Bowling Green State University Athletics
Is It Baseball Season Yet? Previewing the 2011 Falcons
February 15, 2011 | Baseball
Despite mother nature's attempt to keep winter around in Bowling Green, it's baseball season! The BGSU baseball team is ready to toe up the rubber, kick up some chalk and bring back the PING that defines college baseball. The Falcons open the 2011 season with a road trip to Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, Ky.) but before they hit the road, get to know your Falcons in the season preview!
Check out more than 20 minutes of combined audio with head coach Danny Schmitz detailing position by position your 2011 Bowling Green State University baseball team.
Coach Danny Schmitz on the ... (audio)
2010 seniors | Schedule | Catchers | Corner Infielders | Middle Infielders
Outfield | Pitching | Freshmen | 1,500 program wins
A YEAR IN REVIEW
The 2010 season started like a wild roller coaster ride up and down 'Falcon Mountain' with the way that Bowling Green performed over the team's first 22 games. Competing in but losing its first six games against nationally-ranked competition, BGSU rebounded during their annual spring trip to Winter Haven, Flor. winning or tying six of seven games they played in against some very versatile competition and then sweeping Eastern Kentucky on the road. Despite floating just below .500 at that point, the Falcons lost seven of their next eight games and ten of their next twelve. Standing 26 games into the season with an 8-17-1 record and fresh off the worst loss in program history, a 32-10 defeat to Ball State served as an eye-opening experience and the beginning of one of the biggest turnarounds in BGSU history.
From that point on the bats woke up, the pitching became more consistently and lively and the Falcons' record flipped from sub-.500 to a first place caliber mark. Three games following one of the worst losses in program history, the Falcons put together the third longest winning streak the program had ever witnessed. From April 16 to May 1 the Falcons went unbeaten, spanning 11 games. From that April 16 matchup with Toledo through the rest of the regular season Bowling Green 18 of its next 21 games and only lost one conference series, that being against Kent State. Include the Mid-American Conference tournament; the Falcons won 21 of their final 26 games of the 2010 campaign.
Earning the fifth seed of the MAC Tournament, BGSU won its first postseason game in the last five tries with an opening round win versus Ball State. A loss to Central Michigan the following day put the Falcons on the hot seat but on the third day of the tournament, BGSU eliminated Ball State and gave CMU its first loss to advance to the semi-final round of the tournament. However, the Falcons' season came to an end when the Chippewas mounted a ninth-inning, come-from-behind victory on the final day of the tournament.
USHERING IN THE 2011 SENIOR CLASS
The senior class is composed of five individuals, two of which will be serving as captains. Clay Duncan (INF) and Frank Berry (INF) will join Jon Berti in captaincy while Dan Parsons (LHP), Charles Wooten (RHP) and Ryan Schlater (C) round out the senior class of 2011.
The senior class over the last three years has a combined overall record of 91-65-1 (.582) and a conference mark of 52-25 (.675). While at Warren Steller Field, this senior class has defended their home field with a 40-20 (.667) record. They were a part of the back-to-back Mid-American Conference regular season championships in 2008 and 2009 and have been involved in the program's current streak of three straight MAC East division championships.
Together they have built offensive numbers that include a combined .286 batting average (206-for-720), 119 RBI and ten home runs between the three position players. The pitching staff including Wooten, Parsons and Berry has combined numbers of a 6.52 earned run average, 136 strikeouts and a 14-5 overall record.
THE INFIELDERS
| BGSU Falcon Projected Starting Lineup *lineup is subject to change* |
|||
| Position | First String | Second String | |
| C | Ryan Schlater | Matt Vannett | |
| 1B | Clay Duncan | Andrew Kuns | |
| 2B | Matthew Pitzulo | Brandon Howard | |
| SS | Jon Berti | Brandon Howard | |
| 3B | Frank Berry | Logan Walker | |
| LF | Andrew Kuns | Jake Thomas | |
| CF | Patrick Martin | Andrew Kubuski | |
| RF | Alex Davison | Patrick Lancaster | |
| DH | Jeremy Shay | Logan Walker | |
| SP | Matt Malewitz | Ethan McKinney | |
| SP | Michael Frank | Kevin Delapaz | |
| SP | Cody Apthorpe | Chris Miller | |
| MR | Ross Gerdeman | Charles Wooten | |
| CP | Nick Bruns | Charles Wooten | |
The infield will see the most familiar faces out the Falcon returners, most notably by All-Regional selection and record book rewriting shortstop, Jon Berti (Troy, Mich.). Berti's range deep in the hole accompanied with his strong arm and improving glove on defense have gained him recognition in the field but when taking his place in the batter's box, he lifts himself to new heights. Last year Berti set a school record with 93 hits in a season and now resides with the second-best single-season batting average hitting at a .423 clip. His combination of speed and natural instincts on the base paths not only make him a fantastic base stealer (29-of-35 in 2010) but has regularly turned doubles into triples and singles into doubles, creating more scoring opportunities for the Falcons.
