Central Michigan University Athletics
Streaking Chippewas Sidelined by Weather
3/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 21, 2005
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MOUNT PLEASANT -- Central Michigan University's baseball team, winners of 11 of its last 13 games, has met an opponent it can't beat -- the weather.
The Chippewas' first two games in the northern portion of the 2005 schedule have already been postponed -- a game at IPFW on Tuesday and the home opener on Wednesday against Wayne State. This weekend's three-game home set against Youngstown State is in jeopardy, too, as snow still covers Theunissen Stadium.
"We've been playing good baseball and we need to keep playing," said head coach Steve Jaksa. "We're scrambling right now to see if we can get these games in this weekend."
Right now, CMU is slated to play two games on Saturday (1 p.m.) against the Penguins and a solo game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
CMU went 2-1 on a three-game swing to Southeast Missouri this past weekend, winning the first (4-2) and last (5-3) games of the series. The Chippewas dropped the middle contest, 4-3.
The two wins marked CMU's 10th and 11th in its last 13 games after starting the season 0-4. The Chippewas are 11-6 entering the week's action.
"We played three excellent baseball games at Southeast Missouri," said Jaksa. "We got good pitching again and some timely hitting. We pulled off a big win in the last game when we scored four times in the ninth inning.
"I love the resolve of this team. We just kept chipping away and then got a big break in the ninth inning and took advantage of it. We never got down on ourselves and found a way to win it."
With the MA C season slated to open on April 1 at Bowling Green, Jaksa likes the development of his defending conference champion Chippewas.
"We're still a work in progress but we've made some big strides," Jaksa said. "We've solidified our defense and developed some depth at the same time."
CMU is fielding .961 as a team after fielding at a .958 clip a year ago.
One of the big stories of the spring has been the play of senior Ryan Peel who has claimed the shortstop position.
"Ryan didn't get a chance early in the season but when his turn came, he was ready," Jaksa said. "He has done such a nice on defense and he has become more of a threat at the plate.
"It's a credit to him that he stuck with it until his chance came."
Peel has committed just two errors in 52 chances and is fielding .962.
With Peel moving into shortstop, junior Troy Moratti is splitting his time between second and third and third baseman Jim Geldhof is also seeing action in left field.
"We have a lot more options right now than we did early in the season," Jaksa said.
Two true freshmen have moved into the playing group, as well. Catcher Tyler Stovall is now listed as the starter while infielder Noah Lankford has played in 11 games without an error.
While CMU's hitting of .296 is a little behind last year's final mark of .315, the Chippewa pitching staff is well ahead of last year's pace.
CMU has a team ERA of 2.81 this season after posting a mark of 4.81 a year ago.
"The starters have been excellent and our relievers are pitching well, too," said Jaksa. "We haven't had a chance to develop some of our younger pitchers which is why the midweek games are so important."
SOLID STARTING GROUP
The trio of Ty Dunham (2-1, 2.50 ERA), Jason Cairns (2-2, 2.86) and Jayson Ruhlman (3-1, 2.41) has combined for 15 of CMU's 17 starts this season.
They also combine for a record of 7-4 with an ERA of 2.59. They have 98 strikeouts against 40 walks in 104.1 innings of work.
The only other Chippewa to start this season, Josh Collmenter, is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA. He was named MAC "Pitcher of the Week" after striking out 13 and walking none in winning his career debut in a 5-1 win at Western Kentucky, 5-1.
Ruhlman also has earned the award this spring.
MAC STATS
The Chippewas lead the MAC in pitching with their 2.81 ERA and stand third in hitting at .296. CMU is seventh in fielding at .961.
Individually, Ruhlman (2.41 ERA), Dunham (2.50) and Cairns (2.86) rank fifth through seventh in pitching. Ruhlman is first in strikeouts (46) while Dunham is fifth (25) and Cairns fourth (24).
Jim Geldhof is tied for 16th in hitting at .333 and ranks third in hits (24), tied for fifth in runs (16) and seventh in RBI (14). Jeremy Crum is third in stolen bases (nine) and Bryan Mitzel is tied for third in walks (12) and tied for fifth in RBI (17).
CMU's preseason mark of 11-6 is second best right now behind Bowling Green's 11-3 slate.
