2009 Outlook

Athletics > 2009 Outlook

In the final analysis, the 2008 Walsh University Baseball Season was successful. The Cavs won (22) more games than they lost (20) and finished above .500 (15-11) in the very competitive American Mideast Conference. But, if you question Head Coach Tim Mead, and the 2008 Cavs, they will tell a different story. The Cavs were coming off a magical year, in which they made their first trip in school history to the NAIA World Series. The Cavs caught fire in the regional tournament, carried it over to the Super Regional, then played well in the national spotlight. With 15 returning lettermen, including seven seniors, the Cavs were hoping the magic of 2007 would carryover to 2008. While the Cavs were successful, they lacked the magic needed to make a return trip to Idaho and the World Series. After a 7-0 American Mideast Conference start, four straight losses seem to set the tone for the remainder of the conference season. Walsh would finish 15-11 and miss the post season tournament.

Coach Mead is hoping the returning veterans approach the season with a sense of urgency as the Cavs look to build, with the goal of reaching the post season and beyond.

Mead has a void to fill on the pitching staff, with the loss of senior Chris Norris (2nd–team All-AMC). Norris was 7-2 last year with five complete games and a solid 3.80 ERA. Also gone are first-team All-AMC DH Ryan Indorf, first baseman Jason Pettigrew (2nd-team All-AMC), shortstop Chad Campbell (HM All-AMC) and outfielder Jeff Nicholas (HM All-AMC). Also lost to injury is catcher Tim Hromada (Jr., North Royalton, OH/Padua Franciscan), who hit .400 last year. Hromada looks to return for the 2010 season. Despite the losses, Mead is confident the Cavs can compete. The obvious is that the young pitching staff adapts and that the team avoids major injuries. Mead feels that he has more team speed than any team he has coached. This can change a game, walks and singles turn into doubles, players take extra bases, and hitters have more opportunities with runners in scoring position. Spring 2009 should be interesting.

INFIELD: The Cavs infield will have a new look across the diamond. All-AMC First-Team infielder Mike Suliks (Jr., Norton, OH/HS) will make the switch from second base to shortstop. Suliks has the arm and the range to make the shift. Offensively, the Cavs are counting on him to keep putting up the numbers he has the last two years. Last year, Suliks hit .369, tops among everyday players, with 15 doubles and 26 RBI. He could end up hitting in the third spot in the line-up. Mike Weibley (Jr., Mentor, OH/Lake Catholic) is expected to move from the hot corner to second base, his natural position. Weibley hit .290 last year playing 38 games at third base. Don’t’ be surprised if his batting average and other numbers improve with his move to second base. Mercyhurst Community College transfer Rob Rose (Jr., Hudson, OH/HS) will take over for Pettigrew at first base. Rose is a solid hitter, who brings experience to the line-up. Freshman Mike Smetana (Chardon, OH/Berkshire) takes over at third base. Smetana has the makings of a very good collegiate hitter. A former first-team all-conference and all-county selection, he hit .500 his senior year and drove in 35 runs. The depth provided to the Cavs’ infield will come mostly from freshmen and underclassmen; Jordan Tucker (1B, So., University Heights, OH/Cleveland Heights), Cory Turkovich (2B, So., Carrollton, OH/HS), Dominic Palumbo (2B, Fr., Westerville, OH/HS), Tyler Jablonski (SS, Fr., Franklin, OH/HS) and Adam Rowland (Fr., Euclid, OH/HS) and Chris Seeger (Fr., Cincinnati, OH/Moeller) at third base.

