Spartans and Grizzlies Look for Conference Control this Weekend
April 3, 2008
GREENWOOD , IN – The HCAC baseball race is a tight one as the schedule heads to the final month of play. Franklin, Manchester, and Mount St. Joseph are tied atop the standings with a 6-2 record, while Anderson holds an identical winning percentage of .750 at 3-1 in HCAC action. This weekend’s schedule will be highlighted by the Manchester and Franklin three game series at Franklin.
The Grizzlies (13-7, 6-2 HCAC) are ranked No. 28 in the latest poll by Collegiate Baseball News and have won 11 of their last 13 contests. Manchester (13-10, 6-2 HCAC) went 3-3 last week and will look to move ahead of FC in the standings.
Franklin has been led offensively by freshman Mike Zuidema (Granger, Ind./Penn) and junior Joel Chrobak (LaPorte, Ind./H.S.) this season. Zuidema ranks second in the conference with a .429 batting average and ranks first in on-base percentage (.556). Chrobak has provided the power for the Grizzlies, belting five home runs (1 st HCAC), eight doubles (2 nd HCAC), and 28 RBI (1 st HCAC). The junior outfielder is batting .403 with a league-best .750 slugging percentage.
On the mound, junior lefty Jared Applegate (Scottsburg, Ind./H.S.) has posted a 4.58 ERA and a 3-1 record in seven appearances. Applegate has struck out a league-high 44 batters in 39.1 innings pitched. Senior Andy Clark (Louisville, Ky./Seneca) has a 4.10 ERA and 4-2 record this season, striking out 30 batters in seven appearances.
Manchester has turned to junior Shawn Baker (Middlebury, Ind./Northridge) this season to pace the Spartan offense. Baker is batting .338 with four home runs and 21 RBI to rank among the league leaders.
The Spartans have received some great pitching on the young season. Sophomore Colin Denihan (Columbia City, Ind./H.S.) and senior Derek Hanson (Wauseon, Ohio/H.S.) have both sported some great numbers for Manchester. Denihan ranks fourth in the HCAC with a 1.86 ERA and holds a perfect 4-0 record. Hanson holds a 2-0 mark and two saves, while hurling a 2.28 ERA.
The two teams will meet at Franklin for a 3:00 PM first pitch Friday afternoon before playing a doubleheader Saturday afternoon beginning at 12:00 PM.
In other conference action…
Mount St. Joseph (10-9, 6-2 HCAC) posted a 2-2 record last week, dropping two of three against Franklin and earning an 8-0 win at Hanover. The Lions have won eight of their last 10 and will play non-conference games with Capital, Otterbein, Marian, Alice Lloyd, Centre, and Asbury this week. Mount head coach Chuck Murray recorded his 300 th career coaching win on March 29 with a 5-0 win over Franklin. Murray holds a career record of 300-181 at MSJ in his 12 th season as skipper. Junior infielder Nick Weimer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) has been the backbone of the Lions offense this season. The junior is batting .385 with 21 runs scored, seven doubles, two home runs, and 18 RBI. He ranks third in the conference with 30 hits this season. Freshman outfielder Ryan Rodriguez (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) has added a .357 average at the dish with 23 runs scored and six doubles. On the mound, senior Justin Zieman (Batavia, Ohio/Amelia) has a 2.57 ERA and 2-1 record in four appearances, striking out a team-high 21 batters. Steve Matre (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian) holds a 0.68 ERA and three saves in nine relief appearances, striking out 16 in 13.1 innings of work.
Anderson and Hanover will get together for a three game set this weekend beginning Friday afternoon at Hanover. The Ravens (13-7, 3-1 HCAC) went 3-0 last week in non-conference action and have posted five wins in their last six ballgames. Senior outfielder Stephen Jones (Anderson, Ind./H.S.) is batting .406 with eight doubles, three triples, and 20 RBI. He ranks fourth in the HCAC with a .672 slugging percentage on the year. Junior catcher Brad Lantz (Lapel, Ind./H.S.) has provided some pop in the middle of the order, belting four home runs and driving in 23 RBI for the Ravens’ attack. Lantz is batting .353 with a .632 slugging percentage. On the bump for AU, junior Kevin Pence (Birmingham, Ala./Briarwood Christian) holds a league-best 0.78 ERA, while holding a 3-0 record in three starts. Hanover (4-14, 1-6 HCAC) dropped three of their four games last week, losing two of three against Bluffton and a single game against MSJ. The Panthers have lost seven of their last eight and will look to find the win column against AU. Sophomore infielder Chris Neumann (Villa Hills, Ky./Beechwood) leads the Panthers at the plate, batting .341 with five doubles and a home run. Sophomore pitcher Jake Schwartz (Russiaville, Ind./Western) ranks third with a 1.62 ERA and holds a 2-3 record in six appearances. Schwartz ranks third in the HCAC in innings pitched (39.0) and strikeouts (33) this season.
