R-So., RHP (Fletcher, N.C.)
40 – Davis Jabaley, Fr., RHP (Dunwoody, Ga.)
41 – Trey Wheeler, R-So., LHP (Indialantic, Fla.)
42 – Ryan Perzanowski, Fr., RHP (Fawn Grove, Pa.)
43 – Deegan Randall, Fr., RHP (Candler, N.C.)
44 – Caden Haywood, R-So., RHP (Bethlehem, N.C.)
48 – John Lobs, So., RHP (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
49 – Scott Templeton, Gr., LHP (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.)
50 – Tyler Oaks, Fr., RHP (Madisonville, Tenn.)
Gavin Maines, So., LHP (Yadkinville, N.C.) *expected to miss the season due to injury