2008 Outlook

2007 Walsh University Baseball

 

2008 Walsh University Baseball Outlook

The 2007 season put Walsh University Baseball on the NAIA map. Despite a mediocre regular season, the Cavs came to life at exactly the right time to win their first NAIA Region IX and East Coast Super Regional titles. The fruits of their late season labor enabled the Cavs to make their first trip to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

Walsh closed the regular season with seven straight losses, which included four straight to cross-town rival Malone. But with a playoff opening win against host Mount Vernon Nazarene (3-1), the Cavs found belief. Walsh then sought revenge against rival Malone and came away with a 4-2 win, then out scored 12th ranked Ohio Dominican University 11-9 to reach the title game. All that stood between Walsh and their first regional title was Mount Vernon Nazarene. But at this point, they were not to be denied, coming away with a 10-8 win. Now they were two wins away from the World Series and their opponent, Fisher College, would have to travel from Boston to North Canton for the best of three playoff. Red-hot right-hander Andy Schon pitched the Cavs to a 4-1 win in the opener and on the brink of the World Series. With Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Feller on hand to throw out the first pitch before game two, Walsh would not disappoint Feller, or its following by edging Fisher 4-3 for a two-game sweep.  Walsh had accomplished the impossible. Seven straight losses turned into six straight wins and a trip to Idaho. Once firmly planted at the Series, the Cavs were not content to be there, but to win. Schon came through again, winning his third straight post season game, 3-2 over St. Thomas University. The win catapulted Walsh over the .500 mark (29-28) for the first time. Schon’s playoff outings produced three wins, all complete games, 34 strikeouts, two walks and four runs in 27 innings. A remarkable run. Just when it appeared the Cavs magic would continue, Spring Arbor rallied in the late innings to win 8-5 the next day. Houston Baptist ended the miraculous run two days later with a 10-5 win. Walsh ended the campaign 29-30, but winners of seven of their last nine games and feelings of “yes we can.” Twenty-five year veteran Tim Mead (515-557-6, 24 years) can only hope the late season momentum and championship feeling carries over into 2008.

Mead loses 11 veterans, but returns 16 letter winners for the 2008 season. There will be some big shoes to fill with the departure of Schon (9-5, 3.11 ERA, 101 K), Kade Klick (3B), Pat Conley, Greg Miller (OF), Rollin Matsui (DH), and Kyle Lynn (LHP). Mead is confident though, that the returnees along with a strong recruiting class can overcome the losses. Walsh also moves back into familiar territory, as the American Mideast Conference dissolves back to one division.

Infield: The infield is again solid. Jason Pettigrew (Sr., Massillon, OH/Jackson) returns at first base. Pettigrew earned second team All-AMC North honors after hitting .330 with a team-leading 10 doubles and 41 RBI. Look for the right-handed hitting Pettigrew to hit somewhere in the middle of the order. He is patient and drives the ball to all fields. Tim Hromada (So., North Royalton, OH/Padua Franciscan) and Sam Wasylyshyn (Fr., North Ridgeville, OH/HS) will back-up Pettigrew. Second Team All-AMC North second baseman Mike Suliks (So., Norton, OH/HS) returns. Suliks put together an outstanding freshman season hitting .350. Look for Suliks to hit near the top of the order. He also is a spray hitter, a good bunter and fine base runner. Defensively he possesses fine range and has a strong arm. Veteran Paul Aslanides (So. Louisville, OH/HS) and freshman Jacob Knight (Akron, OH/Springfield) will provide depth. Veteran Chad Campbell (Sr., Ashtabula, OH/Lakeside) returns to handle shortstop and hit in the two hole. Campbell earned honorable mention All-AMC North honors after hitting .333 with a team-best 66 hits. Campbell has earned All-AMC honors every year and is again an all-conference candidate. He is an extremely tough out, with a good eye at the plate. Defensively he makes all the plays. Cory Turkovich (Fr., Carrollton, OH/HS) will provide depth. Mike Weibley (So., Mentor, OH/Lake Catholic) will replace Klick at the hot corner. Weibley hit .256 in 14 games and 11 starts last season. He was flawless in the field. He comes back healthy and much stronger. He has an excellent arm.

Outfield: The outfield, which was a question mark at the start of the 2007 season, is a strength as the Cavs head into 2008. Ryan Indorf (Sr., Massillon, OH/Washington) earned second team All-AMC North honors after leading the Cavs in five offensive categories. “Indo” hit .307 and led the team in games played (59-tie Campbell), at-bats (202), runs scored (43) triples (3) homeruns (4) and was hit by a pitch a team leading six times. He will start in left field. Mark Kelly (So., Norton, OH/HS) will hit lead-off and patrol center field. He earned honorable mention All-AMC North honors after hitting .378. Kelly was inserted into the lead-off in the post season and sparked the offense to their magnificent post season run. He goes deep into the count, is a good base runner and flat out makes things happen. Senior Jeff Nicholas (Navarre, OH/Perry) returns to start in right field. Nicholas hit .282 with 31 RBI as a sophomore, but dropped to .242 with 22 RBI last year. Look for a return to form in 2008. He also has the strongest arm in the outfield and gets a great jump on the ball. Ready to provide depth will be veteran Matt Marshall (Sr., New Boston, OH/Glenwood) and freshmen Dustin Lancy (Cuyahoga Falls, OH/HS) and Mike Davis (Bridgeport, WV/HS).

Catching: Duston Walter (So., Malvern, OH/HS) and Tim Hromada (So., North Royalton, OH/Padua Franciscan) will handle the majority of the duties behind the plate, with the other most likely handling DH duties when not catching. Walter started 20 games last year and hit .224, while Hromada hit .385 in 18 starts and 30 games. Walter is a leader behind the plate, with a strong arm, and the ability to call a good game. Hromada will hit anywhere from third to sixth. He is also a fine receiver. The Cavs are in great shape behind the plate.

Pitching: As always, how well the staff performs will determine how far the Cavs go in 2008. Gone are Schon’s nine wins and Kyle Lynn’s five victories, almost half of the 2007 win total of 29. The duo also compiled the two lowest ERA on the staff; Schon (3.11) and Lynn (3.40). But, all is not lost. Second Team All-AMC North right-hander Mike Dougherty (Jr., Canton, OH/McKinley) and senior right-hander Chris Norris (Massillon, OH/Jackson) head the staff.  Dougherty was 6-6 in 13 starts, with a 4.73 ERA and 5 complete games, while Norris went 6-5 in 16 games with a 5.05 ERA. Both are fully capable of winning between 8-10 games and lowering their ERA’s. Look for a solid season from senior right-hander Alan Frame (Atwater, OH/Waterloo). Frame struggled last season, but fully expects to bounce back in 2008. He will see time in the bullpen and possibly close with Chad Campbell. Also in the mix to start will be veteran Steve Weirich (So., Minerva, OH/HS) and newcomers Jarod Roberts (Fr., Berea, OH/St. Ignatius) and Mike Muenster (Fr., Gates Mills, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin). Campbell saved six games last year in eight appearances. Much more will be known about the staff when the Cavs return from their Florida trip in March. Mead has 15 arms to look at and choose from, with nine being freshmen.

Summary: There will be no sneaking up on anyone in 2008 for the Cavs. They are out to prove that their late season run last spring was no fluke. This team has worked extremely hard in the off season in preparation for 2008. Also, the combining of AMC North and South will provide stiffer competition throughout conference play. But the bottom line is that Walsh is the team that surprised everyone with a Cinderella run to the World Series. This time they would like to make the return trip, but would like to do so with success from start to finish.