Bluffton and Rose-Hulman will meet for a three game series in Terre Haute this weekend. The Engineers (15-7, 2-2 HCAC) won two of three against Manchester and lost to Franklin during conference play last week. Rose has been a hot team lately, posting wins in seven of their last nine. Sophomore catcher Keenan Long (Park Ridge, Ill./ Northwestern Uni.) ranks first in the league with 31 hits this season and is batting .397 for RHIT. Long has also scored 20 runs, while adding five doubles and 20 RBI’s. Sophomore infielder Tim Tepe (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) is batting .345 while ranking second in the league with eight doubles and 27 RBI. Rose’s pitching staff has been paced by the efforts of sophomore Derek Eitel (Marshall, Ill./H.S.) and senior Sam Deters (Teutopolis, Ill./H.S.). Eitel ranks second with a 1.52 ERA this season and holds a 4-2 record in a league-high 41.1 innings of work. He also ranks second in the HCAC with 35 punch outs this year. Deters has yet to surrender a run this season in 10 relief appearances. The senior has a 1-0 record and five saves, while striking out 23 in only 13 innings pitched. Bluffton (8-11, 2-5 HCAC) will look to get back on the winning track after dropping nine of their last 12. The Beavers won two of three against Hanover before losing an 11-10 decision at Manchester last week. Sophomore A.J. Ramthun (Springfield, Ohio/Southeastern) has led the Beavers’ offense with a .397 average, six doubles, and 13 RBI. Sophomore Cody McPherson (Millbury, Ohio/ Lake) is hitting .369 at the plate, ranking among the league leaders with nine doubles, four home runs, and a .692 slugging percentage. Junior pitcher James Hausman (Milford, Ohio/H.S.) has paced Bluffton’s pitching staff, sporting a 2.70 ERA and 2-1 record.
Transylvania will travel to Defiance for a weekend series Friday and Saturday. The Pioneers (13-6, 1-3 HCAC) have dropped four of their last six games and will look to get back into the conference championship race. Sophomore infielder Adam Clark (Ashland, Ky./Paul Blazer) has been essential in the TU offensive attack. Clark ranks third in the conference with a .426 batting average and ranks fourth in runs scored (24). Sophomore first baseman Ben Young (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) is batting .308 with 18 runs scored, seven doubles, three home runs, and a league high 28 RBI. Junior pitcher Adam Wilkins (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) is a HCAC best 5-0 on the year with a 2.81 ERA. Defiance (4-9, 0-4 HCAC) will look for its first conference win of 2008 as Transy comes to town for the Jackets’ home opener. DC snapped a four game losing streak with an 8-6 win over Ohio Northern in their lone game last week. Sophomore second baseman Tim Pitro (Gahanna, Ohio/ Lincoln) leads the HCAC with a .455 batting average and ranks second in on-base percentage (.538). On the mound, junior Aaron Stewart (Toledo, Ohio/Start) holds a 2.19 ERA and a 1-1 record in four appearances.
Baseball Schedule Apr. 3-Apr. 9
Apr. 3 |
Capital at Mount St. Joseph |
5:00 PM |
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Apr. 4 |
Manchester at Franklin |
4:00 PM |
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Anderson at Hanover |
4:00 PM |
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Bluffton at Rose-Hulman |
4:00 PM |
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Transylvania at Defiance |
4:00 PM |
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Mount St. Joseph at Otterbein |
4:00 PM |
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Apr. 5 |
Hanover at Anderson (DH) |
12:00 PM |
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Bluffton at Rose-Hulman (DH) |
12:00 PM |
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Transylvania at Defiance (DH) |
12:00 PM |
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Manchester at Franklin (DH) |
12:00 PM |
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Mount St. Joseph at Marian |
1:00 PM |
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Apr. 6 |
Alice Lloyd at Mount St. Joseph (DH) |
1:00 PM |
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Defiance at St. Francis |
1:00 PM |
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Apr. 8 |
Defiance at Bluffton |
4:00 PM |
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Hanover at Transylvania (DH) |
4:00 PM |
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Franklin at Illinois Wesleyan |
5:00 PM |
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Rose-Hulman at Anderson |
6:00 PM |
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Centre at Mount St. Joseph |
7:00 PM |
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Apr. 9 |
Asbury at Mount St. Joseph |
5:00 PM |