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Sander, Scots seek seventh straight
South supremacy
Release Date: March 7, 2007
MONMOUTH, Ill. — When we last left
the Monmouth College baseball team, they had just experienced a
rollercoaster day that capped off a rollercoaster season.
The Fighting Scots twice threw out the winning run at the plate to
beat Grinnell in a thrilling 11-inning game at the Midwest
Conference Championships but fell hours later to Ripon in the title
game, ending a 20-18 season. Monmouth won the conference’s South
Division for the sixth straight time, but the title was harder to
come by than in years past, as all three South competitors took at
least one game from the Scots.
That parity has carried over to the spring, as the league coaches
could not pick a clear preseason favorite in the South. Monmouth
shared the No. 1 spot with Grinnell and Illinois College.
“I’m kind of upset we’re not picked to win it,” said Roger Sander,
who will enter his 14th year as Monmouth’s head coach with a record
of 244-188. “Some people want to play the underdog card, but not me.
I say, why not be like Kenyon swimming or Mount Union football or
Monmouth’s track team and be the team that everybody else is
shooting for.”
Sander did agree, though, that the conference has improved across
the board in the past 10 years, and said that “you’ve got to be
ready every day” against other division teams.
The North Division winner will host this year’s MWC Championships
May 11-12, and Ripon is heavily favored to be that team for the
seventh time in the past eight seasons. The Red Hawks won the North
with a 16-0 mark last spring, but they will be hurt by the
graduation of seniors named Pitcher and Player of the Year.
The Scots had their share of hits and misses during the 2006
campaign and, like Ripon, that is also the case when it comes to
returning players.
All-MWC position players Matt Gordon, Josh Ragar, Jason Salmon and
Chris Smith are gone, but former South Division Player of the Year
and two-time all-league pick Ryan Stubler (.343, 28 RBI) returns, as
does All-MWC shortstop Ryan Priola (.338, 4 HR, 25 RBI). Nate
Palkovic (.331, 12 RBI), who brings a nine-game hitting streak into
the season, was a second team All-MWC pick last year.
“When you look at our team, you’ve got to start with the two Ryans,”
said Sander. “People have told me that they might be two of the best
Division III players in the state. Ryan Priola’s leadership and work
ethic are second to none, and he’s a great hitter. Ryan Stubler is
just a great player and a great athlete.”
Although Sander said his starting infield features “interchangeable
parts,” it is most likely that Priola will be at shortstop and
Stubler will play first. Palkovic, who was also called “a good
athlete” by Sander, will get the starting nod at second, and the
all-junior infield will be completed by third baseman Jake
Gustafson.
“My junior class is just really, really into baseball,” said Sander.
“I tell the players all the time that the minute they start thinking
like me, the better off they’ll be. I have high goals, and this
junior class has bought into that entirely, and they’re helping it
filter down to the rest of the team.”
Three spot starters are also back for the Scots, including
outfielders Jeremy Kafka (.309) and B.J. Luxmore and designated
hitter Jake Bice.
Kafka figures to man right field, and he also might see some time on
the mound. That would be appropriate, as Sander calls him “our Mark
Prior. He’s had a rough career here, and they’ve all been freak
things. He’s healthy now, though, and he’s a very, very gifted
athlete. I think he’s ready for big senior year.”
Luxmore, Matt McIntire and Kevin Sashko are also in the four-player
mix for the three outfield spots, with McIntire likely to get the
starting nod in center.
“Matt waited his turn behind Jason Salmon,” said Sander of the
former Southern star. “He does some things that Jason can’t do. He’s
bigger and stronger, and he’s just as fast.”
In all, the team has 20 freshmen, with middle infielders Tom Shaver
(Mundelein) and Vinnie Vitale (Gurnee-Warren) and catchers Beesan
Hryckiewicz (Orland Park Sandburg) and Chaz Baggio (Argo) expected
to make the biggest impact.
The latter two players will be joined by veteran Mark Allemang,
sophomore Nick Basala and freshman Neil Mecagni (Putnam County) in
the battle to replace Ragar behind the plate. Hryckiewicz has the
inside track at the moment, but Baggio’s ability to “attack the
ball” offensively figures to get him at-bats somewhere in the
lineup.
“Beesan throws the ball really well, he works the pitchers well and
he may be our fastest runner,” said Sander. “We’re not going to be a
slow team this year.”
Rounding out the position players are senior Kyle Eick, sophomores
Willy Mason and Brian Wilhelm and freshmen Andrew Jay (Lemont),
Keegan Jones (Knoxville), Willie Urish (Williamsville), Ben McGuire
(Knoxville), Brett Peterson (Burlington, Wis), Patrick Guinea
(Lincoln-Way East), Crane D’Louhy (Morgan Park), Michael Bobinksi
(Niles Notre Dame) and Andrew Weidner (Harvard).
Where Monmouth’s experience took the hardest hit was on the mound.
All-conference pitchers Dan Dunn and Matt Engelhardt, who posted 23
of Monmouth’s 38 starts, have graduated. The Scots’ staff returns
just four starts from last season, as Nate McCaherty, Drew Johnson,
Scott Coles and Matt Tye each got the ball one time.
However, McCaherty and Coles are seasoned relievers, both posting
double-digit appearance totals in that category in 2006. Coles had
four saves, while McCaherty posted a 3.25 ERA and one save while
pitching 27.2 innings, the highest-figure among Monmouth’s returners.
Despite their bullpen experience, Sander said both will begin the
season as starters.
Also back for the Scots is Brian Chandler, who threw nine shutout
innings in relief of McCaherty in the Scots’ 1-0 playoff victory
over Grinnell. Veterans Chris Schwarz, Ross Reedy and Matt Bourne
are also making the team’s season-opening trip to Arizona and will
try to impress Sander during the Scots’ stretch of 10 games in seven
days.
Tim Guiter (Ottumwa, Iowa) and southpaw Chris Albanese (Thornton
Fractional South) are the cream of a freshmen pitching corps that
also includes Mike Casmer (Hoffman Estates), Jeremy Foy (Maine West)
and Brian Antone (Mt. Carmel).
Sander said 13 of the 28 players he is taking to Arizona can pitch.
But asked to name his No. 1 starter, he replied, “I can’t. The
pitcher we’re going with on Opening Day (Saturday against
Macalester) is simply the one we think can recover fastest and pitch
again in Arizona. We’ve got eight or nine guys who would say they’re
our No. 1 starter.”
After returning from Arizona, the Scots are scheduled to open their
home season with single dates on March 21, 25 and 27 against
Augustana, Robert Morris-Springfield and Eureka.
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