Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Baseball Season Preview
February 12, 2002 | Baseball
Feb. 12, 2002
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green State University enters the 2002 season hoping to carry over some of the offense it demonstrated from a year ago, develop more of the pitching that it began last year and in the off-season, and continue its recent presence in the Mid-American Conference as one of the teams to contend with.
As the Falcons begin their 12th year under the guidance of Coach Danny Schmitz, it will mark the final season in the MAC East Division for the Brown and Orange. Next year, BGSU moves to the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. In the last four years BGSU has won three East Divisional titles while registering 135 victories, an average of over 33 wins per season. During two of those seasons, Bowling Green has captured a school-record tying 36 decisions, including last year.
Several factors will play a role in a successful 2002 campaign for the Falcons, said Schmitz. One of the main keys will be the Falcons carrying over some of its offensive production from 2001. Besides leading the country in batting average (.360 avg.) and slugging percentage (.599 pct.), BGSU was third in scoring (9.89 per game), third in home runs (1.93 per game) and fourth in doubles (2.5 per game) as a team.
"It was a tremendous hitting year last season," said Schmitz. "I think it would be unfair to ask, 'can you guys do it again?' Last year we went through a five-week stretch where it didn't matter who we had in the lineup, everyone was swinging the bats, one through nine. The old saying is hitting is contagious, and that's what it was for us for about five weeks."
All but two players on the entire team finished with a .300 batting average or better, including 10 who had averages above .350.
Schmitz loses a senior class from last year which captured three divisional titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament twice during their time with the Brown and Orange. Among those lost were outfielders Aric Christman and Lee Morrison, infielders Chad Curlis and Scott Dukate, and pitchers Craig Menke and Brian Thacker.
"We have some major holes to replace with the three captains from last year (Christman, Menke and Morrison), as well as Scott Dukate who had an outstanding year at third base," said Schmitz.
"Lenny (Len Elias) is going to have to be someone to fill that number-three spot on an everyday basis with the departure of Morrison. Another hole is the leadoff spot. Christman was such an outstanding guy in that role."
Christman ended his career among the top-five on six of BGSU's all-time lists, including second in hits and runs scored. As a senior, he established new season records in at-bats, hits, runs scored and total bases. Morrison also made school history last year with 18 home runs and 63 RBIs and is second all-time in doubles and runs-batted-in. Both Christman (second team) and Morrison (first team), along with Menke (second team), were all-conference performers last year.
Despite the departure of these players, 10 Falcons return from last year who had above a .300 batting average, including NCBWA Preseason All-American Len Elias. The senior outfielder led all regular starters with a .397 average last season, good enough for 51st among all Division I players. Elias, a native of Ontario, Canada, holds several school records and could obtain several others during his senior season.
"Lenny has been an outstanding player here for his first three years," said Schmitz. "He will be the anchor in the outfield. We need his senior year to be his best year. He's a player that comes ready to play every day and works very hard. He's the type of guy whose attitude and approach rubs off on the rest of the team."
Elias is one of three captains on the 2002 squad, along with senior shortstop Nick Elrod and junior pitcher Doug Flere.
"It starts with the captains and filters down through the team," said Schmitz. "Leadership is important. On the field and off the field. They have to be ready and make sure they're teammates are ready to play every day."
This season will mark the fourth year that Elrod has started at shortstop for the Falcons. He raised his batting average 70 points last year (.365) from his sophomore year (.295) while leading the team with 156 assists. He was a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen bases with six homers, 14 doubles and 37 RBIs.
"I thought he had an all-conference year last season," Schmitz said of Elrod. "But I know there are some other good shortstops out there. He had his best year so far as a Falcon. He's one of those guys that the boys look up to and he's got to take it a step further."
Backing up Elrod at shortstop will be freshman Jim Lipari, who could also see time at second.
"He was one of the top shortstops in the state of Michigan," Schmitz said about the Clinton Township native. "I think he's a good, solid shortstop."
Flere is coming off "Tommy John" surgery, which made him miss the entire 2001 season. The lefthander will be looked upon to jump right into the starting rotation after a successful and healthy off-season.
"Keys to the pitching staff will include a healthy Doug Flere," said Schmitz. "Not having him on the staff last year left a void."
"Flere will be the key to the whole thing," said third-year pitching coach Tod Brown. "If he can come back the way Doug Flere can throw, it puts everyone else in line and it sets up our pitching staff very nicely."
Flere has just eight career starts after spending time in the bullpen during his first two seasons. He has a career record of 3-1 with a 5.00 ERA, 35 walks and 58 strikeouts. Other Falcon seniors include catcher Tim Newell, infielder Nick Schmidt, and pitchers Brad Henry, Kevin Stock and Keith Williams.
Newell by far had his best year as a Falcon last season, nearly doubling his batting average from his sophomore year (.167) to his junior year (.331), and being named to the All-MAC Second Team. In the process, Newell had nine doubles, one triple, eight homers and 33 RBIs. It was his first season as the full-time catcher, starting 37 of 54 games behind the plate for Bowling Green.
"Tim had a great year last year," said Schmitz. "He's another one that the leadership part must really take place. He's got to be the guy to run the show. He's got that type of ability."
Giving Newell spells behind the plate will be converted-catcher Nate Henschen, along with freshmen Kevin Longstreth and Jesse Sobol. Henschen made 11 appearances on the mound last year as a freshman (2-0, 6.28 ERA) while starting nine games in the field (.333 avg., five doubles, one triple, two homers).
"It's very difficult for a catcher to catch all the games," said Schmitz. "So we're going to need somebody to step to the forefront and take over that No. 2 spot."
