Troy University Athletics
Johnson's Journal - Meier & Cavill Back for More in 2026
2/9/2026 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - Troy University centerfielder Steven Meier doesn't mince his words when asked about the potential of this year's team.
"Oh, this is an Omaha team," Meier says of the College World Series site. "We can win the national championship this year. I've never been more excited for a team.
"It gives me goosebumps thinking about it. I go to bed thinking about it, I dream about it, we talk about it all the time. We can see it; we can feel it."
There certainly is reason for optimism on a Troy baseball team which returns a strong nucleus and has added impressive signees by way of transfers and incoming freshmen.
"I think we return seven or eight hitters from our starting lineup last year," first baseman Blake Cavill said. "Having that already is incredible, and then bringing the new guys in."
Meier and Cavill, both seniors a year ago, are taking advantage of their extra year of eligibility after helping the Trojans to a 39-21 record last season.
"It always boils down to winning," Meier said of his decision to return. "I want to go to Omaha (CWS); I want to win the conference. I had no thought of leaving this place at all."
Cavill didn't hesitate when asked his top reason for putting off going pro for a final year with the Trojans.
"Skylar Meade," Cavill said of the Trojans' head baseball coach. "He's one of the best communicators I've ever had. He'll outwork anybody on our team out on the field.
"He's a genius. He helps the pitchers out and even helps the hitters out with the mental game and all of that. Without him, we're nothing."
The Trojans picked up 23 newcomers via the transfer portal, junior college ranks and incoming freshmen to go along with 13 returners, such as proven standouts like Meier, Cavill, Sean Darnell and Jimmy Janicki.
"They're coming to Troy because it's an elite culture; it's an elite place to play," Meier said of the new additions. "They know it's a culture they've got to buy into just as much as they know they've got to accept it."
Meier and Cavill understand that mindset after both transferred to Troy before last season - Meier from Old Dominion and Cavill from Western Kentucky.
"Most of the guys from the portal are older guys, so they've been around a few years and know what a locker room is supposed to be like," Cavill said. "Then some of them actually are leaders on our team, like Zack Crotchfelt, Dylan Alonso, Aaron Piasecki. They're newcomers, but it feels like they've been here for years already. The team is clicking really well early."
The Troy allure
Meier, a native of Kennewick, Wash., was searching for a new school following his junior season at Old Dominion and sent a text message to Troy assistant coach Ben Wolgamot to let the Trojans know of his interest.
"I was looking into this place before I even delved into the portal, because I really, really respected the culture," Meier said.
While Meier didn't play against Troy while at Old Dominion, he respected the program from afar.
"I never really knew of them except for that 2024 year when they swept Coastal (Carolina) at Coastal and then won the series at home against Louisiana when they were the first place team," Meier said.
"So, you kind of see how they play a little bit … they hit a lot of doubles; they're really this hard-nosed team … and that really influenced me to look into the program and be excited about it.
"It was the same culture that I was looking for out of my junior college year when I got my scholarship dropped from Oregon, that I was like, 'OK, I want to find a really gritty mid-major that has a lot of fun and works really hard.'
"Everything I found here is what I wanted to find when I was looking for a Division-I school. I've never seen a team be so much like how I thought they would be like."
Cavill, a native of Sydney, Australia, who played two years at Northwest Florida State and one at WKU before landing at Troy, was targeted by the Trojans' coaching staff once he became available.
"The second I hopped in the portal, they were messaging me straight away," Cavill said. "I took a visit here, the weather is always beautiful. I'm a warm weather player and it doesn't get cold here too often, so that helped. I love Troy. It's the place to be."
To keep things even more lively around the team, Cavill has a pet tarantula named Blueberry.
"I brought it to a few games, actually," Cavill said of the spider with a bluish color. "I brought it to the locker room before the game in its cage. One time it did get out. That was a scary time, but we managed to capture it," he chuckled.
Setting the tone
Like a year ago, Meier and Cavill will be counted on to set the tone offensively by their uncanny ability to reach base no matter what it takes.
For example, Meier ranked seventh nationally last season in hit-by-pitches with 29, which set a Troy single-season record.
"You buy into the program, and the program is don't move," Meier said of his penchant for getting hit in the batter's box. "Even at times you're almost moving … not into it … but you're moving with it, you know? Just because the ball is coming at your face, you can leave your arm out and move your face."
Meier reached base in 56-of-57 games while hitting for a .300 average with 24 stolen bases, which ranked third in the Sun Belt Conference.
"In my mind, there's no way they can keep me off the base at all," Meier said with confidence. "Like, there's going to be a mistake because they are college pitchers. They're going to leave one over the heart of the plate, or they're going to walk me, or they're going to hit me.
"The only time I'm going to fail at our goal to score runs is when I over-do myself and that hurts the team. It's always about doing just exactly what you need to do."
Cavill was equally effective getting on base for the Trojans.
He ranked third nationally and tied Jorge Soto (1999) for Troy's single season in walks with 65, along with reaching base safely in all 58 games. He hit for a .320 average with 11 home runs and 50 RBIs.
"Just being disciplined, you know?" Cavill said of the walks. "I had Brooks Bryan batting behind me most of the time, so that helped me out a lot. If I get on base we win, and that was really my thought process."
Cavill said he didn't really think about the accomplishment of getting on base every game until deep in the season.
"Not until about game 37 or 38, I saw something and I thought, 'Oh, that's pretty cool,' and then I forgot and then I saw something about game 45-46 … and then I started thinking about it," Cavill said. "At the end of the season and the last game when I finally did, I thought, 'That's a pretty cool accomplishment.'"
Looking ahead to the fast-approaching season, Cavill keeps a simple mindset.
"Our goal is always Omaha," Cavill said of making it to the World Series. "That's the number one goal, but we've got to take it game-by-game."
Troy opens the season Feb. 13-15 in Macon, Ga., against Mercer before beginning its home slate Feb. 20-22 with a series against Campbell.
