Transylvania and Manchester Square Off In Crucial Weekend Series
April 17, 2008
GREENWOOD , IN – Little has changed in the HCAC baseball standings as six teams continue to jockey for the regular season championship and berth into the four team conference tournament. Three weeks remain on the conference schedule before the conference tourney on May 8-10. Transylvania will travel up to Manchester to square off in a three game series this weekend, highlighting the conference slate. First place Mount St. Joseph will also be in for a tough three game set as the Lions travel to Anderson.
The Pioneers (20-7, 8-4 HCAC) reached the 20 win plateau last week, posting two wins against Franklin. Transy enters the weekend series with Manchester red hot, winning seven of their last eight ballgames. The Spartans (16-14, 9-5 HCAC) split a doubleheader with Anderson and knocked off Defiance last week.
Transylvania’s offense has been led by sophomore infielder Adam Clark (Ashland, Ky./Paul Blazer) and sophomore first baseman Ben Young (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier). Clark leads the conference with a .430 batting average and 35 runs scored this season. He also ranks among the conference leaders in triples (4), on-base percentage (.480), and slugging percentage (.663). Young has added some power for the Pioneers, blasting five home runs and nine doubles, while leading the HCAC with 35 RBI.
On the mound, junior pitcher Adam Wilkins (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) has posted a 3.35 ERA , 50 strikeouts, and a 6-1 record, suffering his first loss of the season this past week against Franklin. Senior Ben Luking (Louisville, Ky./Ballard) also stands 6-1 on the season and is sporting a 4.47 ERA with 23 strikeouts.
Manchester has received consistent offense from junior catcher Matty Miller (Rochester, Ind./H.S.) and junior Shawn Baker (Middlebury, Ind./Northridge). Miller leads the team with a .327 average at the plate and has added six doubles and five home runs this season. Baker is hitting .297 with four home runs and a team-high 24 RBI.
Sophomore pitcher Colin Denihan (Columbia City, Ind./H.S.) has been the backbone of the Spartans pitching staff, posting an ERA of 2.61 and a 4-1 record. Freshman Curtis Mallery (Noblesville, Ind./H.S.) holds a 5-1 mark on the hill with a 3.77 ERA.
The two teams will meet at Manchester for a 12:00 PM first pitch Saturday afternoon before playing a doubleheader Sunday beginning at 1:00 PM.
In other conference action…
Mount St. Joseph will travel to Anderson for a three game series this weekend. The Lions (14-13, 7-3 HCAC) split a doubleheader with Rose-Hulman last weekend and currently lead the conference standings with a .700 winning percentage. Freshman OF/C Ben Stroube (North Bend, Ohio/St. Xavier) has been sensational at the plate for the Mount, ranking second in the league with a .424 average and leading the conference with a .803 slugging percentage. Stroube has also added 10 doubles, three triples, and three home runs this season for MSJ. Junior infielder Nick Weimer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) has posted a solid line, batting .378 with 29 runs scored, 10 doubles, four homers, and 27 RBI. On the mound, junior Todd Schwertman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) has hurled a 2.79 ERA and a 3-2 record. Sophomore Steve Matre (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian) has been great in a reliever roll, posting a 0.98 ERA, five saves, and 24 strikeouts in 13 appearances. Anderson (17-10, 7-4 HCAC) split a doubleheader with Manchester and dropped a 6-2 decision to Franklin last week, losing three of their past four contests. Sophomore shortstop Daniel Hiatt (Elwood, Ind./Madison-Grant) ranks fourth in the league in batting average (.408) and has posted 21 runs scored, six doubles, four home runs, 23 RBI, and a .612 slugging percentage. Junior catcher Brad Lantz (Lapel, Ind./H.S.) continues to be one of the elite sluggers in the conference. Lantz has a .345 average at the plate with 25 runs, five doubles, a league-best six home runs, 29 RBI, and a .655 slugging percentage. On the hill, junior Kevin Pence (Birmingham, Ala./Briarwood Christian) ranks fourth in ERA (2.63) and holds a 3-1 record in 27.1 innings of work. Senior Erik Smith (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Luers) has a 4-1 mark on the mound with 39 strikeouts.
