MOUNT VERNON, IA . . .The 2002 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s (IIAC) baseball season got underway on Tuesday with five-time defending Conference Champion Wartburg College splitting a doubleheader against NCAA Division II University of South Dakota at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN.
Despite the loss of two First Team All-Conference players including two-time Conference Most Valuable Player Matt Thede, Wartburg is again the preseason Conference favorite. Wartburg returns 14 letterwinners including four All-Conference players, tops in the IIAC.
Coe and Loras both have three All-Conference players back from last season. Simpson and Upper Iowa return two All-Conference players each and Buena Vista, Cornell and Luther all have one returning All-Conference player on its rosters.
With the experience that many teams have returning, many IIAC coaches feel the Conference is a lot more balanced from top to bottom. According to Central’s John Edwards, “Everybody’s catching up a little bit. I think having to have four legitimate starting pitchers is a factor. Every team is capable of beating you on a given day.”
“The Conference is strong. Loras and Cornell bring their top pitchers back and Buena Vista, Central, Dubuque and Luther will be improved,” Warburg’s Joel Holst said. He mention’s Upper Iowa, Coe and Simpson as the school’s he expects to challenge Wartburg the most.
Dubuque’s Dennis Rima echoed Holst’s sentiments. “Wartburg looks to be the front runner and with the players that a lot of teams have back, I look for Simpson, Upper Iowa, Loras, Coe and Cornell to be very strong too.”
Iowa Conference teams begin the non-Conference portion of the schedule as earlier as February 26 (Wartburg) and as late as March 23 (Luther). The Conference schedule begins on April 4, and concludes with the top six teams advancing to the Conference Tournament at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo, IA on May 9-11.
The up-to-date composite Conference schedule, results and statistics are available on the baseball home page of the Conference web site at www.iowaconference.com. For the most up-to-date team rosters, visit the baseball page of each school’s athletic web site.
A complete team-by-team preview follows.
Buena Vista University Beavers
(2001 - 12-17-1 Overall, 7-11 IIAC 10th place)
Buena Vista only lost three letterwinners to graduation and have a the core of its 2001 line-up back this season as 11 letterwinners and 10 starters return. The Beavers are one of the younger teams in the Iowa Conference as their current 32-man roster is comprised of 16 freshmen, three sophomores, nine juniors and only four seniors.
That was then, this is now . . .
BUENA VISTA ON THE MOUND: Senior Eric Hoffmann (Walnut, IA/Walnut HS) returns as Buena Vista’s most experienced pitcher. In 11 games last season with six starts, he finished with a 3-3 record, tied for the most wins on the staff. He also pitched two complete games. Junior Nathan Kleve (Clamar, IA/South Winneshiek HS) and sophomore Jeremiah Knutzen (Adel, IA/Adel-DeSoto- Minburn HS) each made six appearances on the mound in 2001. All of Kleve’s appearances were starts while Knutzen made five of his appearances out of the bullpen and was tied for the team lead with two saves.
Junior Mike Fong (Des Moines, IA/Hoover HS) and freshman Dan Christiansen (Petersen, IA/Sioux Central HS) are expected to join Hoffmann and Kleve in the starting rotation. Others to see action on the mound include sophomore Lance Ploeger (Schaller, IA/Schaller- Crestland HS) and freshmen Cory Tibbetts (Petersen, IA/Sioux Central HS) and Nick Ginapp (Marshalltown, IA/Marshalltown HS). Ploeger missed the 2001 season due to injury.
BUENA VISTA IN THE FIELD/AT THE PLATE: Ploeger, Knutzen and junior Justin McAtee (Storm Lake, IA/Storm Lake HS) will be the Beavers starting outfield. McAtee is the most experienced of the trio having started all 30 games in 2001. Sophomore Dan Nuehring (Albert City, IA/Laurens-Marathon HS) struggled at the plate in his 13 appearances last season but will push for playing time in the outfield this season along with fellow sophomores Travis Wielenga (Sioux Center, IA/Sioux Center HS), Gregg Winters (Iowa Falls, IA/Iowa Falls HS) and freshman Mitch Connot (Sioux City, IA/Sioux City East HS).
Around the infield, All-Conference third baseman Nick Beard (Omaha, NE/Millard South HS) returns after leading Buena Vista in all offensive categories last season. He hit .473 with nine homeruns, 36 RBI and a .989 slugging percentage. Senior shortstop Tom Cooper (Omaha, NE/Millard South HS) returns to the line-up after sitting out the 2001 season. He led the team in hitting as a freshman. Senior Quinn Hildman (Waterloo, IA/Columbus HS) brings experience to the right side of the infield having hit .255 in 29 contests last season. He is joined on the right side by freshman first baseman Ben Lickteig (Algona, IA/Algona Garrigan HS). Nuehring, sophomore Chris Petersen (Kimballton, IA/Elk Horn-Kimballtown HS) and freshman Justin Burns (Audubon, IA/Audubon HS) are all expected to see playing time around the infield.
