Fighting Scots on a roll as they prepare for home opener

Release Date: March 16, 2005

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Some things you know, some things you think you know and others just come right out of the blue.

That pretty much describes Monmouth baseball coach Roger Sander’s experiences with his pitching staff during the Fighting Scots’ 10-game Florida trip. After posting a 6-4 record in the Sunshine State, Monmouth has returned to the Winter-Won’t-Quite-End State and is scheduled to play its home opener against Augustana College on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Glasgow Field.

Sander gave junior transfer Dan Dunn the ball on Opening Day in Florida, and Dunn responded with a solid effort for the win against Widener University. He returned to the hill later in the trip against Lakeland and was even better, tossing a one-hit shutout. The gem improved his record to 2-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.93.

Sander is also high on freshman Brian Schutzbach, and the rookie southpaw sent the Scots home happy with a 5-2 complete-game victory over previously unbeaten Augustana.

“Brian Schutzbach just threw a dandy,” said Sander of the effort, which included 10 strikeouts and no earned runs. Schutzbach is now 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA.

However, the pitching performance that turned the Scots’ trip around came against the College of Mount St. Joseph. Monmouth was reeling after doubleheader defeats vs. Wartburg College and Wabash University, and the Scots quickly fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first against CMSJ with two runners on. Sander summoned Clint Dintelman from the bullpen, and the sophomore put out the fire. Little did Sander know that his short reliever would wind up finishing the nine-inning game, which Monmouth rallied to win 10-5.

“We’ve been grooming him to be a set-up guy,” said Sander. “I didn’t know how long he could go, but he pitched eight and a third innings and did it on only 92 pitches. He threw strikes, the game moves and everybody’s happy. Trust me, I was ecstatic.”

Midway through the trip, the Scots’ team ERA balooned to 9.00, but Sander said that was due in part to the level of competition.

“We played a monstrous schedule,” he said. “We played the eight-time defending IIAC champions, Wartburg, and another team we played, Wabash, beat Wartburg down there. Playing 10 games in seven days, you just try to survive.”

With the strong performances by Dunn and Schutzbach and Dintelman’s heroic relief work, Sander was able to say, “We’re going to be deep all the way around. You know Steve Myros will give us solid innings, and Mason Abner settled down and pitched a good game for us after a rough first inning. We’re deep.”

That applies to the Monmouth batting order, as well. The Scots’ talented bench appears to be a collection of Lou Gehrigs, waiting for Wally Pipp to go down.

“Jacob Bice sat for seven games, then he started the eighth game and went 2-for-3, and his out was a laser that I have no idea how the third baseman gloved,” said Sander. “My job is to figure out who to play, and it isn’t easy.”

There do appear to be a couple no-brainers. Senior outfielder Steve Turner “came up with a key hit almost every at bat” and wound up the trip with a .425 average and team highs of 17 hits, four doubles, 12 runs and 11 RBIs. First baseman Alan Betourne, who hit .373 a year ago, completed the Florida swing with a .410 average and six extra base hits.

“We had good performances from a lot of people,” said Sander. “(Freshman) Ryan Priola basically carried us for the first few games. He was 10-for-18 at one point. He was like a man-child.”

Although they had less than 10 at-bats, players like Chad Goad, Scott Coles and Ryan Stubler all delivered, as did veteran regulars such as Josh Hall (.421), Jason Salmon (.343), Matt Gordon (.333), Thad King (.292) and Josh Ragar (.286).

“We never really put it all together down there,” concluded Sander. “When we do put it all together, we’re going to be pretty salty.”

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