2006 Baseball Preview Part 1: Cleveland State

Feb. 7, 2006

A new year brings many new faces on the Cleveland State baseball team, as the Vikings find themselves composed of a multitude of newcomers backed by a core of experienced veterans. With the new faces comes a new energy and attitude instilled in each player on the team - a team that will not be satisfied unless it is playing on the final day of the Horizon League Championship.

Tenth-year head coach Jay Murphy spent the better part of last season recruiting some of the top high school and junior college talent from the region, and his quest was rewarded with the addition of 11 high school graduates and six junior college transfers.

"A disappointing campaign last year motivated our coaching staff to change our recruiting philosophy," head coach Jay Murphy said. "It was apparent that we needed more depth and experienced players from the junior college ranks to make the necessary improvements to our program."

Infield
The infield will likely be the strongest facet of the Vikings this season, as the squad will have four of the five positions filled by veterans. The addition of several newcomers will provide depth, especially at the corners and behind the plate.

Senior Steve Chinn will begin the year as the starter at second base. Despite only hitting .273 last season - 40 points below his career average - he was still one of the biggest offensive threats on the team, leading the team with 40 runs, 34 walks and 12 steals. A five-tool player, Chinn should be back to his old form at the plate following a strong fall season.

Across second base from Chinn will be sophomore Bobby Cash, a member of both the Horizon League's All-Newcomer team and the All-Tournament team last season. Cash finished the season third on the team with a .310 average, including a 7-12 (.583) showing in three tournament games. He is expected to improve on his first-year numbers, developing power in his swing and speed on the bases during the fall.

Junior Rich Ranells, a transfer from Lakeland Community College, will likely be the starter at third after putting up a strong showing in fall practice. A middle-of-the-lineup hitter, he brings some pop to the batting order as well as leadership in the clubhouse that will be essential to the success of the team.

Freshman Ryan Baechel will give the Vikings a right-handed power option at first base, while junior Ryan Dukovich provides a left-handed power threat. Both Baechel and Dukovich will be solid middle-of-the-order hitters and give the team a strong defensive presence on the right side of the infield.

Backing up the starters will be middle infielder Mike Carney, corner infielders Dylan Henry, Michael Babin and Matt Madrid and first baseman Theo Hudson. Carney, a freshman, will be a crucial backup at both second and short, places where the Vikings are thin. Henry and Babin may see time in the lineup when not pitching, while Madrid will compete for action after redshirting last season. Hudson will be used primarily as a defensive replacement at first.

Sophomore Josh Geric will resume his role as starting backstop after being thrust into the position as a freshman last season. A switch-hitter with an above average arm, Geric quickly became adept at handling the Viking staff last season but will need to be more consistent at the plate to better help the team.

Geric will be backed by sophomores Joe Furner and Sam Clyde. A transfer from Pikeville College, Furner has the ability to hit for power and could compete with Geric for the starting role. Clyde gained experience behind the plate last season in a back-up role and will compete for playing time both at catcher and in the infield.

Outfield
The Vikings will count on excellent speed and strong hitting from their outfielders this season, with veterans holding down most of the playing time and providing the majority of the speed off the bench.Right field will again be anchored by junior Marc Sikora, who, although streaky at times, put together a strong showing at the plate a season ago, finishing fourth on the team with a .277 average, two homers and 20 RBI. A left-handed hitter with both power and speed, Sikora will likely bat in the middle third of the order.

Sophomore Vasili Pahoulis steps in as the starting centerfielder this year after seeing limited action in the outfield last season. The left-handed hitter has excellent speed to the ball and digs hard both in the field and on the base paths.

Junior John Westra is the lead candidate to start in left field after transferring to CSU from Glen Oaks Community College. A smart hitter with a good work ethic, his speed and batting could make him an ideal option in the leadoff spot.

Senior Anthony Hurley will likely serve as a back-up to Pahoulis in center but could see time at all three outfield positions. One of the hardest workers on the team, Hurley will primarily be used as a pinch runner but could get some plate appearances as well.

The Vikings will have added depth with redshirt freshmen Jeff Schellhammer and Nate Radtke, as well as sophomore Carlos Laboy. Schellhammer gives the team versatility with the ability to play all three outfield positions, while Radtke and Laboy will be used primarily against left-handed pitching.

Pitching
The starting rotation is composed mostly of newcomers, but the Vikings have a deep pool of experienced veterans to draw from should the need arise. The freshmen arms have limitless potential and are needed to contribute right away for the team to succeed.

Junior Stephen Procner will start the season as one of the squad's frontline starters. A talented left-hander who possesses a fastball in the mid- to upper-80s and good command of his slider and curve, Procner must prove early on that he can be consistent in his starts if he is to remain in the rotation.