Sophomore Cory Kennedy (Boone, IA/Boone HS) appeared in 22 games with 21 starts last season. His .262 average and .966 fielding percentage will be behind the plate as the Beavers’ number one catcher. Freshman Pat Groves (Papillion, NE/Papillion-LaVista HS) will serve as Kennedy’s back-up.
BUENA VISTA IN THE DUGOUT: Steve Eddie enters his second season as head coach at Buena Vista after serving two seasons as an assistant with the team. Eddie joined the coaching ranks after spending seven seasons playing professionally.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS: “Our best players are seniors and we will look to them for leadership on and off the field,” Eddie said.
Central College Dutch
(2001 – 15-23 Overall, 7-10 IIAC 9th place)
Central has 11 letterwinners returning from last season’s 15-23 team but lost seven key players including two All-Conference players - outfielder Scott Marlow and designated hitter Cole Van Vark. Marlow hit .412 with seven homeruns and 34 RBI last season and finished his career with a school record 164 hits. Van Vark hit .362 with five homeruns and 27 RBI. Also gone from the 2001 roster are infielders Joel Harthoon (.250 avg., 4 HR, 15 RBI in 32 games), Mike Vroegh (.271 avg., 10 RBI in 23 games) and outfielder Sean McMurray (.267 avg., 9 RBI in 25 games).
That was then, this is now . . .
CENTRAL ON THE MOUND: The Dutch have an experienced pitching staff, but the five returning pitchers with starting experience have provided mixed results. Senior Nick Poch (Riverside, IA/Highland HS) returns after missing the 2001 season. In six starts in 2000, he posted a 2-3 record with two complete games. Last season, the quartet of Joe Lubach (Pella, IA/Pella HS), Jim Barclay (Arlington, IA/Starmont HS), Adam Rozenboom (Packwood, IA/Pekin HS) and Eric Van Wyngarden (Pella, IA/Pella Christian HS) combined for eight of Central’s 15 victories but each had an ERA over 7.00. The entire Central staff compiled an 8.73 ERA.
Seniors Lubach and Barclay are the top two starters with the remaining spots open. In addition to Poch and junior lefties Rozenboom and Van Wyngarden, 11 newcomers will battle for the remaining spots in the rotation. Poch could be used in the closers roll early in the season.
CENTRAL IN THE FIELD/AT THE PLATE: Senior catcher Matt Menninga (Sully, IA/Pella Christian HS) is Central’s top returning offensive threat, having a .371 average last season along with four homeruns and 37 RBI. He also provides a great glove behind the plate, finishing the 2001 season with a .917 fielding percentage. Look for Head Coach John Edwards to give Menninga time off behind the plate and to use him in the outfield or as the DH. Senior Bryan Mayer (St. Ansgar, IA/St. Ansgar HS), sophomore Todd Ehlers (Cedar Falls, IA/Cedar Falls HS) or freshmen Kody Wohlers (Missouri Valley, IA/Missouri Valley HS) and Matt Dummann (Germantown, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran HS) would see action behind the plate in those instances.
Third base is Central’s most stable infield position with senior Chris Kollbaum (Ballwin, MO/Parkway West HS) returning. He hit .357 last season with 21 RBI and 19 runs scored. Junior Brent Fridley (Hampton, IA/Hampton-Dumont HS) saw action in 19 games at shortstop last season (.226 avg.) and is the leading candidate for the starting position. Sophomore Dustin Sifford (Glendale, AZ/Independence HS) also saw action at short. Second base remains open with six players vying for time. Junior Travis Hilsabeck (Pleasantville, IA/Pleasantville HS) appears the favorite to move into the starting first baseman’s position. In 21 games last season at shortstop, Hilsabeck hit .258 with 10 RBI.
Senior center fielder Ronnie Lamfers (Kanawha, IA/West Hancock HS) provides the speed in the Dutch line-up stealing 20 bases a year ago in 22 attempts. He hit .306 and scored 25 runs. Junior Ben Metzger (Mason City, IA/Mason City HS), who appeared in 21 games last season, is the favorite in right field while left field remains a battle between seven players.
CENTRAL IN THE DUGOUT: Head Coach John Edwards enters his 25th and final season as the Dutch skipper. He has compiled a 344-462-1 record in his coaching career at his alma mater. He has never coached an Iowa Conference champion but he feels this season could change that.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS: “We need a number of people to step up and accept the challenge,” Edwards said. “The upperclassmen, if they progress like we hope, should give us a solid foundation.
Coe College Kohawks
(2001 – 22-21 Overall, 12-12 IIAC 3rd place)
Coe returns 10 letterwinners including eight starters but must overcome the loss of four of its six top pitchers from the team that won 20 games for the first time since 1980. Aaron O’Neil (4-1, 4.74 ERA, 40 strikeouts in 47 innings), Matt Knebel (7-4, 5.53 ERA, 36 strikeouts in 55.1 innings), James Nelson (3-4, 30 strikeouts in 42.2 innings) and Mike Fong (2-3, 18 strikeouts in 29.2 innings) started 35 of Coe’s 43 games and accounted for 16 of the team’s 22 victories.
