Preseason Spotlight on the UW-Milwaukee Panthers Baseball Team

Feb. 22, 2005

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball coach Jerry Augustine isn't one for excuses. However, when your team loses over 100 games to injuries and six different regulars miss at least 15 games a piece you are at least entitled to a season with better health and a full cupboard with which to deal with. With that in mind, the UWM baseball team looks to get back to a championship level following last seasons 23-30 campaign. With a solid veteran lineup, improved infield defense, a deeper pitching staff, and some luck in the health department there is no reason the Panthers can't return to the elite of the Horizon League race.

HITTING

The Panthers return a very solid group of offensive weapons in 2005 and should boast a lineup that is not only deep, but extremely diverse. UWM batted .311 as a team last year and proved to be one of the top five offensive units in school history. Senior second baseman Charlie Reschke returns as a three-year starter and is looking to become the first player in school history to hit over .300 for four straight seasons. Ross McCoy is coming off a breakthrough freshman campaign which saw him bat .324 en route to Second-Team All-Horizon League honors. Versatile Brooks Graff batted .309 as a newcomer last season and can bat anywhere in the lineup. Joe Nowicki and Matt Curran both bring solid lefthanded bats to the lineup while junior Jeremy Wilson and sophomore Nicholas Wichser serve as quality run producers at the bottom of the order. Junior college all-american Mike Goetz should provide UWM with some speed at the top of the lineup as well as serving as the prototypical leadoff hitter. Rob Brockel, a former Wisconsin High School Player of the Year, brings a powerful bat to the lineup. Milwaukee can bring an interesting lefty-righty combination and has the depth to take advantage of late-game situations.

INFIELD

Like any good team, solid play up the middle is key and the 2005 UWM baseball team should excel in this area. Seniors Reschke and Steve Sanfilippo return at second base and shortstop, respectively, with freshmen Jesse Hart and Grant Berkovitz also competing for time. Reschke should see most of his time at second this season after being forced to play a number of positions last season due to injury. Hart, a redshirt freshman, brings great baseball pedigree and is a solid all-around athlete. Sanfilippo and Berkovitz are both slick-fielding shortstops who can help solidify the Panther defense.

UWM has a large contingent of first base options led by McCoy. McCoy should see the majority of time at first but will also play the outfield when need be. In addition, veterans Shane Davis and Zak Rivera can play the position as can Wilson, Graff, and freshman Beau Padfield. Junior Curran and sophomore Brockel will handle third base with the lefthanded hitting Curran playing mostly against righthanders. Brockel, a powerful right handed hitter, could see some time in the outfield as well as the hot corner.

OUTFIELD

Milwaukee will have a variety of options at the three outfield positions and should boast a solid and productive offensive group. Nowicki, a junior, batted .360 last season and should man right field with sophomore Wichser seeing the majority of his time in leftfield. Speedster Goetz will patrol centerfield with sophomores Robert Michalkiewicz and McCoy filling in when need be. The versatile Graff can play the two corner outfield positions as can Brockel, a Purdue transfer, and freshman John Sarcia.

CATCHING

Thanks to a pair of returners in Graff and Wilson, UWM should be very solid behind the plate in 2005. The two players split time behind the plate last season and each bring different qualities to the plate. Graff is a field general who does a nice job of controlling things and keeping everyone involved while Wilson brings a strong arm and is a prototypical physical catcher. Senior Brent Buechel could also see time behind the plate.

PITCHING

Yes, 2004 Pitcher and Player of the Year Ben Stanczyk has moved on to play for the Milwaukee Brewers. However, that doesn't mean the UWM pitching staff will take a step back. The Panthers return two of its top three starters along with a few key relievers. Throw in a solid group of newcomers and the 2005 pitching staff could be as deep as any in recent memory.

Junior Korey Keller is back for his junior season after serving as a solid No. 2 starter each of the last two seasons. Keller owns a 9-7 career record with 85 career strikeouts and could serve as a staff ace this season. Sophomore Robert Michalkiewicz pitched into some tough luck last season as a freshman but he was still able to finish second on the squad with a 3.95 ERA in 66.0 innings of work. The lefty excelled in league play and posted a 3.24 ERA in four league starts.

Following Keller and Michalkiewicz there are four other solid pitchers looking to break into the rotation. The most intriguing of those could be junior Leroy Pederson. Pederson came on big late last season and excelled out of the bullpen. The tall, strong-armed righthander could crack the rotation or serve as a middle innings guy. Junior college transfer Rick Cavaiani brings a quality right arm from MATC while junior Aaron Sorenson earned first-team all-league honors at Lawrence University each of the past two seasons. Both players are experienced on the mound and have the moxy and compusure to compete at the Division I level.

Workhorse Jed Dolske is back for his junior season after setting a school record for innings pitched by a reliever last season. Dolske, who led the team with six saves last season, should continue to be the Panthers main bullpen option in 2005, getting important outs in both the middle and late innings. The aforementioned Peterson could see some time in the pen as could sophomore transfer Mike Rauwerdink. Senior Cory Kleeba is hoping to make a full recovery from an elbow injury last season and hopes to return to form by the middle of March. Brockel could see some time on the mound as he brings a power arm and a relievers; mentality. Senior Blake Kangas will also see time on the hill as will freshman Timothy Hoy.

SCHEDULE

Like always, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team will face some of the nation's top regional and national programs. Adding to the difficulty of the schedule are the Wisconsin-weather conditions which basically prevent the Panthers from practicing outside before playing a single game. UWM opens the 2005 season Fri., Feb. 25 versus Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn. The Panther will play three games there before playing Arkansas State in a three-game set the following weekend and No. 24 Oklahoma State in Stillwater Mar. 11-13. Milwaukee will play eight games in its annual Spring Break trip to Bradenton Fla., Mar. 19-24, including contests versus Big Ten Conference foes Ohio State and Illinois. UWM opens Horizon League play Mar. 8-10 when Butler comes to Henry Aaron Field. The Panthers will play five, four-game league series on the year, with three of those coming at home. Milwaukee will play its annual Miller Park doubleheader on May 8 when Wright State University comes to town. The 2005 Horizon League Tournament will be held at Victory Field in Indianapolis, Ind., May 25-28.