Helping with the progression of Newell and the maturation of the three underclassmen will be former Major Leaguer Chris Hoiles. The Wayne, Ohio, native caught 10 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles before retiring several years ago.
Schmidt will battle for playing time at third base with the departure of Dukate, while the threesome of Henry, Stock and Williams will see time out of the bullpen.
At first base will be junior Kelly Hunt, who started 27 games as the designated hitter and 21 games at first last season. He finished 2001 with a .352 batting average along with 14 doubles, two triples, 14 homers and 49 RBIs.
"Hunt had a great year as a sophomore last year," said Schmitz. "Kelly's one of those guys that needs to be one of the leaders."
Sophomore Neil Schmitz will serve as backup to Hunt while spending most of his time on the mound. The lefthander had 11 appearances on the mound and out of the bullpen a year ago while starting eight games in the outfield and as DH.
Playing his second season as a starter at second base will be junior Corey Loomis. The second-team All-MAC performer batted .369 with 11 doubles, three triples and 10 home runs in 2001.
"After having an average freshman year, we thought he had a real solid sophomore year," said Schmitz. "Again, he has to be one of the leaders."
Backing up Loomis will be sophomore utility player Spencer Schmitz who played in 18 games last season.
The only position battle in the infield will come at third base. Along with senior Nick Schmidt, sophomore Andy Hudak will work to get playing time. Schmidt started eight games last year at second base while appearing in 23 games overall. He batted .333 with three doubles, one homer and 12 RBIs. Hudak started 13 games at the hot corner as as freshman, ending with a .391 average, three doubles, one triple, two homers and 16 RBIs.
"We're going to let those two guys battle it out and hopefully one will step forward and take over that everyday role," said Schmitz. "Hudak had a solid year last season as a freshman and Nick has played some third base for us in the past."
Anchoring the outfield will be Len Elias, who will make the move from left field to right field for the Falcons. He is the lone returning outfielder from a year ago with the departure of centerfielder Aric Christman and rightfielder Lee Morrison.
Replacing Christman in centerfield will be sophomore David Barkholz while several freshmen could see time in right field, including Jeff Warnock, Kirk Jensen, Jay Selgo and Matt Rositano.
"David as a part-time player last year had a very good year for us," Schmitz said about Barkholz, who had a team-high .467 batting average in 45 at-bats and 11 starts. "The kid loves to play. He's a tremendous competitor. We feel good about David being out there."
Also seeing time in center could be freshman Matt Hundley, who will get a chance on the mound, as well.
"Jeff Warnock had a good fall for us," said Schmitz. "He has the potential to be an outstanding hitter. Kirk Jensen was impressive in the fall and remained very impressive through the winter months. Those two guys will battle it out in left."
Finally on the mound, Schmitz and Brown will look to fine-tune its starting rotation during the early weeks of the season in preparation for league play. Besides junior Doug Flere, sophomores Kyle Knoblauch, Keith Laughlin and Neil Schmitz, along with several freshmen, will get an opportunity to be one of the four regular starters.
"The key is coming up with our starting guys because then it puts everybody else in their proper roles," said Brown. "One of the things that hurt us last year was we had some injuries and lack of depth, and we put guys in roles that they weren't accustomed to because of our youthfulness. We've got to use last year's experience to benefit this year. Last year's experience will be a waste if they don't come back and use that to their advantage."
Brown was referring to last year's freshmen class of Knoblauch, Laughlin, Schmitz, Clayton Booth and Ryan Lindquist. Combined, the five frosh hurlers accounted for 18 victories, 31 starts and nearly half of the total innings pitched by the Falcons (216.2). Knoblauch led all pitchers in starts (13), innings pitched (64.2) and complete games (two). Booth led the bullpen with five saves while Schmitz, Laughlin and Lindquist proved crucial in middle relief roles.
Others being looked at for the starting rotation will be freshmen Burke Badenhop, Matt Hundley and Tyler Saneholtz.
"By the time of our conference opener (March 29 vs. Eastern Michigan), four of those guys have to be our starters," said Brown. "If you look at it from an age class, we're still very young. Our experience is in our sophomore class and our freshmen are really pushing our upperclassmen for playing time."
Out of the bullpen in the late innings will be Booth and Schmitz. Lindquist, who finished with a 2-1 record and one save in 41.2 innings pitched, will be looked to fill the middle-reliever role, which he fit into very nicely last season according to Brown.
"Hopefully he puts together a good season for us," Brown said of Lindquist. "He may have been one of our most valuable pitchers last year because when our starters were knocked out early...he gave us a chance to win every time."
Freshman Tom Oestrike will also be used out of the bullpen, who Brown said "has potential and good stuff, and when he puts it all together is going to be a guy that can help us."
The other first-year guys will see time out of the bullpen depending on how the starting rotation shakes out for the Falcons.
"I think, potentially, our pitching staff will be very good," said Schmitz. "But we have to do it on a consistent basis. A lot of those guys as freshmen last year showed signs of being outstanding pitchers. They've really got to step it up."
Bowling Green begins its season at the University of Tennessee, which finished tied for third at the 2001 College World Series and ended the year ranked as high as fourth in some national publications. Other non-conference notables include Evansville, Michigan, Notre Dame, and a spring break trip through the states of Kentucky and Tennessee.
"I think it's going to be a very competitive schedule," said Schmitz. "It's going to be a tremendous challenge right out of the shoot. But that's what we want. We want a competitive schedule to get us ready for the MAC. Mid-American Conference baseball is some of the best baseball in the country."
Bowling Green's home opener is scheduled for March 26 vs. IPFW. There are a total of 22 home games on the slate for the 2002 season.