Offensively, Coe must overcome the loss of three .300-plus hitters including All-Conference catcher Matt Schirm, who hit .366 with five homeruns and 28 RBI in 43 games, Justin Gibson (.339 avg., 10 HR, 39 RBI) and Chad Driscoll (.304 avg. 2 HR, 23 RBI).
That was then, this is now . . .
COE ON THE MOUND: Junior Kyle Bassett (Cedar Rapids, IA/Kennedy HS), a Second Team All-Conference utility player in 2001, made 11 relief appearances averaging nearly a strikeout/inning (9 strikeouts/9.1 innings). He posted a 1-1 record with four saves and a 3.86 ERA. Junior Mike Wieseler (Mount Vernon, IA/Mount Vernon HS) made four starts and appeared in 12 contests last season. He posted a 2-2 record with one save in 30 innings. Bassett and Wieseler rank first and second, respectively, on the Kohawks all-time saves list
A trio of freshman will see time on the mound for the Kohawks. Righthanders Travis Kisner (Cedar Rapids, IA/Kennedy HS), Tom Hauck (Mundelein, IL/Mundelein HS) and Mitch Bockenstedt (Strawberry Point, IA/Starmont HS) will look to make an immediate impact for the team.
COE IN THE FIELD/AT THE PLATE: First Team All-Conference second baseman Nate Iverson (Luana, IA/Waukon HS) and Second Team All-Conference first baseman Nick Nissen (Mount Vernon, IA/Mount Vernon HS) lead a corps of four returning infielders that hit over .285 last season. Iverson led Coe with a .391 batting average and drove in 32 runs (tied for second on the team) in 36 games. Nissen hit .322 with nine homeruns (second on the team) and 32 RBI. He also scored 34 runs in 39 games. Junior Matt Walters (Iowa City, IA/Iowa City West HS) hit .329 in 29 contests and junior Wes Dingmann (Dubuque, IA/Walhert HS) hit .289 with two homeruns in 29 games. Bassett also saw action in the infield a season ago, hitting .373 with four homeruns and 23 RBI.
Senior designated hitter Tim Vinyard (Ottumwa, IA/Ottumwa HS), who set a school record with 12 homeruns in 2000, will provide the power to the line-up. He has 17 career long balls which rank fourth on the school’s all-time list.
Sophomore Jon Schroeder (Cedar Rapids, IA/Washington HS) returns as the most experienced outfielder having hit .314 in 18 contests.
COE IN THE DUGOUT: Head Coach Steve Cook enters his sixth season with the Kohawks. Under his direction, the team has posted a 76-116-1 record and improved its win total in each of his seasons. Last season Coe made its first trip to the Iowa Conference tournament and its first trip to a Conference post-season tournament since 1993 when the school played in the Midwest Conference.
Cornell College Rams
(2001 – 16-19 Overall, 10-12 IIAC T-5th place)
Cornell will be one of the more experienced teams in the Conference in 2002 with 17 returning letterwinners including eight starters. Of the six letterwinners the Rams lost, three were starters including All-Conference first basemen Tony Castillo who hit .377 with a .781 slugging percentage last season. Also gone is second baseman Reid Gronski (.223 avg., six stolen bases) and outfielder Ben Borrell. On the mound, Rob Ott and Danny DeBolt have also graduated.
That was then, this is now . . .
CORNELL ON THE MOUND: Senior Nick Boeset (Burlington, IA) along with juniors Matt Loptien (Littleton, CO) and Tyler Broders (Bellevue, IA) return as Cornell’s most experienced pitchers. Boeset, a Second Team All-Conference selection last season, led the team with eight victories, seven complete games and two shutouts. He averaged a strikeout an inning in his 71 innings while surrendering only 19 walks. Loptien made seven appearances including five starts and Broders made eight appearances with seven relief appearances.
Along with several freshmen still being evaluated by first-year Head Coach Frank Fishler, seniors Chris Davis (Kirkwood, MO) and Jay Lawrence (Mendota, IL), junior Jason Matusiak (Oak Lawn, IL) and sophomores Justin Flansburg (Littleton, CO) and Anthony Gifford (Clinton, IA) will push for innings.
CORNELL IN THE FIELD/AT THE PLATE: Catcher Ian Harden (Aurora, CO) and third baseman Chet Knake (Bellevue, IA) will anchor the infield. Harden, who hit .254 with two home runs and 21 RBI last season, threw out 14 runners attempting to steal. Knake finished second on the team in hitting (.377), home runs (4) and RBI (24). Last season’s starting shortstop, Darnell Wiltz (Fort Worth, TX) will take his 15 stolen bases and .252 average to the outfield, forcing the Rams to fill both middle infield positions.
