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Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Baseball 2003 Season Preview
February 20, 2003 | Baseball
Feb. 20, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio -
SCHEDULE NOTE: Saturday's contest between BGSU and Tennessee has been moved to Friday as part of a doubleheader at Lindsey Nelson Stadium due to expected inclement weather. The doubleheader will begin at 12 noon (ET) with the final game of the three-game series still scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m. Games can be heard live www.wutkradio.com.
Season Preview
The Bowling Green baseball team has relied on offensive output over the past couple of years to accumulate 68 victories and a Mid-American Conference Championship. In 2001, the Falcons led the nation in batting average (.360) and slugging pct. (.599), while last season BGSU racked up 8.9 runs per game (eighth nationally) to go along with a .335 team batting average (10th nationally).
In 2003, however, the Brown and Orange may need to lean less on the bat and more on the mound as it embarks on its first season in the MAC West Division.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us," said 12-year veteran skipper Danny Schmitz. "We're not the same team that we were the last couple of years. This team has a whole new identity. Losing your two, three, five, and six-hole hitters, that's a lot to replace.
Missing from a year ago are four of the top six hitters, three to graduation and one to the Major League draft. Gone are four-year veteran shortstop Nick Elrod, three-year starter Corey Loomis (drafted 21st round by Detroit), veteran catcher Tim Newell, and all-time hits leader Len Elias. That group accounted for 38 home runs, 63 doubles and 193 RBI in 2002. The other missing component could be junior third-baseman Andy Hudak. The 6-foot, 210-pounder batted .374 with 15 doubles, 10 homers and 57 RBI a year ago. Off-season back surgery, though, may prevent him from seeing major playing time, if any, for the Falcons this year.
What is left offensively, however, is the 2002 MAC Player of the Year, Kelly Hunt. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound first baseman returns for his senior season after becoming the first Falcon ever to be voted the league's top player. Hunt broke or tied four school records last season with 22 home runs, 84 RBI, 168 total bases and 86 hits. He finished third nationally in RBIs per game (1.58) and sixth in homers per game (0.41).
"We're fortunate to have the Player of the Year back this year in Kelly Hunt," said Schmitz. "He just had a tremendous year last year. To break school records for home runs and RBIs at the university, as well as tying the record mark for RBIs in the conference, he just had a tremendous year. We need him to come back and have just as good, if not even a little better year."
Hunt was a Collegiate Baseball Third-Team All-America selection while smacking eight more home runs (22) than strikeouts (14) in 214 at-bats. He also committed just two errors at first base in 445 chances (.996 pct.).
Only three other position players return for the Falcons, including junior center fielder David Barkholz, sophomore left fielder Jeff Warnock, and sophomore catcher Kevin Longstreth. Barkholz served as the leadoff hitter last season and batted .322 with nine doubles, three homers and 29 RBI. He led the squad with 15 stolen bases (17 attempts).
"Barkholz is the catalyst of the team," said Schmitz. "He has had two solid years and we need him to come back and have another great year and be that spark plug, be that guy that keeps the machine going."
Both Longstreth and Warnock saw playing time as their freshmen campaigns progressed. Schmitz said the team will need to see that progression continue into their sophomore seasons, along with the entire sophomore class, for the Falcons to make up for who was lost from a year ago.
"We lost a lot from last year," said Schmitz. "When you lose your starting catcher, your middle infield, a four-year starter, and one of our top hitters ever...we've have some holes to replace.
"It's a great opportunity for returning guys that played in backup roles last year. They will have an opportunity to win a starting job this year. It's a great opportunity for our freshmen coming in to play as freshmen. That's going to be the major key for this program is if we can get some youngsters stepping it up, whether it's freshmen or sophomores, filling some of those holes."
At second base, junior Spencer Schmitz and freshman Bobby Majer will be competing, while sophomore Jimmy Lipari could get the nod at shortstop. Majer, a left-handed hitter, could be used at either spot, though. For the beginning of the season at least, freshman Tyler Wasserman will be at third base. If Hudak's recovery doesn't allow him to return this season, Wasserman may be the guy for the whole year.
In the outfield, with left and center field solid with Warnock and Barkholz, respectively, right field remains the only question. Freshman Nolan Reimold is the front-runner for that spot with fellow frosh Josh Baughman and Dash Yost, along with sophomore Jayson Selgo also competing for time in the outfield.
