Stanford shortstop Nico Hoerner (Aaron Fitt)

Surging Stanford Pieces It Together

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Back in the fall, Stanford coach Mark Marquess was brimming with optimism about his team’s prospects heading into his 41st and final season on the Farm. He was confident that his offense was poised to take a big step forward after struggling in 2016, and he said his roster was deeper than it had been in years, both on the diamond and on the mound. And of course, he had a pair of premium talents book-ending his pitching staff in ace Tristan Beck and closer Colton Hock.

As it turned out, that depth was put[…]