At shortstop, junior Brett Townsend (Colorado Springs, CO) and freshman Danny Love (Arlington Heights, IL) are the top candidates. Sophomore Justin Mashburn (Frederick, CO) and freshmen Pat Block (Buffalo Grove, IL) and Jared Spangenberg (Red Oak, IA) are competing for the second baseman’s job that Fishler calls, “one of the most competitive on the team.”
Wiltz joins fellow seniors Brent Henry (Aurora, CO) and Sebastian Sciotti (Seoul, Korea) in the outfield. Sciotti moves from center field to left with Wiltz taking over in center. Henry hit .247 a year ago with seven stolen bases and seven sacrifices. Sciotti hit .221 with five stolen bases. Sophomore Drew Simonis (Mundelein, IL) and freshmen Block and D.J. Jedlicka (Solon, IA) will provide outfield depth.
CORNELL IN THE DUGOUT: Frank Fishler enters his first season as Cornell’s head coach after serving as assistant to Ray Reasland for two seasons. Reasland resigned as baseball coach in February after being named the Rams’ head football coach. Fishler served as head coach at Midland (IA) High School prior to joining the Cornell staff.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS: “We’ll have to rely on some younger players, but we have some very talented young players,” Fishler said. “We’re capable of being one of the top teams in the Iowa Conference.”
University of Dubuque Spartans
(2001 – 18-16 Overall, 8-10 IIAC 8th place)
Dubuque has eight letterwinners and three starters returning from last season’s 18-16 team but it also lost seven letterwinners. The two biggest losses are First Team All-Conference utility player Scott Rima (.436 avg., 0.68 ERA) and Second Team All-Conference pitcher Ezra O’Heron (5-2, 4.03 ERA in 15 games). In addition to Rima, three other lost letterwinners hit .285 or better - Shane Schellsmidt (.325), Mike Czarnecki (.316) and Chuck Christopher (.287). Scott Althoff, who along with O’Heron led the staff with five victories and pitched a team-high four complete games and 63 innings, is also gone.
That was then, this is now . . .
DUBUQUE ON THE MOUND: Seniors Eric Caspers (Cedar Rapids, IA/Prairie HS), Andy Schemmel (West Bend, WI/West Bend West HS) and Brandon LaPage (East Dubuque, IL/East Dubuque HS) are Dubuque’s most experienced pitchers. Caspers started three of his 11 appearances and finished with a 2-2 record. LaPage, the only lefty on the Spartan roster, is the most experienced starter having started seven games last season (in eight appearances). All of Schemmel’s 14 appearances came out of the bullpen where he posted a 1-2 record with four saves. He surrendered only four earned runs (2.21 ERA) in 12.2 innings and had a 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Junior transfers Chris Pauley (Pearl City, IL/Pearl City HS), Corey Parr (Chicago, IL/Loyola Academy) and Kris Hardy (Chicago, IL/Calumet HS) will add depth to the pitching staff. Pauley transferred from Division I Western Illinois University. Parr and Hardy transferred from Oakton Community College.
DUBUQUE IN THE FIELD/AT THE PLATE: A pair of seniors return to Dubuque’s starting line-up to anchor the left side of the infield. Third baseman Brett Firzlaff (Dubuque, IA/Senior HS) hit .340 with a team-high 11 doubles in 34 games. J.P. Newman (Skokie, IL/Niles North HS) hit .295 in 34 starts at shortstop. Both players had a team-best five sacrifice hits. Sophomore infielder/catcher Curtis Schultz (East Dubuque, IL/East Dubuque HS) appeared in 15 games last season with seven starts and hit .357 in 28 at bats. Junior second baseman John Robichaud (Louisville, KY/Pleasure Ridge Park HS) saw action in five games.
Parr and fellow Oakton Community College transfer Mark Mette (Chicago, IL/Notre Dame HS) will vie for playing time in the infield along with freshmen Alex Howe (Madison, WI/Madison East HS), Nate Mozena (Dubuque, IA/Hempstead HS) and Ben Ecker (Cedar Rapids, IA/Kennedy HS).
Schemmel appeared in 25 games in the Spartan outfield, hitting .221 in 68 at bats. Junior catcher Kaleb Van Cleve (Princeton, IA/North Scott HS) hit .375 last season in limited action (three games with two starts). Senior transfer Jeff Smielowski (Pearl City, IA/Pearl City HS), junior transfer Pat Brown (Niles, IL/Niles West HS), sophomore Tim Griffith (Ely, IA/Prairie HS), and freshmen Ecker, Scott Malcolm (Moline, IL/Moline HS) and Chris Tanner (New Albin, IA/Kee HS) will push for playing time in the outfield.
DUBUQUE IN THE DUGOUT: Dennis Rima is in his 13th season at the University of Dubuque and 20th overall as a head coach. He enters the season three wins shy of 400 for his career and 13 victories shy of 200 at Dubuque.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS: “Pitching is going to be a big key to our success and right now we just aren’t healthy enough to make a determination on what might happen,” Rima said. “We have the potential to score runs so we have to hope to be able to put some runs up, especially with our pitching situation as it is right now.”