Following him in the rotation will likely be a trio of freshmen with a surplus of high school accolades. Left-hander Josh Hungerman completed his senior year at North Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh with a 12-1 record and a 1.35 ERA, earning him conference and Post Gazette Player of the Year honors. He has good command of all his pitches, with a mid-80s fastball and strong breaking ball and change.

Behind him will be right-hander Brian Long, who was named to all-district, section and conference teams his senior year at North Hills High in Pittsburgh. Like Hungerman, his command of the strike zone, with a mid- to upper-80s fastball and curve and change, will dictate his success.

Dylan Henry, a righty from Carrolton High School in Carrolton, Ohio, is also likely to begin the season in the rotation after being named to all-district and conference teams his senior year. He can consistently hit the upper-80s with his fastball and has excellent control of his breaking and off-speed pitches.

Junior right-hander Pat McKitrick rounds out the rotation, bringing a mid-80s fastball and complement of breaking balls and off-speed pitches. After spending a season at the junior college level, he may require some time to adjust to the Division I game, but his work ethic and attitude may have him seeing success early on.

The rotation will be backed by a surplus of long relievers and spot starters who could all see time in a starting role. Junior right-hander Gian Testa, the Vikings ERA leader last year before injuring his elbow, is tabbed as the opening day closer but could step into the rotation if his arm returns to full strength. With a low-90s fastball and strong slider, Testa will provide the staff with leadership and flexibility no matter what role he plays.

Sophomore righty Nathan Schaefer and junior southpaw Brandon Hewitt will also be counted on to supplement the rotation. Schaefer pitched brilliantly at times last season in a starting role, touting a 2-4 record which included a win in the Horizon League Championship, but needs to be more consistent if he is to remain in the rotation. Hewitt was primarily used as the first lefty out of the pen, working 30.1 innings in 12 appearances, but can step in as a starter if he remains healthy and focused.

Junior right-hander Jason Bartnicki and freshman righty Ryan Baechel will serve as short relievers, while freshman southpaws Mike Babin and Jonathan Sprowls will give the Vikings a left-handed option in set-up situations.

At closer, Testa will be the first option at least until his arm is able to hold up to the riggers of starting. He is currently second all-time with 13 saves and only seven shy of becoming the new record holder. Freshman Jeremy Hartman is the second option at the back end, with a bulldog-like mentality to supplement a high-80s fastball and slider.

The Schedule
Spring weather in Cleveland is about as unpredictable as it gets, so the Vikings planned accordingly when it came to the schedule. While the first series of the season kicks off the first week of March, CSU will not play a home game until a week into April.

Cleveland State will play a total of 22 games in 10 different cities before coming home to Forest Hill Park. The month-long voyage begins with a three-game series against Charlotte and heads to Ohio, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Marshall and Pittsburgh before opening the Horizon League slate in Dayton against Wright State. CSU then makes a brief stop in northeast Ohio for a contest at Kent State but promptly returns to the road for a game against Duquesne and a weekend series at Butler before coming back to the area to battle Akron. The home season opens on April 8 with a doubleheader against UIC.

The remainder of the season keeps the Vikings much closer to Cleveland, as they will play 22 of the final 34 games at home. In fact, the final 10 games of the season will all take place at CSU venues.

Due to the new Horizon League scheduling format, the Vikings will play each league opponent six times, with three contests taking place at home and three on the road. Each series will feature a seven-inning doubleheader and a nine-inning single game. Cleveland State's road series against Youngstown State will differ from the rest, however, as the Vikings will make two trips to Youngstown: one for the doubleheader and the other a week later for the nine-inning game.

For the 11th straight season, the Vikings will also have an opportunity to play a game at Jacobs Field, home of the Cleveland Indians. CSU will battle Duquesne under the lights on May 9 beginning at 6:00 p.m. The Vikings hold a 7-8 record at the Jake since 1995, including a pair of Horizon League Championship games in 2002.

The season concludes in Dayton with the Horizon League Championship running May 24-28 at Wright State's Nischwitz Field and a trip to an NCAA regional on the line.

Season Outlook
The combination of old and new will give the team much-needed flexibility with the roster, both in the field and on the mound. Solid defense and consistent pitching will be the driving force behind the Vikings this season, which will give the team the chance to be in every single game they play. Factor in improved offensive production, and Cleveland State will have an opportunity to be successful throughout the season.

"Our players realize that, by staying focused on common goals and working hard, anything is possible," Murphy said. "There are a lot of sacrifices involved, and the players have to be ready to make them, but in the end it is all worth it.

"This year's team will be prepared, and the end result will be seen each time they step onto the field."

Story provided by Cleveland State University Office of Sports Information