SCOTS SCOOP 2007

SCOTS SCOOP – March 14, 2007 – Vol. 7, No. 32

HAYNES NAMED NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

If you own a Monmouth College calendar for the 2006-07 calendar year, you’ll realize that it’s very appropriate that March has been a big month for MC track coach Roger Haynes.

Not only did Haynes’ team set a couple major team records at last weekend’s national meet (see story below), but the veteran Monmouth coach – who shares the March page in the calendar with Fighting Scot legend Bobby Woll – achieved a landmark personal honor. The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced last week that Haynes was its National Men’s Coach of the Year in Division III for the indoor track season.

Two days prior, Haynes had earned the organization’s Midwest Region Coach of the Year. The USTFCCCA names top men’s and women’s coaches in all eight regions, as well as male and female track athletes of the year and field athletes of the year.

“It’s really an honor for our program and our kids,” said Haynes. “It’s indicative of what our kids have done and is recognition of their accomplishments.”

In its news release, the USTFCCCA cited Monmouth’s recent dominance at the Midwest Conference championships, as well as the fact that nine men’s team members qualified for the national meet.

Haynes, a Hall of Fame MC athlete who graduated in 1982, has coached men’s track and field at his alma mater for 24 years. His teams have produced four national champion individuals and have two top 10 national finishes, including this season. The Fighting Scots’ indoor conference title was their eighth consecutive one. In all, Haynes has guided men’s teams to 14 indoor championships in the MWC and 12 outdoor crowns.

He took over the women’s program in 2000 and has won 13 additional MWC titles with those teams, giving the program a total of 39 conference championships under his leadership.

Speaking of the calendar, here’s what recent MC graduate Anthony Welty says about Haynes on the March page: “He is the epitome of what a good coach should be. He never compromises his values and he gives all that he is to the program. He is so passionate about what he does.”

MEN’S TRACK PLACES SIXTH IN NATION

Thanks to All-American performances by five individuals and a relay team, Monmouth’s men’s track team placed sixth at the NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.

Junior pole vaulter Jessica White (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) also finished in the top eight of her event, giving Monmouth 10 men’s and women’s All-Americans, the most the school has ever had at a national meet. The men’s team total of nine All-Americans easily topped the previous best of six set at the 1992 outdoor meet.

“It’s certainly a good weekend any time you come home from the national meet with 10 All-Americans,” said coach Roger Haynes. “But I don’t think that any of our kids feel they maxed out. We feel good about what we did overall with the All-Americans, but the overall feeling is surprisingly average.”

That’s because Monmouth narrowly missed out on its goal of bringing home team hardware from the meet. The men had hoped to place in the top four, but their total of 20.5 points was good for sixth place. Still, that’s the highest national finish ever for a Fighting Scots track team, breaking the old record of seventh place set by MC’s men, also in 1992.

“No. 6 as a team is good, but I think our kids feel the difference between No. 4 and No. 6 was pretty small and is something we were in control of somewhat,” added Haynes.

Monmouth’s point total did receive a boost when the 4x400 relay team, which was not seeded to finish in the top eight, broke the school-record with a time of 3:18.53. That mark, which won their heat, was good for a fifth place finish for the team of seniors Dante Daniels (Waukegan, Ill./Gurnee-Warren), Tyler Rundle (Monmouth, Ill./Warren) and Josh Reschke (Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo) and sophomore Luke Reschke.

“It was a pretty dominant performance in their heat,” said Haynes, who noted the team was consistent throughout with relatively even splits, led by Josh Reschke’s 49.0. In the pole vault competition, juniors Peter Sprecher (Canton, Ill./Canton) and Jonny Henkins (Kewanee, Ill./Kewanee) both cleared 16’1-3/4. Due to missed attempts, Sprecher tied for fourth, while Henkins placed sixth. It was the second All-American honor for Henkins, who placed fifth at last year’s national outdoor meet.

“They were both pretty solid as far as their approach and take-off, but they were both missing at the top,” said Haynes of the duo, who both cleared 16’9-1/2 a week ago. “They clearly weren’t the best they’d been all season, but I think they both have some good things in their future.”

Another Monmouth athlete repeated as All-American, as senior Alex Stuart (Kirkwood, Ill./Little York) placed eighth in the triple jump. The former Yorkwood standout finished seventh a year ago at the outdoor nationals. After recording what would prove to be his top distance of 46’3-1/2 in the preliminaries, there was some drama involved in Stuart’s All-American bid. He fouled on his last attempt in the finals, but the ninth-place performer came up two centimeters short of Stuart on his last – and best – attempt.