Loras College Duhawks
(2001 – 11-26 Overall, 5-12 IIAC 11th place)
Loras has 11 letterwinners returning including five starters from the team that finished 11-26 last season. Of its 26 losses, 12 were by one run. The Duhawks did lose six letterwinners and five starters including three infielders – first baseman Tim Konzen (.366 avg., 11 doubles, 41 hits, 27 RBI), second baseman John Kruswicki (.328 avg., 38 hits, 20 runs scored) and third baseman Chris Melde (.240 avg.).
That was then, this is now . . .
LORAS ON THE MOUND: If they are healthy, Loras has a very deep pitching staff. Junior Mike McMahon (Mundelein, IL/Carmel HS) missed most of the 2001 season due to injury but earned First Team All-Conference and All-Region Honorable Mention in 2000. Junior Cory Schultz (East Dubuque, IL/East Dubuque HS) was a First Team All-Conference and a Second Team All-Region performer last season after posting a 5-3 record with a 1.98 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 11 games. He completed seven of his eight starts.
Junior Jason Kuffel (Arlington Heights, IL/St. Viator HS) started 10 games, completing five while senior Jake Miller (McHenry, IL/McHenry HS) and junior Jon Ludovissy (Dubuque, IA/Walhert HS) each pitched close to 30 innings a season ago.
Among the newcomers to Loras’ pitching staff are freshman Tom Prock (Eau Claire, WI/Regis HS) and junior transfer Pete Bonifas (Bellevue, IA/Marquette HS), a 1999 draft choice of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
LORAS IN THE FIELD/AT THE PLATE: Two-time First Team All-Conference outfielder Dave Swanson (Wheaton, IL/Benet Academy) holds every Loras base-stealing record and is poised to eclipse several other school records this season. He led the Duhawks in most offensive categories in 2001 including batting average (.461), runs scored (36), triples (5) and stolen bases (34). Junior Justin McDermott (Jamaica, IA/Panorama HS), sophomore Jerod Driscoll (Dubuque, IA /Walhert HS) and freshman Jesse Freiburger (Bellevue, IA /Bellevue HS) will join him in the outfield.
Around the infield, Second Team All-Conference shortstop Brian Kallback (Downers Grove, IL/Benet Academy) is the only returning starter. He hit .304 last season with 31 hits and scored 21 runs. Sophomore Tom Andrews (Cascade, IA/Cascade HS), last season’s starting right fielder, will take over the third base duties. Andrews his .294 in 35 games with three homeruns, three triples and 22 RBI.
Sophomores Eric Gold (Cary Grove, IL/Cary Grove HS) and Anthony Everman (Castalia, IA/Postville HS) will contend for the starting job at first base after serving as reserves last season. Junior Kory Tuescher (Darlington, WI/Darlington HS) appears to have the inside track at second base although freshman Tim Schneden (Davenport, IA/Assumption HS) will push for playing time.
Senior Ryan Block (Hudson, WI/Cretin-Derham Hall HS), junior Jeremy Bartolo (Algona, IA/Bishop Garrigan HS), and sophomores Brodie Gilligan (Waterloo, IA/Columbus HS) and Kurt Andrews (Midlothian, IL/Breman HS) will all compete for the starting job behind the plate. Block (27 games/23 starts), Bartolo (13 games/eight starts) and Andrews (10 games/two starts) split the catching duties last season.
LORAS IN THE DUGOUT: The 2001 season marked the first sub-.500 season in the nine-year coaching career of Carl Tebon. In six seasons at Loras, Tebon has posted a 139-96-3 record. Prior to joining the Loras staff, Tebon served as head coach at Wisconsin-River Falls for three seasons. He has a career coaching record of 195-134-3.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS: “Last season was a very frustrating experience. Things that could go wrong, did,” Tebon said. “It seemed like none of the little ‘breaks’ went our way. If we find a way to win even 75 percent (of the 12 one-run losses), it makes a huge difference in how people look at the season.”
Luther College Norse
(2001 – 14-17 Overall, 9-11 IIAC 7th place)
On the downside of things for Luther, they lost 13 letterwinners (including two starters). On the upside, they have eight starters and 16 letterwinners returning from last season’s 14-17 squad that just missed a berth in the Conference tournament. Gone is two-thirds of the team’s outfield, one of the top pitchers and three of the team’s top run producers. Center fielder Jim Wilkison (.263 avg. 10 RBI) and left fielder Ben Ready (.258 avg., 15 RBI) have graduated. Pitcher/designated hitter Beau Upchurch has transferred. Offensively he hit .220 and drove in 14 runs, tied for the team lead. On the mound, he was 4-4 with a 2.79 ERA in nine starts.
That was then, this is now . . .