Though his services were more valuable to his team last year as a designated hitter, Matthew Pitzulo (Poland, Ohio) will be called upon to replace Logan Meisler at second base this season. Pitzulo underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a lingering injury, but the sophomore is expected to be back stronger than ever and bring a flash of leather to the table defensively. Last season, he earned All-MAC Second Team honors while batting .352, hitting four home runs, 28 RBI and 13 doubles serving as the DH for the Falcons. He and Berti will make for a strong middle infield once they work out together more regularly.
On the corners will be familiar faces from the lineup but each with their own interesting story as to how they got there. Co-captain Clay Duncan (Norwalk, Ohio) found his way as the regular first baseman last year midway ¬through the conference season after serving as a utility player much of the season. Before making his home first base Duncan had played third base, each corner outfield slot and even pitched an inning of relief. With Duncan's fielding percentage (.994 in 2010) and leadership in the field, he will hunker down the first base responsibilities.
Co-captain Frank Berry (Virginia Beach, Vir.) is slated to begin the 2011 season manning the hot corner but does so after fighting through a junior season with an arm injury. Berry was recruited as a position player for the Falcons but his live arm made him a viable candidate to throw out of the bullpen. An arm injury he sustained on the mound required Tommy John surgery and forced him to sit out the 2009 season. Last season, Berry was relegated to only four relief appearances on the bump and now he finds himself back in an everyday role with a bat in hand. He has not taken an official at-bat since the 2008 season, but Berry is set to fill the hole left by Derek Spencer last year.
Logan Walker (Richmond, Vir.) has really impressed the coaching staff with exceptional athleticism and versatility. The freshman, who comes from one of the strongest summer league programs in the nation, is a jack of all trades. He possesses good speed both with his legs and his bat, can flash the leather and has good baseball IQ. He is seen as being one of the freshmen with the highest upside as his career progresses but his raw ability will make him a viable backup at third base, strong option off the bench and even better prospect down the line.
Another strong prospect that is likely to see playing time sooner rather than later is freshman Brandon Howard (Cincinnati, Ohio). A middle infielder by trade, Howard can light up base paths and cover a lot of ground defensively. Should Pitzulo's arm not be ready by the beginning of the season or if he is switched to serve as the team's designated hitter, Howard would likely step in to fill the vacancy at second base. He also
THE OUTFIELDERS
One of the greatest challenges BGSU will face this season will be replacing all three of its regular outfielders from a season ago, especially in a park where gaps are large and space is plentiful. The only returning player that has any outfield experience is Patrick Martin (Oregon, Ohio) who is being called upon to anchor down centerfield this year for the Falcons. Martin primarily served as a left-handed pitching specialist but also played 22 games in the field as a defensive substitute in left field. Though last year's .125 batting average (3-for-24) is an obvious area to improve upon, but the redshirt-junior has speed to not only cover ground defensively but also move around the bases when he is aboard.
To Martin's right in left field is a former teammate from their days at Clay High School, Andrew Kuns (Oregon, Ohio). The sophomore will make the move from first base to the outfield mainly to find a way to keep his bat in the Falcon lineup every day. A super athlete in high school, Kuns' transition is expected to be a smooth one and for what he is behind in defensively in the outfield, he is expected to make up for with his stick.
The first freshman expected to get serious starting time will be right fielder Alex Davison. The coaching staff believes that Davison has many of the qualities that look promising for development into a regular right fielder with a consistent bat, strong arm and defensive skills to help overcome inexperience in the outfield. Freshmen Jake Thomas (Litchfield, Ohio), Patrick Lancaster (Woodhaven, Mich.) and Andrew Kubuski (Elyria, Ohio) will also play a significant role in finding additional options in the outfield. When Martin is on the hill, Kubuski with his speed and contact hitting skills is the early favorite to come off the bench to fill the vacancy.
CATCHERS
To support Coach Schmitz's theory of “strong up the middle”, he returns one of his five seniors behind the dish with Ryan Schlater (St. Paris, Ohio). He is the lead candidate to take the weekend starts behind the plate and is the team's best defensive and offensive backstops having hit .314 and slugged .466 with his five home runs in 2010. He also posted the third-highest fielding percentage on the team at a .971 clip. When he isn't catching Schlater will also share duties in the outfield having played mainly right field on his “days off” in seasons past. Though not named a captain, he is a classic “lead by example” player that will be integral in developing all of the 14 Falcon freshmen.
Matt Vannett (Bowling Green, Ohio), Michael Fahle (Woodville, Ohio) and #T.J. Losby# (Bryan, Ohio) are in the heat for the number two spot behind Schlater. Vannett appeared in 17 games and started 12 last season. Of the eight runners that attempted to steal a base against him, five were caught stealing.
