Central Michigan University Athletics
Veteran Staff Anchors 2002 Chippewa Baseball Team
1/31/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 31, 2002
What a difference a year makes!
Entering the 2001 season, Central Michigan University baseball coach Judd Folske wondered if you could win with underclassmen on the mound.
The answer was "Yes" as the Chippewas posted a 35-24 record and reached the Mid-American Conference (MAC) playoffs after going 16-12 in league play.
Now, Folske has an experienced and talented pitching staff and the fourth-year head coach is eyeing better things in 2002.
"Our goal every year is to win the MAC and go to the NCAA tournament," Folske said. "I think we have the pitching to do it. The big question now is whether we can get timely hitting on offense and make the plays on defense."
Despite returning 15 lettermen and a total of 19 players from last year's club, the Chippewas will still be young with 20 newcomers on the roster. CMU lost seven lettermen from last season, four of them seniors including leading hitters Matt Crowley (.382) and Bryan Schuerer (.365).
If pitching is the key ingredient in baseball, as they say, then Central Michigan should be in for an exciting season ... one that already promises to be special with the opening of the new, state-of-the-art Theunissen Stadium.
"The new stadium is awesome," Folske said. "I can't wait to start playing games there so everyone can see what a great facility it is. It would be even more special if this team plays the way I think it can."
Of the 14 pitchers who toed the mound for CMU in 2001, 12 of them return.
Heading the group is senior right-hander Gavin Gillette who was a first team All-MAC and All-Midwest Regional choice last season as a relief pitcher. Gillette, who posted a 5-1 record with a 1.21 ERA in 16 outings, was used only in relief because he was coming off elbow surgery. This year, Folske plans on using him in relief as well as a starter.
"Gavin can be one of the leaders on this staff," Folske said. "His arm is sound now and we'll figure out the best way to use him."
The Chippewas return five more hurlers who had 48 starts among them in 2001. The most successful was junior right-hander Dan Horvath who finished with a 6-4 record and a 5.18 ERA. He fanned 102 batters in 97.1 innings.
Senior right-hander Chad Pleiness, a 6-6 starting forward on the basketball team, also had a 6-4 mark with a 6.08 ERA, while junior right-hander Jeff Garner was 6-5 and 6.49, sophomore left-hander Ryan Cremeans 2-0 and 6.91 and sophomore right-hander Jeff Opalewski 2-3 and 8.14.
CMU returns three other relievers with good numbers in sophomore left-hander T.J. Johnson, senior right-hander Lee Naplin and senior left-hander Nick Zastrow. Johnson posted a 2-0 record with a 2.51 ERA in a team-high 23 outings while Naplin was 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA and Zastrow was 3-1 and 5.52. Zastrow and Gillette each had two saves.
Other returnees on the mound include junior right-hander Ryan Krueger (0-0, 0.00), sophomore right-hander Jason Frank (0-0, 5.79) and junior left-hander Joey Fahndrich (0-1, 18.00). Converted infielder David LeMieux, a right-hander, will be used in relief this spring, as well.
Newcomers on the mound are: redshirt freshmen Joel Donlon, Travis Osborn, Nick Patterson and Chris Schell, and incoming freshmen Jason Cairns, Ty Dunham, Bryan Harris and Mark Lundquist.
"The pitchers went after people in the fall," Folske said. "Give them the ball and they'll get people out. I have confidence in this staff."
Gone from last year's staff are Nick Latra (2-1, 4.81) and J.D. Wheeler (0-4, 7.80). Latra is a volunteer assistant with the Chippewas while Wheeler signed a pro contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Senior Scott Pickens had a splendid season as the starting catcher in 2001. It was his first as a regular and he made the most of it by batting .283 with eight homers and 36 RBI. More importantly, he threw out 26 of 57 runners trying to steal.
Pickens will be backed by redshirt freshman Keith Sampsell, a solid right-handed stick who could also serve as a designated hitter, along with redshirt frosh Derek Schaller and incoming freshmen Brian Campbell and Evan Jackson.
The infield is set at the corners with junior Mike Gates (.282, 8, 38) at first base and senior Tim Bullinger (.348, 4, 47) returning to third base after playing second last spring. Gates will be backed by redshirt freshman Matt Loridas and incoming frosh Mark Lundquist. Working at third will be redshirt freshman Bud Mittleman and freshman Jason Cairns.
The big question on defense could be at middle infielder. With the graduation of shortstop Jason Helps and Bullinger moving from second, a group of talented but untested Chippewas are vying for those spots.
Junior Tim Groves, who played second and third as well as outfield last year, has the inside track at short. He hit .273 with five homers and 27 RBI last season. Sophomore Jeff LaFavors, not a member of the team a year ago, and freshman Steve Sanfilippo will push for playing time at short.
Redshirt freshman Jim Geldhof and frosh David Latour will battle at second base. Bullinger could also see some time at second base to provide depth in the middle.
The outfield has a couple of new faces but Folske still considers it one of the Chippewa strengths.
"We feel good about our talent and depth in the outfield," Folske said. "We did graduate two excellent players who led us in batting last year but we picked up two good junior college transfers and have a proven player back in Krueger. Tom Grzywacz had a solid fall and will compete for playing time, too."
Krueger (.234, 3, 21) started 37 games last season and play center or left while Grzywacz (.196, 1, 13) started 16 and will play in left or right. They'll see action primarily in left field. Tom Grubb (Grand Rapids CC) will work in center and Danny Gibbons (North Central Texas CC) in right. All four have excellent arms.
Others who could see action in the outfield are sophomore Dan Griesbaum, freshman Brian Lautzenheiser and Loridas.
The Chippewas will play another challenging schedule, opening a nine-game Florida swing with three games at Rollins College on March 1. CMU then plays in the Stetson University tournament with two games each against Evansville, Penn State and Stetson. Central also has a three-game series at Big Ten power, Minnesota, on March 22-24 in the MetroDome.
The Chippewas are scheduled for home-and-away dates with Detroit, Michigan, Michigan State and Oakland as well as an away date at Notre Dame.
"We always try to play the best competition possible," Folske said. "We enjoy playing the best and it gives us a great measuring stick as to how our program stacks up."
CMU has won its last two early-season tournaments: Texas A & M's Continental Airlines Classic in 2000, featuring Ohio State, Oregon State and the host Aggies, and Baseball Week at Rollins in 2001, topping Virginia Tech, Long Island and the host Tars.
The MAC, with East and West divisions, will have seven four-game weekend series for the second season. Most will have one game on Friday, two on Saturday and one on Sunday.
"I think it worked out well last season although I still wish we'd play more crossover games against East Division teams," Folske said. "I don't like having an open MAC weekend (April 19-21) in the middle of the MAC season."