LUTHER ON THE MOUND: Second Team All-Conference pitcher Aaron Lund (Mankato, MN/West HS) posted a 6-2 record in eight contests (six starts). In 44 innings, he allowed only 13 earned runs (2.07 ERA). Junior Alex Smith (Bur Oak, IA/North Winneshiek HS) made eight starts (nine appearances) with one complete game. Senior lefty Josh Jansen (Chaska, MN/Chaska HS) had three saves in 12 appearances and started two games a season ago with one complete game. Junior Josh Jevne (Decorah, IA/Decorah HS) and sophomore Nigel Millard (Northwood, IA/Northwood-Kensett HS) also gained experience last season.
Five freshman will look to add depth to the Norse pitching staff – Justin Patnode (Bloomington, MN/Kennedy HS), John Jaeger (Decorah, IA/Decorah HS), Jon Fry (Cedar Rapids, IA/Washington HS), Brad Paulsrud (DeSoto, WI/DeSoto HS) and David Zelinskas (Dubuque, IA/Senior HS).
LUTHER IN THE FIELD/AT THE PLATE: Luther’s infield is stocked with experience. Senior first baseman J.K. Mosbo (Rembrandt, IA/Sioux Central HS) started all 31 games last season, as did junior third baseman Jason Karaidos (Des Moines, IA/Hoover HS). Senior second baseman Brad Solheim (Minnetonka, MN/ Minnetonka HS) started 20 games and junior shortstop Matt Bologna (Anoka, MN/Meadow Creek HS) started 28 games. Mosbo hit .237 with 12 RBI, Solheim chipped in with a .255 average. Karaidos hit .256 and stole 12 bases. Despite a .193 average, Bologna drove in nine runs.
Sophomore Zach Wigle (Chaska, MN/Eden Prairie HS) was the starting catcher last season until he injured his hand 14 games in. He hit .263 with 10 RBI and two stolen bases before the injury. Senior Matt Ough (Cedar Rapids, IA/Kennedy HS) filled-in after Wigle’s injury, starting 15 contests. The two will battle for the starting position this season.
Right fielder Matt Birkenholz (Newton, IA/Newton HS) appeared in all 31 games last season with 30 starts, committing only one error. Offensively, Birkenholz hit .258 and drove in 14 runs. Senior Ben Rengstorf (Cosmos, MN/Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City HS) missed the 2001 season while studying abroad but appeared in 16 games during the 2000 season. Junior Derek Distin (Spirit Lake, IA/Spirit Lake HS) saw action on the mound for the Norse last season but will primarily be used in the outfield this year.
LUTHER IN THE DUGOUT: Brian Gillogly enters his first season as head coach at his alma mater. He joins the Luther staff from Ripon College. Prior to his tenure at Ripon, Gillogly was the head coach at Marian College (WI) where he amassed a 337-185-2 record.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS: “We are striving to be fundamentally sound in the areas of pitching, defense, hitting and base running with the idea of being easy to play with and difficult to play against,” Gillogly said. “I do believe we can be consistent with quality of play in all areas which will provide us with opportunity for positive results.”
Simpson College Storm
(2001 – 16-21 Overall, 10-11 IIAC 4th place)
The 2001 season was only Simpson’s third losing season since 1985. Gone from that team are three starters and seven letterwinners while six starters and 14 letterwinners return. All-conference shortstop Brian Baker (.376 avg., 6 HR, 36 RBI) has graduated as has designated hitter Jerod Marsh (.358 avg., 3 HR, 29 RBI). On the mound, four of the Storms top seven pitchers are also gone. Adam Lueder (seven starts), Bo Baker (3-3 in eight starts) and Chad Tysdahl (3-2 in five starts/eight appearances) all graduated. Alex Boles (3-2, 28 strikeouts in 30 innings) did not return to the team.
That was then, this is now . . .
SIMPSON ON THE MOUND: Senior Kyle Lehman (Iowa City, IA/Regina HS) and sophomores Mike Donnenwerth (Sheffield, IA/ SCMT HS) and Brandon Noerrlinger (Nebraska City, NE/Nebraska City HS) are the Storm’s top three returning pitchers. Lehman is Simpson’s closer and he tied a school record for most appearances in a season (14). He finished 1-1 with two saves.
Donnenwerth posted a 2-2 record with a 4.79 ERA and one save in 11 appearances including five starts. Noerrlinger struck out 22 batters in 23.1 innings last season. He started three of his 11 appearances. Sophomore Ben Ramsey (Cambridge, IA/Ballard HS) was limited to one appearance last season due to injury but should see time in the rotation this year.
Pitching was a concern for the Storm last season but this season with the addition of four transfers and four other newcomers, they should have some depth in the rotation and bullpen. Joining the team via transfer are Joe Balvanz (Hubbard, IA/Hubbard-Radcliffe HS), J.D. Hews (Clive, IA/Dowling HS), David Isaacson (West Des Moines, IA/Valley HS) and Jay Rieman (Newell, IA/Newell-Fonda HS). The other newcomers include sophomore Scott Brown (Storm Lake, IA/St. Mary’s HS) and freshmen Shaun Parker (Remsen, IA/Remsen-Union HS), Dan Rieck (Ankeny, IA/Dowling HS) and Dru Williams (Clarinda, IA/Clarinda HS).
