Scots Open MWC Tournament 

Release Date: May 10, 2000

The Monmouth College Fighting Scots (19-13) are heading to Grinnell College Friday to play in the Midwest Conference Baseball Championships, but another name for the event could easily be the "NCAA Sub-Regional Tournament."

For the first time ever, the MWC champion will be an automatic NCAA Tournament qualifier. That would have come in handy over the past 20 years, as Monmouth last appeared in baseball’s "Big Dance" in 1983 but won seven times MWC titles in the meantime.

The Scots’ first assignment at the four-team, double-elimination playoffs will be North Division champion St. Norbert (22-9). The Scots will face the Green Knights at 11 a.m. at the Grinnell High School field while the South Division champion Grinnell Pioneers (18-11) meet two-time defending champion Ripon (15-16) at the same time at the college field.

The winners of the 11 a.m. games will meet at 2 p.m. at the college field, while the losers battle to stave off elimination at the high school at 2 p.m. Games continue Saturday for three of the teams, with the championship slated for 1 p.m. at the college field.

"As in any tourney, it’s anybody’s tourney," said coach Roger Sander, who noted that prohibitive NCAA favorites Cincinnati and Duke failed to win basketball titles the last two seasons. "It’s a matter of which team gets hot at the right time."

In terms of head-to-head play, Grinnell took three out of four games with Monmouth, winning two one-run decisions, while Ripon took three out of four against St. Norbert, including a 24-5 pounding last weekend. In the game St. Norbert did take from the Red Hawks, it had to rally from an early 8-0 deficit.

The first game for all four schools is obviously very important, but as Carroll’s softball team learned over the weekend, it’s not absolutely essential to win it. The Pioneers actually dropped their opener to Monmouth but came all the way back through the loser’s bracket to claim the title. Sander feels his team has the pitching depth to pull off a similar feat if necessary.

"I definitely feel we have the depth, but sometimes it’s more a matter of overcoming mental and physical fatigue than having superior talent," said Sander of fighting back through the loser’s bracket in long nine-inning contests. "Winning three games in one day is not easy, but we hope we don’t have to face that scenario."

The Green Knights, who won the MWC tourney in 1996 and 1997, are led at the plate by designated hitter Nicky Cordy (.436) and left fielder Dave Reichwald (.418). The pair also leads St. Norbert on the basepaths with 10 and 13 steals, respectively. The power comes from farther on down their list of top hitters, as catcher Bryan Lemmans (.347) has four homers and center fielder Josh Krowiorz (.298) has five. Other Knights who have helped the team compile a staggering .355 average are shortstop Mike Frelich (.393), Matt Frank (.358) and right fielder Mike Kessler (.353).

On the mound, Evan Celing has a 5-1 mark with a 3.50 ERA. Joe Borchardt (4-1, 5.67) and Zach Sand (3-2, 7.79) lead the team in starts.

"They’re a really good-hitting ballclub," said Sander. "They don’t give up, either. If they don’t come back and win that game when they were down 8-0, then Ripon is the champion. I think we’re very similar teams, but I think you might give the edge in pitching to us."

While St. Norbert’s powerful offense is producing nearly nine runs per game, its pitching has been suspect. The staff’s ERA of 6.23 is over a run and a half more than Monmouth’s 4.72.

Ryan Johnson is the Scots’ ace with a 5-3 record and 2.55 ERA. The team’s lone southpaw has fanned 51 in 53 innings and he’ll get the nod vs. St. Norbert. From there, a conventional approach would have Sander’s other two planned starters, Beau Hellman (4-1, 3.23) and Joe Larkins (4-2, 4.34), also start a game. But Sander believes in putting the best arm on the mound, which is why current assistant coach Brent Dugan threw 23 innings in 24 hours in the 1994 championships.

"Hopefully, it’ll be Johnson, Hellman and Larkins for three complete-game wins, and that’ll be it," said Sander, who also has Toby Lannholm (3-0, 3.27) and Jake Bilyeu (1-5, 7.42) available in the pen.

Offensively, the Scots have had great success in the top five slots of the lineup with an all-Galesburg contingent of shortstop Casey Boydstun (.386, school records of 49 hits and 21 steals), second baseman Shawn Hickey (.343), center fielder Steve Glasgow (.402, 24 RBI), designated hitter Joe Larkins (.323, 7 HR, 27 RBI) and catcher Taylor Thiel (.300). The sixth and seventh men aren’t shabby, either, as first baseman Kevin Clarey is riding a 10-game hitting streak and is batting .402 to go with six homers and 25 RBI. He recently became the third Fighting Scot to earn the MWC’s South Division Player of the Week honor. Left fielder Jim Starcevich, who bats seventh, has flourished in his new starting role, hitting .409. Starcevich doesn’t have enough at-bats for season-long statistical qualifications, but he did qualify in the MWC and wound up third with a .464 average. Glasgow led the way at .488.

A possible foe down the road would be Grinnell, which possesses good pitching in the

form of last season’s South Division Player of the Year, Jake Chavez. The fireballing righthander topped Monmouth twice this season, including a 1-0 masterpiece over Johnson for the Scots’ only defeat at Glasgow Field.

"What’s Grinnell going to do (with him)?" asked Sander. "I have no idea. But IC knocked him around pretty good and he’s had two losses, so somebody’s hitting him."

Chavez was a perfect 4-0 in MWC play with a league-best 1.57 ERA. His win total was equaled by Ripon double-threat Nick Johnson, who also clubbed an MWC-high nine homers. Other league leaders present at the tourney will be Boydstun (10 steals) and Ripon’s Dan Pacer (28 RBI) and Chris Morgan (42 strikeouts, two saves).

Should Monmouth have the answer for Chavez, the Knights and anyone else that stands in its way, Sander said the team would learn of its NCAA fate Sunday night or Monday morning.

"As of right now, St. Olaf’s the third-ranked team in the country, so my guess is we’d go to Minnesota if we won, or maybe to one of the state schools in Wisconsin," said Sander. The Scots last NCAA foes in 1983 were Ohio Northern and Luther in a regional that Monmouth hosted after going 21-2 in the regular season.