“Alex has been struggling a little bit with a foot injury in the last couple weeks,” said Haynes. “I think if he’d been able to compete at his best, he could’ve been in the top four or five, but being an All-American is still a great accomplishment.”

On Friday, senior Jeff Rebholz (Henry, Ill./Henry) experienced the “just missed” ninth-place feeling in the weight throw, but he came back strong on the second day of competition to place fourth in the shot put at 54’0-1/2.

“Jeff feels pretty good,” said Haynes. “He rebounded from an off day on Friday and had a real solid day.”

Lincoln University captured the team championship with 59 points, and UW-LaCrosse (48), UW-Oshkosh (43.5) and SUNY-Brockport (30) also took home team trophies. SUNY-Cortland placed fifth with 23 points.

On the first day of competition on Friday, junior Zach Wilson (Lacon, Ill./Midland) lived up to his national ranking in the weight throw, placing sixth with a throw of 57’11-3/4. He hit that mark in the preliminary rounds, and although he was not able to add to that distance on his three attempts in the finals, his top throw held up for All-American honors and three points in the team standings for the Fighting Scots men.

Rebholz, who was the last qualifier for the weight throw finals, missed out on All-American honors by one place with a top throw of 55’5-1/2.

A week before nationals, White set the school pole vault record, and she broke that mark by one and one-quarter inch on Friday, clearing 11’11-3/4. That height was good for seventh place, making her Monmouth’s first female indoor track All-American since high jumper Melissa Jones in 2003.

In the preliminaries of the 55-meter hurdles, there was good news and bad news for sophomore Shannon Turczyn (Peru, Ill./LaSalle-Peru). She broke her own school record with a time of 8.35, but it was not enough to advance to Saturday’s finals. The eighth and final qualifying time was 8.29, placing Turczyn ninth in the 17-athlete field.

SCOTS SEEK SEVENTH STRAIGHT SOUTH SUPREMACY

When we last left the Monmouth College baseball team, they had just experienced a rollercoaster day that capped 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) 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 (Wyanet, Ill./Bureau Valley).

“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 (New Windsor, Ill./Sherrard) and designated hitter Jake Bice (Colchester, Ill./West Prairie).

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, junior Matt McIntire (Stronghurst, Ill./Southern) and sophomore Kevin Sashko (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) are also in the four-player mix for the three outfield spots, with McIntire likely to win the starting center field job.

“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, and middle infielders Tom Shaver (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) and Vinnie Vitale (Gurnee, Ill./Warren) and catchers Beesan Hryckiewicz (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) and Chaz Baggio (Bedford, Park, Ill./Argo) are expected to make an immediate impact.

The latter two players will be joined by veteran Mark Allemang (Rochelle, Ill./Rochelle), sophomore Nick Basala (Matherville, Ill./Sherrard) and freshman Neil Mecagni (Granville, Ill./Putnam County) in the battle to replace Ragar behind the plate. Hryckiewicz has the inside track, 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.”

Rounding out the position players are senior Kyle Eick (Westchester, Ill./St. Joseph), sophomores Willy Mason (Lansing, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) and Brian Wilhelm (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) and freshmen Andrew Jay (Lemont, Ill./Lemont), Keegan Jones (Knoxville, Ill./Knoxville), Willie Urish (Williamsville, Ill./Williamsville), Ben McGuire (Knoxville, Ill./Knoxville), Brett Peterson (Burlington, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran), Patrick Guinea (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East), Crane D’Louhy (Oak Lawn, Ill./Morgan Park), Michael Bobinksi (Des Plaines, Ill./Niles Notre Dame), Stephen Underwood (Pawnee, Ill./Pawnee) and Andrew Weidner (Harvard, Ill./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 senior Scott Coles (Lake Villa, Ill./Antioch), junior Nate McCaherty (Washington, Ill./Deer Creek-Mackinaw) and sophomores Drew Johnson (North Henderson, Ill./United) and Matt Tye (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) 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 sophomore Brian Chandler (Petersburg, Ill./Athens), who threw nine shutout innings in relief in the Scots’ 1-0 playoff victory over Grinnell. Veterans Chris Schwarz (Moline, Ill./Moline), Ross Reedy (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth) and Matt Bourne (Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic) 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/Ottumwa) and southpaw Chris Albanese (Lansing, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) are the cream of a freshmen pitching corps that also includes Mike Casmer (Schaumburg, Ill./Hoffman Estates), Jeremy Foy (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West) and Brian Antone (Orland Park, Ill./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 (Tye) 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.