SIMPSON IN THE FIELD/AT THE PLATE: Simpson returns a veteran core of position players led by seniors Steve Lamberti (Altoona, IA/SE Polk HS), Brent Delger (Des Moines, IA/Lincoln HS) and Andy Walker (West Des Moines, IA/Valley HS). Lamberti, a First Team All-Conference outfielder, led the team in hitting with a .439 average and finished second in stolen bases (13) and RBI (17). Delger, an honorable mention All-Region selection, set a school record with 12 homeruns. The first baseman also led the team with 36 RBI and hit .320. Walker played several infield positions before settling at second base where he earned Second Team All-Conference after hitting .374.
Other returning players that saw extensive action last season are senior right fielder Tony Coppola (West Des Moines, IA/Dowling HS), senior designated hitter/left fielder Nick Sinn (Indianola, IA/Indianola HS) and junior third baseman Scott Sibbell (Ankeny, IA/Ankeny HS). Coppola started 29 of 35 games in which he appeared, hitting .280 with one homerun and 11 RBI. Sinn hit .338 with one homerun and 18 RBI after missing the 2000 season. Sibbell is expected to move from third to shortstop. Last season, in 37 games, he hit .336.
Sophomore Brett Murphy (Des Moines, IA/Roosevelt HS) should be the top catcher. His defensive skills and ability to call a game are strong. He worked hard on his hitting in the off-season, looking to improve on his .150 average last season.
SIMPSON IN THE DUGOUT: John Sirianni enters his 18th season as Simpson’s head coach with a career record of 392-224-2. He has been named Iowa Conference Coach of the Year five times.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS: “(Our position players) all have considerable experience and have played very well for us during the past few seasons,” Sirianni said. “Over the years, our pitching staffs have been the cornerstone to our success, and I believe that this group has the potential to return to that level of play.”
Upper Iowa University Peacocks
(2001 – 27-21 Overall, 15-10 IIAC 2nd place)
Seven letterwinners and three starters are gone from the Upper Iowa team that finished second in the Iowa Conference last season and lost in the Conference Tournament final game to Wartburg. Six starters and 19 letterwinners return from that team. The Peacocks will have to overcome the loss of All-Conference performers Michael Clapp (third base, .382 avg., 10 HR, 40 RBI) and Erik Mejia (right field, .369 avg., 15 RBI). Also gone is starting pitcher Doug Hess (5-5 in 12 games/11 starts) and 2000 All-Conference second baseman Alvin Graham (.373 avg., 5 HR, 38 RBI).
That was then, this is now . . .
UPPER IOWA ON THE MOUND: Senior Wade Whitcher (West Union, IA) earned First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-Region honors last season after posting a 9-1 record with a 3.68 ERA, two shutouts and six complete games. Senior Bobby Glaser (Stockton, CA) and a pair of junior lefties, Jon Osborn (Grinnell, IA) and Jason Roggentien (Marengo, IA) along with junior righthander Jesse Evans (Lakeside, CA) and sophomore Justin Eichelberger (Manson, IA) will battle for the number four starter’s position behind Whitcher, Glaser and senior transfer Aaron O’Neill (Waukon, IA). All four saw time on the mound in 2001, both as starters and as relievers.
Osborn, Glaser and junior Epitacio Maciel (Los Angeles, CA) could all be called upon to close games this season as a replacement to closer Scott Burke.
UPPER IOWA IN THE FIELD/AT THE PLATE: Three catchers split time behind the plate for Upper Iowa last season and all three are back this season. Senior Curtis Gunter (Elkhart, IN) hit .345 in 25 games. Senior Jason Fowler (Santee, CA) hit .341 in 18 games and junior Robbie Nielsen (Marengo, IA) hit .211 in 15 games.
Senior Josh Earley (Barstow, CA), junior Jimmy Slater (Bellflower, CA) and sophomore P.J. Garcia (Stockton, CA) are competing to fill the big void left at third by Clapp. Juniors Brian Edwards (Alameda, CA) and Jason Moreno (Lakewood, CA) appear to be the top candidates to replace Graham at second. Junior first baseman J.R. Taylor (Davenport, IA), a 2000 All-Conference selection, missed last season due to injury and will be looked upon to replace some of the offense provided by Clapp and Graham last season. Senior Edgardo Baez (Dorado, PR) took over the starting shortstop position last season and hit .353 in 29 games.
When Glaser is not pitching, he is an All-Conference center fielder who hit .369 with four homeruns and 37 RBI last season. He also stole a team-high 12 bases. Senior Thomas Carte (Stockton, CA) started 28 games last season and hit .308. Seniors David Espinoza (San Pedro, CA), Josh Carr (Grinnell, IA) and Josh Gruber (Fort Dodge, IA) and juniors James Scherf (St. Olaf, IA) and Joe Koch (Granite Bay, CA) all figure to see action in the outfield.
Senior Emile Shaffer (Oakland, CA), who filled in at first base last season, will be the primary designated hitter. Carr, Edwards, Slater, and Earley could also see action at the DH spot, depending on the type of line-up Upper Iowa decides to use on a given day.
