ARLINGTON, Texas - Just two years removed from a berth in the SBC Tournament championship game, a slew of returning arms and a seasoned lineup have the UT Arlington Mavericks poised to build on a 24-win season in 2015 as they prepare for the 2016 season opener against nationally-ranked Oklahoma State.

This is the second in a six-part series previewing the 2016 Mavericks, position by position, leading up to the Feb. 19 opener at Clay Gould Ballpark.

CORNER INFIELDERS
Returners: Jerame Littell, Christian Hollie, Easton Johnson
Newcomers: Noah Vaughn, Colton Turner

UT Arlington will have plenty to replace at the corners this season, but with Christian Hollie transitioning back to the infield as a sophomore and a plethora of depth at first base, UT Arlington coach Darin Thomas looks to have plenty of options heading into 2016.

Graduation, the MLB Draft and injuries all victimized the corners of the infield for the Mavs last year with no greater void entering this season than the replacement of first baseman Levi Scott. A 28th-round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays following last year, Thomas will have to find a way to replace Scott's team-best seven home runs and 49 RBI.

"We didn't have a lot of depth last year, and there was a time that Levi [Scott] missed a five-game stretch and that killed us," Thomas said at UTA's annual media day on Tuesday. "He was second in the conference in RBI despite missing five games."

Meanwhile, injuries forced plenty of reshuffling in both the infield and outfield last year with senior Eric Tate getting most of the reps at third base. Those injuries also forced Hollie, an infielder by trade, into the outfield as a true freshman.

"One of the things people don't realize is last year, we played Christian Hollie and RJ Williams in the outfield and they're infielders," Thomas said. "We had some injuries, Caleb Koedyker had to get knee surgery in the spring. Derek Miller signed, Ryan Bottger signed, so we were short-handed."

However, a year of seasoning at the plate and the off-season return of outfield depth has him poised to move back into the infield as a sophomore and take over duties at the hot corner.

He has plenty of prep experience on the infield, having earned district Utility Player of the Year honors as a junior at Keller Fossil Ridge HS, while also earning a team gold glove and all-district honors in his final three years.

"Christian is an interesting guy for us. He's athletic, hard-working and had a lot of big roles for us as a freshman," coach Darin Thomas said. "He and RJ Williams had to move to the outfield because we had some injuries and we had some departures because of the draft, but we are going to move them back to the infield this year. We are looking for him to make a step up at the plate and be a terror on the bases."

He got into 53 games, starting 50, in his first season as a Maverick and used his athleticism to make a smooth switch into the outfield. Hollie hit .269 last year and showed some pop with the bat, picking up 10 doubles and three triples while finishing fourth on the team with 28 runs scored.

But Hollie could be firing across the diamond to a number of different players at first base. Freshman Noah Vaughn comes into the year with high expectations from the coaching staff as an athletic left-handed bat, while right-handers Jerame Littell, Colton Turner and Easton Johnson are all expected to get reps as well.

Meanwhile, Vaughn joins the squad after hitting .400 as a senior and leading Conroe's College Park HS (TX) to the Class 6A regional quarterfinals. He was named Montgomery County MVP and brings enough athleticism to not only play at first, but also at a corner outfield position.

"Noah is a very good freshman left-handed bat who is athletic enough for us also to stick him in the outfield," Thomas said. "He runs well and has the potential to be a really good hitter. We feel good about having in our program and he had a good fall for a freshman."

Littell hit .221 with a home run in 33 games in 2015 and with a 6-3, 210-pound frame, gives the Mavericks a right-handed option and possible power potential that Thomas and the staff will be looking for from a senior at first base.

Thomas likes what he saw out of Littell in the fall and feels as though the senior has made plenty of strides both offensively and defensively. He saw time in right field a year ago with Levi Scott primarily manning first base, but will be competing for playing time at first this season.

The Mavs also brought in Colton Turner from Weatherford College as someone who could see time at first or third base, or as an option at designated hitter from the right side. Turner originally enrolled at TCU as a freshman out of Round Rock HS (TX) before transferring to Weatherford where he was a teammate with fellow current Maverick Quintin Rohrbaugh.

"We are going to slide him over from third base," Thomas said. "He had 20-plus doubles for Weatherford College and came in as a third baseman in the fall and if he hits he's got a chance to play first, DH or possibly play in the outfield."

At Weatherford he earned first team all-league honors as a sophomore, hitting .376 with 23 doubles, nine home runs and 59 RBI for a team that was ranked as the top junior college team in the nation at one point during the year.

2016 Season Preview Schedule:
Jan. 25 - Outfielders
Jan. 28 - Corner Infield
Feb. 1 - Middle Infield
Feb. 4 - Catchers/DH
Feb. 8 - Relief Pitching
Feb. 11 - Starting Pitching