As Washington State Baseball prepares to embark on their 2018 season, the team is excited to debut team captains for the first time under head coach Marty Lees.
 
"It was time for a leadership council to lead this team," said Lees, who enters his third-year leading the Cougs.
 
After a team vote, the five leaders chosen were; senior left-handed pitcher Cody Anderson, senior outfielder Derek Chapman, senior left-handed pitcher Scotty Sunitsch, junior infielder Andres Alvarez, and senior outfielder Blake Clanton.
 
Anderson, of Marysville, Wash., transferred from Bellevue Community College in Bellevue, Wash. to play for the Cougars last season. He says his passion for baseball is derived from his grandfather.
 
"I pitch with my grandpa's handkerchief in my back pocket everyday," Anderson said. 
 
Anderson says being named captain is his biggest accomplishment. Being one of the older players, he's not afraid to be honest and serve as a mentor for the other players. Anderson tied for the team lead with five wins last season.
 
Chapman, of Issaquah, Wash., was another player excited to be named captain. He says though he played many sports growing up, baseball has always been his favorite.
 
"It's a huge honor to be a captain for this team," Chapman said.
 
Chapman says he wants to be a good example of a leader for the team. He enjoys being around his teammates and loves making new friends every year. Chapman has appeared in 110 games during his career and scored the game-winning run to beat Oregon last season.
 
Sunitsch, of Federal Way, Wash., started playing baseball when he was three-years-old, inspired by his uncle who played in the minor leagues.
 
"He helped me build the confidence to get to the next level," Sunitsch said, "I want to help these guys do the same."
 
Sunitsch says he wants to show the team what it means to be a leader during his reign as captain, wanting to help build better communication and be a person the younger teammates look up to. Sunitsch is tied for ninth in WSU history with 71 career appearances and nine career saves. 
 
Alvarez, of San Diego, Calif., is the youngest of the five captains. He came to play for WSU last season as a sophomore after transferring from Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colo.
 
"I want to use being captain to show younger guys what should be done on and off the field," Alvarez said.
 
Alvarez comes from a family of baseball players who have inspired him to play baseball since he was five-years-old. A definite goal of his this season is to bring leadership to the team. Alvarez earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention last season after leading the team with 60 hits and second with a .308 batting average.
 
Clanton, of Clinton, Okla., transferred from Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, Okla. to play for WSU his junior year.
 
"My biggest goal as captain is to install the mindset to push through tough times," Clanton said.
 
Clanton says that he hopes to lead as an example to the team that overcoming obstacles is part of what it takes to create a leader. He says he looks up to players like Ken Griffey Jr. as inspiration and a role model.  Clanton recorded three home runs, nine doubles, two triples, and drove in 19 runs last season.
 
Lees was proud and excited to induct captains to his team this year. He hopes this group understands the honor their position holds, projecting a sense of pride, respect, and trust.
 
The five leaders are ready to serve as role models for their team and to set a high bar as the first captains to take over the WSU baseball team.
 
 "These guys are a very hard working group," said Lees. "We strive to be champions in everything that we do."