OUTFIELD: Mead needs to replace two-thirds of the outfield, with the graduation of centerfielder Matt Marshall and right fielder Jeff Nicholas. Both were productive at the plate and in the field. Centerfield is the centerpiece of the outfield defensively, and Mead feels all of his needs will be met in senior transfer Tyler Maag (North Canton, OH/GlenOak/Southern Arkansas). Maag has speed to burn, with the ability to turn many Texas Leaguers into outs and many slow hit ground balls into infield singles. Maag was an outstanding local product and a first-team all-conference player at Southern Arkansas. Mead expects him to hit lead-off. Mark Kelly (Jr., Norton, OH/HS) returns to leftfield. A second-team All-AMC performer last year, Kelly is the perfect two-hole hitter. He is a contact hitter, who will sacrifice himself for the team. Kelly hit a lofty .345 last year, with seven doubles, 33 runs scored and eight stolen bases. Transfer Marc Miller (So., Hudson, OH/HS/Bowling Green) is expected to start in right field. Miller played club baseball at Bowling Green, after a stellar career at Hudson. He possesses good speed and has the arm strength to play the corner outfield spot. Providing depth in the outfield will be Dustin Lancy (So., Cuyahoga Falls, OH/HS), Justin Miller (Fr., Berlin, OH/HS) and Rose. Lancy will most likely be the Cavs designated hitter. A strong right-handed hitter, look for Lancy to hit cleanup.

CATCHING: Duston Walter (Jr., Malvern, OH/HS) returns to handle the chores behind the plate. The first-team all-conference catcher hit .361 last year. His experience behind the plate will be a key with the Cavs’ young staff. Expect Walter to see more time behind the plate with Hromada out. He could also see some time at first base. Freshman Tyler Jones (Mansfield, OH/Madison) will back-up Walter. One of only two left-handed hitting position players, Jones hits the ball to all fields.

PITCHING: Despite the loss of seven-game winner Chris Norris, Mead is confident that the Cavs’ staff will keep them in ballgames. Senior right-hander Mike Dougherty (Canton, OH/McKinley) has spent the fall and winter trying to heal an ailing right shoulder. Dougherty earned second-team All-AMC honors as a sophomore, after winning six games. He was 3-5 last year, with 4.50 ERA in nine starts. Look for him to anchor the staff. Sophomore righty Jared Roberts (Berea, OH/St. Ignatius) is slated as the number two starter. Roberts turned his attention to baseball full-time this season, after playing football as a freshman. He was 3-1 last year in five starts and ten games. Mike Schaeffer (So., Waynesburg, OH/Sandy Valley) is the only lefty in the rotation. He was 1-0 in six games last year. One of Mead’s top recruits, right-hander Billy Gura (Fr., Sagamore Hills, OH/St. Peter Chanel) looks to break into the rotation. A two-time first-team all-conference selection, Gura fanned 46 batters as a senior with a 2.36 ERA. Also looking to crack the rotation is sophomore right-hander Mike Muenster (Gates Mills, OH/NDCL). Muenster was 2-2 in five starts and eight games last year. Also look for possibly Rob Rose to get a spot start.

Veteran right-hander Steve Weirich (Minerva, OH/HS) will anchor the pen and possibly close. He was 3-3 last year in a team-leading 15 games with a 3.26 ERA. He fanned 25 batters in 30-plus innings. Eric Shimko (So., Canton, OH/McKinley) is the only lefty in the pen. Shimko was 1-4 last year in 10 appearances with a 4.97 ERA. He did make four starts and fanned 19 in 25-plus innings. The only other non-freshman in the pen is right-hander Luke Yetzer (So., Mansfield, OH/Madison). Yetzer pitched in nine games as a freshman. The rest of the pen is made-up by the following newcomers; Chris Sunderman (RH, Fr., Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este), Chris Mason (RH, Fr., Eastlake, OH/North), Ben Enright (RH, So., Stow, OH/HS), Roberto Morales (RH, Fr., Canfield, OH/Cardinal Mooney) and Nick Brugh (RH-Fr., Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria).

SUMMARY: With a young team, getting off to a good start is important, as the team builds confidence as they prepare for AMC play. The Cavs have to replace the potent bats of Indorf, Pettigrew, Nicholas, Marshall and Campbell and steady starter Chris Norris. All of this is possible, if the Cavs stay focused and take each game one at a time.