Junior Nate Henschen and Spencer Schmitz were both used last season as designated hitters and could be again this season. Newcomers that could see time there include Baughman, Riemold, and Steve Raszka. Henschen will also compete for the third-base job.
The most experience that returns for the Falcons in 2003 will come on the mound. Nine of 13 hurlers from a year ago return for BGSU, including first-team All-MAC reliever Neil Schmitz and second-team All-MAC starter Kyle Knoblauch. The lone senior on the staff is fifth-year veteran Doug Flere while four sophomores are back after eye-opening freshmen campaigns.
"In the past couple of years our problem has been lack of depth," said BGSU pitching coach Tod Brown. "We're starting to create some depth. We have 11 active pitchers and nine of the 11 have pitched a decent amount of innings for us."
Schmitz had a team-low 3.38 ERA in 37.1 innings of work. The left-hander struckout 43 while walking just eight, finishing with a 4-1 record and six saves. The six saves were two off the school record and his 26 appearances were one off the school record.
"Having a closer in college baseball is hard to find," said BGSU pitching coach Tod Brown. "Usually you don't have enough depth and you need them to fill out your rotation. But, if we can fill out our rotation and keep Neil in the bullpen, that's going to be a nice bonus. He has the right demeanor to be a closer because nothing really fazes him. He throws strikes, he challenges people, and the team has confidence in him."
As for the starting rotation, Knoblauch will look to build off a solid sophomore season. The 6-foot-8 right-hander had a 7-1 record in 14 starts for BGSU with a team-high 76.2 innings of work and five complete games. He registered a 4.93 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 27 walks.
Joining Knoblauch in the rotation will be sophomore Tyler Saneholtz. The right-hander was a Third-Team Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America last season after finishing with a 6-2 record in 68.2 innings of action. Saneholtz had 44 strikeouts with 36 walks, and finished with a 4-1 record in MAC play.
"As far as guys that have experience and have done the job in the past, the two key guys are Knoblauch and Saneholtz," said Brown. "They have been in the rotation and have put up some pretty good numbers. Then you have a large pool after that to choose from for whose going to be your next two starters from there."
Fighting for those final spots in the starting rotation will be Flere, redshirt-sophomore Keith Laughlin, sophomores Tom Oestrike, Matt Hundley and Burke Badenhop, and freshman Tyler Johnson.
Pitchers that can be used as middle relievers will be junior Ryan Lindquist and junior-transfer Dino Cowell. Lindquist finished among the league leaders in appearances last season with 22 (one start), and finished with a 3-2 record in 53.2 innings of work.
"Lindquist soaked up a lot of innings," said Brown. "He was a guy that when the score was close, would hold them to get to our closer."
In the end, Schmitz said this year's team cannot rest solely on the success of past teams. New players, new attitude, new challenges are ahead for the Falcons of 2003.
"We're not going to be a surprise to anyone," said Schmitz. "It is going to be very important that our four captains, along with our other upperclassmen, take the responsibility to make sure we're teaching our youngsters how Falcon baseball is to be played. It's going to be a big key to what type of season we have. It's going to be a must that they run this team the way it's supposed to be run and show these youngsters how we do things here. Our sophomores got their feet wet last year. If programs are going to continue to have success, it's very important that their sophomores come back as men and fill in holes that are vacated by the class that just left us, which was a pretty darn good class."
The move to the MAC West Division, after capturing four of the last five East Division crowns, will be another obstacle for BGSU this season.
"The West Division is a tough division," said Schmitz. "We know the teams that are over there. Any weekend in the conference, you better be ready to play because if you aren't they're going to hand it to you."
Along with league matchups with defending West Division champion Eastern Michigan, as well as Ball State, Western Michigan, Central Michigan, and rival Toledo, the non-conference ledger for BGSU is a tough one, as well.
The Falcons travel to 2002 College World Series-participant Notre Dame, Big Ten powerhouse Ohio State, and SEC-member Tennessee. Bowling Green will also travel to Fresno State's Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic over spring break (March 10-15). Michigan State, Dayton, IPFW, Oakland and Wright State will visit Warren Steller Field this season, also.
"It might be one of our tougher non-conference schedules ever," said Schmitz.
Re-joining Schmitz and pitching coach Tod Brown on the coaching staff will be former Falcon Dave Whitmire and former major-leaguer Chris Hoiles. Brown is in his fourth season with the Falcons while it will be the second year for Whitmire and Hoiles.
