Baseball's Fall World Series Classic Starts Friday
10/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. â€" Fall is always an important time for the Central Michigan baseball program. In 2016, it may take on even more importance.
The Chippewas will play Game 1 of their annual Fall World Series Classic on Friday at 3:05 p.m. at Theunissen Stadium. The seven-game intrasquad series will give fans, along with coach Steve Jaksa and his staff, a good look at a squad that features an abundance of newcomers along with holdovers expected to step into expanded roles beginning with the 2017 season.
"I just know that in the history of doing this, our starting lineup is never our ending lineup no matter what the season has been, whether that be injuries or guys bumping up or whatever the situation is," said Jaksa, who is in his 15th season in charge of the program.
The Chippewas said good-bye to a number of experienced and talented players who filled the roster in 2016, among them were three players â€" Zach McKinstry, Nick Deeg and Sean Renzi â€" drafted by major league teams.
The 34-man fall roster includes 24 underclassmen, 14 of whom are freshmen.
"We feel the older guys are making sure the younger guys understand that, hey, this is important, and this is why it's important," Jaksa said. "That's part of that mentoring process."
While a number of experienced mainstays return â€" infielders Alex Borglin and Jason Sullivan, catcher Robert Greenman, and pitchers Jordan Grosjean and Pat Leatherman among them â€" the Chippewas have plenty of holes to fill and tinkering to do before they open the 2017 season with a trip south in February.
The remainder of the Fall World Series Schedule: Game 2, Sunday, Oct. 9, 1:05 p.m.; Game 3, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2:45 p.m.; Game 4, Friday, Oct. 14, 3:05 p.m.; Game 5, Saturday, Oct. 15, noon; Game 6, Sunday, Oct. 16, 1:05 p.m.; Game 7, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2:45 p.m.
