Baseball Preview, Part 6: UIC

Feb. 13, 2007

The UIC baseball team is on a mission.

After coming up just short in their bid for a second straight Horizon League Tournament title and NCAA Regional berth, the Flames, winners of the last five Horizon league regular-season championships, have focused on making 2007 an unforgettable year from start to finish. Coming away with only a regular-season crown will not be enough.

The 2007 League favorites according this year's preseason coaches poll, UIC returns 12 letterwinners from last season's 35-20 squad.

With a bulk of talented veterans back to mix with an infusion of competitive and successful junior college transfers and local prep standouts, six-time Horizon League Coach of the Year Mike Dee has plenty of options to call upon in order to execute the UIC brand of baseball on the field.

BACK TO BAT
Despite losing the bats of All-Horizon League First Team sluggers Bart Babineaux and Justin Johnson and four-year stalwart Ted Rosinski to graduation, UIC still features plenty of firepower at the plate.

Leading the way at the dish is two-time All-Horizon League First Team centerfielder Larry Gempp Jr. The senior, who was featured in the preseason Brooks Wallace National Player of the Year Award Watch List, hit .326 with a career-high 10 home runs and 45 RBI in 2006.

Senior Ben Trotter, the Flames' leading hitter in 2006 with a .397 average, also returns after a breakout season. Inserted into the designated hitter spot after 23 games, Trotter spurred the UIC offense to the top of most of the league's offensive categories with his clutch, consistent hitting the rest of the way.

Horizon League Newcomer of the Year Chad Schroeder returns to anchor the middle of the Flames' defense at short. Schroeder rebounded in a big way from a slow non-conference start to become a catalyst with his bat, his speed on the bases, and his propensity to make jaw-dropping pick-ups and throws.

The hot corner will be manned once again by sturdy senior Nick Rainwater. The Waukesha, Wis., native hit .308 with seven doubles and nine steals to go along with his reliable glove during his first full season.

Junior backstop Eric Palomino flashed his potential at the plate with some solid at-bats in limited duty last year and could strengthen the depth behind the plate even more after another season in the books.

Last year's young reserves should get an opportunity to step up their contributions in their second year of service. Sophomores Jon Brown, Jake Carr, Brett Schaefer and Ryan Schweikert showed various strengths in different facets of the game during their redshirt freshman campaigns last year.

ANOTHER ROUND ON THE MOUND
The ace of the UIC staff and the best returning pitcher in the Horizon League is ABCA & Rawlings NCAA All-Mideast Region hurler Zach Peterson. Minnetonka's finest should be back in his usual form after winning the league's pitching Triple Crown in 2006, leading the circuit in wins (nine), ERA (2.42) and strikeouts (73) en route to his second straight All-League First Team nod.

Joining Peterson in the starting rotation for a second consecutive season is senior lefty Joe Skinner, who garnered All-Newcomer Team accolades after going 6-2 and posting a 2.91 ERA in conference contests during his first go-around with the Flames.

UIC could also get the services of powerhouse right-hander Ryan Zink back this spring. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Zink sat out the 2006 campaign to rehabilitate his throwing arm after undergoing surgery early in the year. The 2005 Horizon League Tournament MVP has a career record of 17-9 with six saves, a 3.02 ERA and 166 strikeouts to his credit.

Manning the bullpen will be sophomore Adam Worthington. The Gurnee, Ill., hurler made a school record 38 appearances and saved six contests as a trued freshman in 2006. Fellow second-year righty Zack Wright also returns to help the Flames in relief.

NEW INGREDIENTS
The Flames welcome 15 newcomers into the fold this year, along with six redshirt freshmen who sat out last season.

Getting a taste of Division I baseball with the Flames last year were redshirts Mike Kaffel, Chris Rutta, Ty Rubio, Brad Riegler, Peter Ifft and Pete Sparacino. All six could give the Flames a big boost during their first year of action.

Joining the program this year after successful stints at other colleges are eight impact transfers.

Sophomore David Cales, a native of Chicago's South Side and a Mount Carmel grad, will be in the mix around the infield and on the mound after a nice season with Missouri as a true freshman in 2006.

There will be a West Coast flavor in the Flames' clubhouse with three standouts bringing their excellent junior college credentials from the region. Right-handed pitcher Andrew Davis from Skagit Valley C.C., infielder/outfielder Tyler Moore from Mt. Hood C.C. and infielder Micky Pingree from Everett C.C. will all be in the fold right away.

Kyle Dotson and Grant Kohlstaedt will bring solid juco experience to the mound, and Barton County C.C. product Erik Whinery will start off the season behind the plate for UIC.

Making the transition from high school to the UIC program are shortstop Gio Cantwell from Nazareth Academy, infielder Andy Leonard out of Stagg, pitchers Mike Giovenco from Fenwick and Steve Crnkovich from Downers Grove South (where he pitched with current Flames teammate Riegler) and former New Trier outfielder John Rosinski, who follows in the footsteps of older brothers Bob and Ted as UIC players.

Catcher Ryan Meehan and pitchers Matt Weldon and Chris Kovacevich will also be on board for their first seasons in a UIC uniform.

THE SCHEDULE
As has been the case for the past few seasons, the schedule continues to get tougher as Dee and his staff seek to get their team prepared for an extensive run into NCAA postseason play.

The Flames face the likes of traditional powers Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech and Tennessee in the first three weeks of the campaign. Top-notch programs such as Vanderbilt, Washington State, Notre Dame, Michigan State and Northwestern are also on tap as out-of-league opposition.

The Horizon League slate remains the same as the Flames will have home-and-away series against UW-Milwaukee, Youngstown State, Cleveland State, Butler and defending tournament champion Wright State.

Once the regular season concludes, all eyes will turn to the Flames' backyard when the 2007 Horizon League Baseball Championship tournament makes its way to Les Miller Field from May 21-24. Last year the Flames dropped just two of their 17 contests at their home park, with both coming by just one run.

If that trend continues into 2007, UIC could be in for a season to remember.

Story provided by UIC Office of Sports Information