SCOTS START TRIP WITH 2-4 MARK

The Fighting Scots are still searching for their first well-pitched game of the 2007 season, but so far, coach Roger Sander’s squad has proved it can hit the ball. Monmouth has averaged nearly seven runs a game while opening the season with a 2-4 record.

For a while Tuesday vs. North Park, a Scot pitcher was strong on the mound, as Ryan Priola pitched scoreless ball through five innings. But the first eight batters in the sixth inning reached base, including two on errors, and the Scots could not stop the snowball until they had been North Park mauled by a 14-0 final score.

Defensive letdowns have definitely been part of the team’s lack of pitching success, as the Scots have committed 20 errors and have not had less than two in a game. Monmouth fielders made eight miscues in the team’s season-opening 12-7, 11-5 doubleheader loss to Macalester on Saturday.

The good news is an attack that has seen five players average more than a hit per game. Jeremy Kafka is the leader so far, going 12-for-24 for an even .500 average. Ryan Stubler and Priola have been the biggest run producers, driving in seven and five runs, respectively, and freshman catchers Beesan Hryckiewicz and Chaz Baggio have also been impressive.

Sander worked them both into the lineup vs. Marian on Sunday, and the result was a 15-8 victory in the opener of the doubleheader. Hryckiewicz moved to left field, where he went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs, and Baggio slid in behind the plate, going 3-for-3 with three runs and three ribbies as the Scots picked up their first win of the season.

Designated hitter Jake Bice added a three-run homer and Brian Chandler picked up the victory, as only two of the seven runs he allowed were earned.

In the nightcap, Marian plated six runs in the top of the fourth to snap a 2-2 tie. Chris Albanese took the loss.

The Scots’ biggest hit so far also came from a freshman, as Tom Shaver drove in two runs with a two-out, bases-loaded single Monday in the top of the sixth vs. Westminster. Monmouth went on to win the game 9-7.

Stubler, who earned the victory in relief, finished with three hits, three runs and three RBIs, while Kafka had a three-hit game. Albanese got the final four outs to notch the save. The nightcap was called due to darkness before it became an official game. The decision came just in time, as the Scots were just a few outs away from an 11-4 loss.

MITCHELL’S SHUTOUT GIVES SCOTS FIRST WIN

The Fighting Scots softball team mastered pitching, fielding and offense to pick up their first victory of the season on Monday, topping Medaille College 8-0 in Tucson, Ariz.

Handling the pitching duties was freshman Valerie Mitchell (Port Byron, Ill./Riverdale), who scattered four hits and did not walk a batter. She received support from her defense, which did not commit an error, and from her offense, which slapped 11 hits, including a 3-for-3 day for freshman Kembra Bell (Beardstown, Ill./Beardstown). Sophomore Ashley Tocha (Kewanee, Ill./Kewanee) and seniors Jackie Hennenfent (Wataga, Ill./ROWVA) and Drew Robinson (St. Charles, Ill./North) each added two hits, and Robinson and freshman Brooke Dean (Milan, Ill./Rock Island) both drove in two.

In their second game of the day, Monmouth had six of the game’s 11 errors in a 7-2 loss to the College of St. Scholastica. Only three of the runs that pitchers Sarah Christensen (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) and Amanda Murdock (Aledo, Ill./Aledo) allowed were earned, but it was enough to give the Scots the second loss of their trip. Robinson had two more hits, including a triple, and Dean added two singles.

In Monmouth’s season opener on Sunday, three errors led to four unearned runs in an 8-3 loss to Marian College.

Bell’s bases loaded double brought Monmouth within 4-2 in the bottom of the third, but Marian plated pairs of runs in the fifth and seventh innings to keep the Scots at bay. Robinson had two hits, while Christensen took the defeat.

CARTER TOPS WIU FOE

Going into last week, senior Alex Carter (Wilton, Iowa/Wilton) was already a nice story, going from unheralded P.E. class participant to the runner-up at last year’s Midwest Conference Championships in No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles.

Carter’s story got a little more interesting last Thursday, when he was the lone Fighting Scot to win at match against Division I Western Illinois University. Carter gutted out a 2-6, 7-6, 12-10 win at No. 5 singles during the Scots’ 6-1 loss to the Leathernecks.

