Central Michigan University Athletics
Baseball Closes Season At 41-17
5/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 22, 2000
MOUNT PLEASANT - A season of tremendous improvement for Central Michigan University came to a finish at the 2000 Mid-American Conference (MAC) baseball tournament at Kent State University.
But, the Chippewas didn't go without a fight.
It took Ball State 12 innings on Friday, May 19, to oust CMU by the score of 2-1 in a loser's bracket contest. Central had lost the opener, 7-3, to Miami and then sent Northern Illinois packing, 8-4, in the double-elimination tourney won by Miami.
"It was a tough way to end the season," second-year head coach Judd Folske said. "But, nothing's going to take away from the great year we had. We got it going in the right direction again this season and I'm appreciative of the effort the young men gave all year."
Coming off a 24-32 mark in 1999 - CMU's first losing campaign since 1964 - the Chippewas were picked to finish third in the MAC's West Division.
However, led by 10 seniors and an influx of youngsters, Central Michigan rolled to a record of 41-17 and tied for the West title with a MAC mark of 18-8.
Along the way, CMU won the Continental Express Aggie Classic at Texas A & M and finished with a 6-2 mark against opponents from the Big 10 and 15-3 against Division I foes from the state of Michigan.
The season ending may have been a tad different had it not been for the untimely back injury to senior Scott Pieratt (Mount Pleasant/Sacred Heart). After going 40-13 with Pieratt working his magic at second base, the Chippewas were 1-4 in the final five games without Pieratt.
The fiery Pieratt, named first team All-MAC along with senior outfielder Jake Sanborn (Grand Ledge) and freshman designated hitter Mike Galloway (St. Thomas, Ont.), batted .401 this season with 12 homers and 45 RBI.
"There's no question that we were not the same team with Scott out of the lineup," Folske said. "But, we still battled to the end and it took some good baseball to beat us."
Of the four losses CMU suffered without Pieratt, three were by one run.
The biggest difference in the 2000 team over Folske's first season was on defense where the Chippewas set a school record this season fielding .969. CMU was at .941 in 1999. The old school mark was .965 set in 1976.
Central allowed 42 unearned runs this season after giving up 91 a year ago.
CHIPPEWA NOTES - Three CMU baseball players made the all-tournament team at the 2000 MAC playoffs at Kent. Senior outfielder Kevin Uzarski (Taylor/Center), junior outfielder Matt Crowley (Grand Rapids/Creston) and senior pitcher Dan Schell (Mount Pleasant) were honored.
Uzarski was four-for-nine with two doubles and a home run while Crowley was six-for-12 with a homer. Schell went nine innings against Ball State without getting a decision in the 2-1 loss. He allowed six hits and struck out eight against two walks.
IN THE RECORD BOOKS
*1st - Career Hits - Jake Sanborn, 242*1st - Career At-Bats - Jake Sanborn, 678
*1st - Season HBP - Jason Helps, 12
*1st - Team Fielding - .969
*2nd - Season GW RBI - Mike Galloway, 9
*2nd - Career Extra Base Hits - Jake Sanborn, 76
*2nd - Career Total Bases - Jake Sanborn, 392
*2nd - Team Home Runs - 74
*2nd - Team Total Bases - 943
*2nd - Team Strikeouts - 377
*2nd - Team At-Bats - 1,804
*3rd - Career RBI - Jake Sanborn, 147
*4th - Season At-Bats - Jake Sanborn, 204
*4th - Career Homers - Jake Sanborn, 33
*4th - Career Runs - Jake Sanborn, 155
*4th - Team Hits - 586
*4th - Team Slugging Percentage - .523
*4th - Team Innings Pitched - 440.2
*4th - Season Hits - Scott Pieratt, 81
*5th - Season Total Bases - Scott Pieratt, 133
*5th - Season At-Bats - Scott Pieratt, 202
*5th - Season Strikeouts - Mike Steele, 91
*5th - Career Games - Jake Sanborn, 206
*5th - Team RBI - 364
