2010 Walsh University Baseball Outlook
As the Cavs prepare for the 2010 season, veteran coach Tim Mead looks around the diamond at plenty of familiar faces. This, he hopes, will be a springboard to a playoff run and successful season. Walsh returns 18 letter winners, with only a few holes to fill. Walsh finished 20-26 overall and 14-18 in the American Mideast Conference, missing post season play for the second straight year.
INFIELD: The Cavs infield will have a few new faces around the horn. Former All-AMC First-Team infielder Mike Suliks (Sr., Norton, OH/HS) will again handle the duties at shortstop. He made the successful transition from second base last year, hitting a team-best .371 with ten doubles and 28 RBI. He was selected second-team on the All-AMC Team. Suliks more than demonstrated his ability to make the play in the hole and cover ground up the middle. He is the only returning starter in the infield. Dave Krusinski (Fr., Cuyahoga Falls, OH/HS) will provide left-handed hitting punch at first base. Krusinki sat out last year to concentrate on academics, but is focused and ready to contribute this spring. He earned first-team all-league honors twice at Woodridge. Canadian Matt Spillman (Fr., Welland, Ontario/Sir Winston Churchill), a former three-time high school MVP is the front-runner to start at second base, while also backing-up Suliks at short. There will also be a new face at the hot corner, as freshmen Trevor Smith (Parma, OH/Holy Name) and Tim Stinson (Alliance, OH/Marlington) will challenge at third base. Both were outstanding hitters at their respective schools and all-conference performers. Stinson will also provide depth at second. Veteran Cory Turkovich (Jr., Carrollton, OH/HS) will provide depth and challenge at second base, with Ronnie Harris (Jr., Canton, OH/Alpha Omega Academy) at first base. Despite the lack of experience in the infield, the Cavs are quite satisfied with what they have around the diamond.
OUTFIELD: The Cavs outfield is deep and talented. Veterans fill all three positions, with competent reserves in the wings. Mark Kelly (Sr., Norton, OH/HS) returns to centerfield, after shifting to leftfield last year. A second-team All-AMC performer as a sophomore and honorable mention selection last year, Kelly is again expected to hit in the two-hole. A solid contact hitter, Kelly hit a .318 last year with two doubles and 34 runs scored. Kelly was also an AMC Rawlings Gold Glove Winner. Marc Miller (Jr., Hudson, OH/HS/Bowling Green) will start in right field for the second straight season. Miller hit .314 last year, starting 45 games, with seven doubles, two homeruns and 27 RBI. He also stole five bases in five attempts. Look for Miller to possible hit lead-off. Dustin Lancy (Jr., Cuyahoga Falls, OH/HS) gets the nod in leftfield. The versatile Lancy, one of three Cavaliers to start and play in all 46 games (22 DH, 22 OF, 2 1B), is looking forward to seeing full-time duty in the outfield. He earned second-team All-AMC honors at designated hitter last year, with 29 RBI, nine doubles, three homeruns, two triples and a lofty .348 average. Lancy should hit fourth or fifth in the line-up. He also led the Cavs with 21 walks and was hit by a pitch 10 times. Justin Miller (So., Berlin, OH/HS), the courtesy runner deluxe, will challenge and supply depth in centerfield. Veterans Dominic Palumbo (So., Westerville, OH/South) and Jordan Tucker (Jr., University Heights, OH/Cleveland Heights) will supply depth, along with freshman Steve Wido (Fr., North Royalton, OH/Padua Franciscan). The Cavs outfield is outstanding defensively and at the plate. Look for all three starters to have big seasons. They will be one of the keys to the Cavs’ success.
CATCHING: Senior Duston Walter (Malvern, OH/HS) returns to handle the Cavs staff. The reliable veteran, a first-team all-conference catcher in 2008, hit .304 last year and earned second-team honors. The clutch-hitting Walter paced the team with five homeruns and 32 RBI. He also had the distinction of leading the Cavs in being hit by pitch 14 times. Tim Hromada (Sr., North Royalton, OH/Padua Franciscan) will spell Walter, but will mainly be used as the Cavs’ designated hitter. Hromada came back from a serious illness and played 24 games last year, mostly at first base. Hromada hit .288 with 17 RBI. Back at full strength, look for Tim to have a banner year. Hromada and Walter will handle the bulk of the DH duties. Tyler Jones (So., Mansfield, OH/Madison) and freshman Andy DePeel (Cincinnati, OH/Princeton) will provide valuable insurance.
PITCHING: Mead has a veteran staff coming back, blended with new faces. As preseason camp break, Rob Rose (RHP, Sr., Hudson, OH/HS) and Jeff Kotlar (RHP, So., Euclid, OH/HS) look to be numbers one and two. Rose made just two appearances on the mound last year, spending most of the season at third base. Before transferring to Walsh, Rose pitched at Mercyhurst North East CC and set a single game strikeout mark with 14. Kotlar earned honorable mention All-AMC honors after a superb freshman season. He led the team with five wins, working as a starter and out of the bullpen. He showed outstanding control and completed five of his three starts. Look for big things from the young right-hander. Rounding out the starting staff will be veterans Mike Muenster (RHP, Jr., Gates Mills, OH/NDLC), Jared Roberts (RHP, Jr., Berea, OH/St. Ignatius), Billy Gura (RHP, So., Sagamore Hills, OH/St. Peter Chanel) and freshman David Roper (Cincinnati, OH/Princeton). Muenster, Roberts and Gura are all battle tested, giving Mead great depth in his starting rotation. Also look for freshmen Marc Carroll (Lexington, OH/HS) and Zack Speer (Stow, OH/HS) to get an occasional spot start. Veteran Steve Weirich (Sr., Minerva, OH/HS) will help anchor the bullpen. The righty fashioned the top ERA at 3.93 last year with 4-4 mark. He walked only 10, while leading the team in innings pitched (52.2). Eric Shimko (Jr., Canton, OH/McKinley) is the only left-hander on the squad and will work out of the bullpen. Brian Dougherty (RHP, Fr., Canton, OH/McKinley), Ben Enright (RHP, Jr., Stow, OH/HS), Roberto Morales (RHP, So., Canfield, OH/Cardinal Mooney), Kevin Storch (RHP, Fr., North Canton, OH/Jackson), Joe Taylor (RHP, Fr., Aurora, OH/HS) and Dan Ward (RHP, Fr., Painesville, OH/Fairport Harbor) make-up the remainder of the staff. Also look for Dave Krusinski to work in short relief.