Franklin and Bluffton will face off in northern Ohio for a three game set on Friday and Saturday. The Grizzlies (17-10, 10-5 HCAC) lost two of three to Transylvania before posting a 6-2 win over Anderson this past week. Junior outfielder Joel Chrobak (LaPorte, Ind./H.S.) is batting .392 with a league-best 12 doubles and 35 RBI. He ranks second in the HCAC in home runs (5) and slugging percentage (.691). Junior outfielder Lance Noel (Union, Ky./Ryle) is hitting .349 and leads the conference with 35 runs scored. He has also chipped in seven doubles and four home runs for the blue and gold. FC’s pitching staff has been led by the duo of senior Andy Clark (Louisville, Ky./Seneca) and junior lefty Jared Applegate (Scottsburg, Ind./H.S.). Clark holds a 3.86 ERA and a 6-2 record in nine starts this season, while Applegate has a 4-1 mark and 5.05 ERA. The duo ranks No. 1 and 2 in strikeouts with Applegate punching out 60 opponents and Clark adding 56. Bluffton (12-15, 4-7 HCAC) will look to maneuver its way up the conference standings after having a buy week last week. The Beavers have won four of their past six games, going 2-2 against non-conference competition last week. Senior Tim Kay (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity) and sophomore Cody McPherson (Millbury, Ohio/ Lake) have led BU at the plate and on the mound this spring. Kay is batting .390 with 27 runs and 18 RBI offensively and leads the Beaver pitching staff, posting a 5.40 ERA and 33 strikeouts. McPherson stands .361 at the plate with nine doubles and four home runs. He holds a 3-1 record and 6.07 ERA on the mound, striking out 15 opponents.
Rose-Hulman will look to make a move in the standings as the Engineers travel up north to face Defiance. Rose (19-9, 6-4 HCAC) split a doubleheader with Mount St. Joseph last weekend in their only action of the week. Sophomore infielder Chandler Kent (Antioch, Ill./H.S.) is batting .404 with 22 runs scored and nine doubles this season. Sophomore catcher Keenan Long (Park Ridge, Ill./ Northwestern Uni.) has been solid with a .390 average at the dish with 24 runs, eight doubles, and 26 RBI. The Engineer pitching staff has been led by sophomore Derek Eitel (Marshall, Ill./H.S.). Eitel ranks first in ERA (1.94), second in innings pitched (55.2), and third in strikeouts (51) among the league leaders. Senior Michael Matsui (Joliet, Ill./ Plainfield South) holds a 2.36 ERA and 6-1 record, while striking out 30. Sam Deters (Teutopolis, Ill./H.S.) has done a great job closing out games for the Engineers, posing five saves, 28 strikeouts, and a 2.16 ERA. Defiance (5-16, 1-11 HCAC) earned its first conference win last week, claiming one of the three games with Hanover. Sophomore second baseman Tim Pitro (Gahanna, Ohio/ Lincoln) leads the Jackets with a .392 average at the plate and has added 17 runs, five doubles, and two home runs. Junior pitcher Aaron Stewart (Toledo, Ohio/Start) leads the rotation with a 3.50 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched.
Hanover (6-20, 3-12 HCAC) earned two wins against Defiance last weekend and will step out of conference play this week as Cincinnati-Clermont comes to town for a twin bill Friday. Freshman catcher Andy Holzbog (Huntington, Ind./Southridge) leads the team in batting average (.362) and has added two home runs. Sophomore infielder Chris Neumann (Villa Hills, Ky./Beechwood) is batting .338 with seven doubles, three home runs, and 14 RBI. Sophomore pitcher Jake Schwartz (Russiaville, Ind./Western) holds a 2.67 ERA on the mound and has struck out 42 in 54.0 innings.
Baseball Schedule Apr. 17-Apr. 23
Apr. 18 |
Cincinnati-Clermont at Hanover (DH) |
2:00 PM |
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Mount St. Joseph at Anderson |
4:00 PM |
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Franklin at Bluffton |
4:00 PM |
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Rose-Hulman at Defiance |
4:00 PM |
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Apr. 19 |
Mount St. Joseph at Anderson (DH) |
12:00 PM |
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Franklin at Bluffton (DH) |
12:00 PM |
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Rose-Hulman at Defiance (DH) |
12:00 PM |
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Transylvania at Manchester |
12:00 PM |
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Apr. 20 |
Transylvania at Manchester (DH) |
1:00 PM |
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Apr. 21 |
Anderson at Manchester |
TBA |
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Apr. 22 |
Bluffton at Defiance |
4:00 PM |
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Mount St. Joseph at Transylvania |
4:00 PM |
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Rose-Hulman at Franklin |
4:00 PM |
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Apr. 23 |
Franklin at Earlham |
6:00 PM |
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Defiance at Wittenberg |
7:00 PM |