Carter then turned his focus to a Division III opponent the following day and dominated his Wartburg foe 6-0, 6-0 as Monmouth won the match 8-1.

Two of Monmouth’s wins vs. undermanned Wartburg came via forfeit, but other singles winners included senior Jared Kunkle (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) at No. 1, sophomore Kyle Korb (Quincy, Ill./Quincy) at No. 2 and junior Matt Moser (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West) at No. 4. Korb and Kunkle won their No. 1 doubles match 8-2, and junior Kevin Kamenjarin (Alsip, Ill./Marist) and senior Brian Jordan (Peoria, Ill./Limestone) picked up an 8-4 victory at No. 2 doubles.

The Scots will take a 3-3 record into a home match Thursday vs. Loras.

WHEN GREAT RECRUITING CLASSES COLLIDE

What happens when the two top recruiting classes in coach Dave Ragone’s tenure come together?

Hopefully, Monmouth College’s first-ever automatic qualification for the NCAA tournament.

Ragone, in his seventh year guiding the Fighting Scots’ men’s golf program, has a strong senior class which he refers to as “the fearsome fivesome.” Joining that group of veterans is a solid group of incoming freshmen, including at least three players who should crack the team’s top 12 performers.

Along with perennial favorites Knox and Lawrence, Monmouth will contend for the Midwest Conference championship, and if the Scots can win the 54-hole event, they will earn a trip to Indianapolis to compete at the national meet.

“We’re very deep – that’s going to be our strength,” said Ragone, who guided Monmouth to MWC titles in 2002 and 2004. “We’re going to be as good as anybody in the No. 3 through No. 6 positions. We should be right around 300 every time out.”

Three of his “quality quintet” of seniors posted rounds of even-par 71 or better at Gibson Woods during fall practice, led by a 68 by Lee Radford (Orion, Ill./Orion). Justin Martin (Monmouth, Ill./Warren) and Doug Middendorf (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame) also reached the magic number of par, and the senior fivesome is rounded out by Jeff Denny (Atlanta, Ill./Olympia), who had the team’s low round of 72 last spring, and Nick Harwick (Canton, Ill./Canton).

Radford, who is one of the team’s steadiest iron players, is a two-time All-MWC performer, while Middendorf, who is classified as one of the squad’s biggest hitters, earned his first all-conference honor last season. The Scots placed second at the conference meet, carding rounds of 319-312-313 to trail champion Knox by 13 strokes.

Harwick is the team’s other big driver, while Denny’s strength is consistent iron play.

Because he was busy coaching football during the fall, Ragone isn’t able to classify the strengths of all of his eight freshmen just yet. He does know, though, that newcomers Max Goodrich (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln), Ryan Harvey (Hennepin, Ill./Putnam County) and Ryan Tapscott (Port Byron, Ill./Riverdale) should be in the mix for varsity playing time, along with sophomores Jake Kilberg (Rock Falls, Ill./Rock Falls) and Greg Jones (Roseville, Ill./Roseville) and junior transfer Aaron Thiel (Williamsfield, Ill./Williamsfield).

“They will all vie for a spot,” Ragone said, adding that the No. 1 position on the team is still unsettled but will likely go to either Radford or Middendorf. “Either way, we’ll be pretty strong.”

Rounding out the 20-man team are senior John Tiffy (Midlothian, Ill./Richards), juniors Erik Hoffer (Palos Hills, Ill./Stagg) and Joel Johnson (Waterman, Ill./Indian Creek), sophomore Ryan Powers (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) and freshmen Zach Coles (Lake Villa, Ill./Antioch), Nate Harroun (Taylor Ridge, Ill./Rockridge), Jon Matthews (Casey, Ill./Casey-Westfield), Reilly Parungao (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame) and Kyle Tuor (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap).

“We’re taking a blue-collar approach this season,” said Ragone. “We’re really stressing work ethic and bringing our lunch pail everyday. We’re concentrating on the process and the work habits to get where we want to be this season, which is that automatic qualification.”

Ragone said that this season’s NCAA tournament has been on his radar since he was recruiting his current senior class, and he’d like nothing better than for them to reach that lofty goal in their final season.

Before they compete in the pivotal MWC Championships in Rockford May 3-5, highlights on the Scots’ schedule include their Spring Break trip to the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Alabama; their season-opening meet March 16-17 at Millikin; the first-ever Knox-Monmouth Invitational on April 6-7; and a meet the following weekend that will be played at the highly-touted Lawsonia Golf Course in Green Lake, Wis.