Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Baseball Preps for Spring Junket
3/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 1, 2004
MOUNT PLEASANT -- With three games already under its belt, the Central Michigan University baseball team heads to Utah and Nevada for eight more on its annual spring trip.
The Chippewas, 1-2 at East Tennessee State University this past weekend, will face the University of Utah (1-8) at St. George, Utah on Saturday at 1 p.m. CMU then plays two with Southern Utah (2-5), one with Utah Valley State (0-4) and a third with Southern Utah. Those games are slated to be played at Southern Utah (Cedar City, Utah).
CMU will then face UNLV in Las Vegas for a three-game set before heading home. "It should be a good trip for our team," said head coach Steve Jaksa. "We've never really gone West for a spring trip and this should be interesting.
"I like the fact we've played three games thus far. We did some good things at East Tennessee State but we still have plenty of things to work on. That's why these games are so important."
The Chippewas split a doubleheader with ETSU on Saturday (Friday's game was snowed out), losing 14-2 and winning 12-5, before falling by a 13-3 margin in the series finale on Sunday.
Pitching and defense struggled against the Buccaneers but Jaksa isn't worried.
"I thought we'd pitch better and I think we will as the season unfolds," he said. "We're still moving people around on defense to try and find the best positions for everyone. This will take a little time but I think our defense will be okay."
The Chippewas commited nine errors (fielding just .914) and posted a team ERA of 8.64 at East Tennessee State.
A bright spot on the mound was the performance of redshirt freshman left-hander Jayson Ruhlman. He collected CMU's win after going six innings and giving up three runs, none earned. He walked three and fanned eight.
"Jayson pitched well but there's still room for improvement as he gains experience," Jaksa said.
The Chippewas batted .306 as a team with junior Jeff LaFavors Jr., leading the way with five hits in seven at-bats for .714.
Following its spring trip, CMU heads on the road off for five games -- two at Southeast Missouri State on March 17 and a three-game set at Illinois State on March 19-21.
CMU plays its first 21 games on the road before entertaining Wayne State on March 30 at 2 p.m.
Checking the RotationCMU's starting rotation will likely remain the same in the first three games of its spring trip to Utah and Nevada. Senior Jeff Opalewski (0-1, 27.00), redshirt freshman Jayson Ruhlman (1-0, 0.00) and sophomore Ty Dunham (0-1, 12.60) figure to start the first three games.
The fourth starter may be junior Jason Cairns (0-0, 3.86) while a fifth starter would come seniors T.J. Johnson (0-0, 4.50) or Ryan Cremeans (0-0, 6.75).
Few FreebiesAlthough Chippewas hurlers returned from East Tennessee State with an ERA of 8.64, control was not an issue. CMU hurlers struck out 27 and walked 12 in 25 innings on the mound.
Conversely, Chippewa hitters fanned 30 times and walked just six.
Triple Your FunAfter collecting just 10 triples in 2003, CMU banged out four three-baggers in three games at East Tennessee State. Jeff LaFavors Jr., Kurtis Wells, Derek Schaller and Ryan Peel all had triples for the Chippewas.
Just One Homer, But...The Chippewas just clubbed one home run in the series but it was a productive one -- a grand slam by Jim Geldhof in the 12-5 victory.
New OppositionThe Chippewas will play three new opponents among the four schools their slated to play in their upcoming spring trip. CMU has played UNLV once (a 10-7 win in the 1988 NCAA Regionals at Arizona State).
This will be the first matchups with Utah, Southern Utah and Utah Valley State.
LaFavors Off to a Great StartVersatile junior Jeff LaFavors Jr., was the "hit" of the trip to ETSU. Switching time between second base and left field, LaFavors had five hits in seven at-bats for a lofty .714 average. He drove in four runs.
Kurtis Does Well (s), TooJunior first baseman Kurtis Wells, a transfer from Granbd Rapids CC, had five hits in 14 trips to the plate last weekend for a .357 average. He drove in two runs and hit a number of other balls on the nose that didn't fall in for hits.
Injury Bug ReturnsCMU will open the 2004 campaign with one veteran player already on the shelf for the season -- junior catcher Keith Sampsell with an elbow injury. He played in just 12 games a year ago because of illness and injury after hitting .288 with seven homers and 33 RBI as a redshirt freshman in 2002.
His absence opens the door for a battle for the backup slot between junior Derek Schaller and incoming freshman Brad Foutch. The returning starting catcher is Brian Campbell.