UPPER IOWA IN THE DUGOUT: Mark Danker has a 50-42-1 record in his first two seasons at Upper Iowa. In his two seasons, the Peacocks have a second place (2001) and a third place (2000) Conference finish.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS: “Our pitching should be better than last year, but we have big holes to fill at second base and third base,” Danker said. “We open the Conference schedule with Wartburg, so we’ll find out real quick where we stand.”
WARTBURG COLLEGE KNIGHTS
(2001 – 37-9-1 Overall, 20-2 IIAC 1st place)
Wartburg enters the 2002 season as the five-time defending Conference champion. Last season the Knights finished second in the Central Region of the NCAA Tournament. The 2002 team, with 14 returning letterwinners and 10 returning starters, must overcome the loss of six letterwinners and three starters including All-Conference battery of catcher Matt Thede and pitcher Luke Fortenberry. Thede, a 2001 Triple Crown winner, was a two-time Iowa Conference Most Valuable Player and a two-time NCAA Division III Central Region Player of the Year. Fortenberry finished the 2001 season with a 9-2 record and a team-best 2.16 ERA in 15 games. He also led the staff in strikeouts (63), complete games (8) and shutouts (2). Scott Banz, a multiple year starter at first base has also graduated.
That was then, this is now . . .
WARTBURG ON THE MOUND: All-Conference pitchers Chris Goerdt (Dyersville, IA/Western Dubuque HS) and Patrick Smith (Lawler, IA/Turkey Valley HS) give Wartburg a potent lefty-righty 1-2 starting punch. Goerdt led the team with 10 victories, ranked second on the team with a 2.30 ERA and struck out 55 batters in 74.1 innings. Smith finished the year with an 8-3 record and two saves in 18 games including eight starts.
Senior Gary Hess (Belle Chasse, LA/Holy Cross HS) and sophomore Caleb Klein (Manchester, IA/West Delaware HS) are expected to provide experience the starting rotation while senior Eric Kaestner (Newhall, IA/Benton Community HS) will add experience coming out of the bullpen.
Pitching depth will be added in the arms of junior Andy Arthur (Waverly, IA/Waverly-Shell Rock HS) and sophomores Jared Pirkl (Victor, IA/HLV HS), Steve Domino (Charles City, IA/Charles City HS), Ash Larsen (Reinbeck, IA/Gladbrook-Reinbeck HS) and Eric Johnson (Mount Pleasant, IA/Mount Pleasant HS).
WARTBURG IN THE FIELD/AT THE PLATE: Sophomore Tim Gearhart (Oelwein, IA/Oelwein HS) has the task of replacing Thede behind the plate. Head Coach Joel Holst feels Gearhart’s defensive capabilities are stronger than those of his predecessor. Transfer Damon Scholl (Menlo Park, CA/Stevenson HS), sophomore Nathan Carlson (Winfield, IA/Winfield-Mt. Union HS) and freshman Jeff Spiwak (Oregon, WI/Oregon HS) will also be available behind the plate.
Transfer Greg Torgerson (Independence, IA/Independence HS), junior B.J. Meaney (Waterloo, IA/Columbus HS) and Brett Fuller (Cambridge, IA/Collins-Maxwell HS) add depth at first base. Meaney and senior Jason Uhlenhake (Calmar, IA/South Winneshiek HS) will see time as the designated hitter. Three-year starter Jude Burger (Dubuque, IA/Walhert HS) and two-year starter Jay Whannel (Traer, IA/North Tama HS) give Wartburg experienced middle infielders. Burger led the nation with 43 stolen bases in 2001.
At third base, sophomore Chris Winter (New Hampton, IA/New Hampton HS) took over as the starting job late last season and hit .353 in 19 contests. His emergence allows sophomore Kevin Huston (Independence, IA/Independence HS), last year’s early season starter, to move to left field.
All-Conference outfielder T.J. Stoffer (Davenport, IA/Bettendorf HS), senior Jay Bollman (Waverly, IA/Waverly-Shell Rock HS), Klein, and Huston will anchor a deep outfield. Stoffer, who committed only one error in 42 games, and Klein will see action in right field. Bollman, the center fielder, was successful on 37 of 41 steal attempts last season. Junior Ryan Mix (Mason City, IA/Mason City HS) will challenge Huston for playing time in left field.
WARTBURG IN THE DUGOUT: Joel Holst enters his seventh season as the Wartburg head coach and 12th overall season as a collegiate head coach. He has a career coaching record of 301-157-1 at Wartburg and Loras. At Wartburg, he is 201-77-1. Holst has been IIAC Coach or co-Coach of the Year each of the last five seasons as the Knights have won five straight Conference titles.
WHAT THE COACH SAYS: “I feel this year’s line-up has more potential from top to bottom,” Holst said. “Our goal is put pressure on other team’s defense. If we reach our potential, we can do that and have tremendous power to boot.”
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