Fahle appeared in two pinch-hit situations last season and went a perfect 2-for-2 in his plate appearances. In his career first plate appearance against Ball State, his ninth inning pinch hit grand slam gave great insight that his bat will be valued by the Falcons off the bench.
Jeremy Shay (Garden City, Mich.) is a big, strong, right-handed hitting catcher who can also play the corner positions should he not have a spot behind the plate early in the season. His bat is his most valuable asset being a power hitting player but an outstanding arm will also contribute to the coaching staff sifting through his talents to find her permanent home as he matures into a full-time ball player.
T.J. Losby is characterized as a phenomenal athlete whose overall talents will find him chances to play perhaps in different roles for the team. He still has very fresh legs since he only began catching late in his high school career but also bring inexperience to the position. His raw athletic ability is expected to be able to make up for the lack of experience as he will learn from Schlater, Vannett and the rest of the staff.
STARTING PITCHERS
Bowling Green loses two-thirds of its weekend starting rotation with the departures of Kevin Leady and Brennan Smith, leaving only two Falcons with significant starting experience returning from the 2010 team. Both are sophomores and both are expected to compete for spots in the weekend starting rotation. Michael Frank (Maumee, Ohio) and Cody Apthorpe (Windham, Ohio) both started games for the Falcons this year, with Frank (12 GS, 2-4, 6.06 ERA) getting a majority of the starts on Saturdays early in the season. Apthorpe came on strong late, especially after a strong performance against the University of Michigan where he allowed only two hits and a run over five innings against the Wolverines. He finished the year with one of the healthiest earned run average on the team (3.51), a 3-2 overall record with his final win in the Falcons second victory over Ball State University in a MAC Tournament game. Also returning from injury is Matt Malewitz (Grand Rapids, Mich.), who missed the 2010 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Malewitz earned All-MAC honors in 2009 and is expected to serve as the team's ace in 2010.
Also in the mix for starting positions is Nick Bruns (Saint Henry, Ohio), who went 3-1 and started four games for the Falcons last season. Bruns is also a candidate for this year's closer role with the departure of Patrick O'Brien so members of the freshman class may be called upon to contribute for weekday starts. Those freshmen being considered include Ethan McKinney (Defiance, Ohio), Kevin Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.) and Chris Miller (Batesville, Ind.). All three have shown in their respective high school career that despite their different styles, they all can get batted out.
RELIEF PITCHERS
Returning reliever Ross Gerdeman (Fort Jennings, Ohio) is set to serve as one of the key components to the Falcons' bullpen after a hot start to 2010. Through the first two months of the season, Gerdeman held an ERA near 2.50 and held his spot as the Falcons' top middle reliever. Charles Wooten (Elmore, Ohio) will bring the heat for his senior season and contend for the closer's role or serve in support to Gerdeman and the rest of the BGSU pitching staff. Patrick Martin (Oregon, Ohio) may spend a majority of his time as the team's centerfielder to start, but will remain a top option against left-handed hitters, who hit only .244 against last season. Rounding out the options in the Falcon pen and bringing experience to the hill is left-hander Dan Parsons (Strongsville, Ohio). Freshmen lefty Patrick Lancaster (Woodhaven, Mich.) and righty Ben Singer (Midland, Mich.) will also join the staff to add some diversity to the bullpen.
COMING OFF THE DL
Head coach Danny Schmitz and pitching coach Rick Blanc are looking for another year in which a Falcon pitcher who was sidelined the previous year returns off of injury and has a career year. Last season, graduated senior Kevin Leady returned to the hill and lead the Falcons to their third straight division title. This year, redshirt-junior Matt Malewitz returns from Tommy John surgery after having missed the 2010 campaign. The left-hander was named to the All-MAC team in 2009 after building a 4-1 conference record in nine starts, including one shutout. Working with an off-speed repertoire, Malewitz will likely serve as a top-end starter in the BGSU rotation.
Last season, sophomore Matt Pitzulo (Poland, Ohio) put together an excellent rookie season being named to the All-MAC Second Team in a utility role. However, nursing an arm injury for a majority of the season, Pitzulo underwent Tommy John surgery in the offseason and has been through an intensive rehabilitation program to be ready by the beginning of the season. All signs indicate that the sophomore will be healthy and ready to play, but may begin as either the team's designated hitter, a role he held most of last season, or if he is of good health he will move to be the everyday second baseman.
THE SCHEDULE - IN BRIEF
The Falcons' 55-game schedule will provide the team challenges and allow time to sort through a young, talented roster. The team begins with two trips to Kentucky, much like it did in 2010, but this time face off against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (Bowling Green, Ky.) and Murray State Racers (Murray, Ky.). The season opens on Feb. 18 against WKU for a three-game set on the road. Bowling Green then heads to Florida for their annual spring trip and will participate in the RussMatt Invitational for the third year in a row. The team will play eight games in as many days between Winter Haven and Auburndale, Flor. from March 5 to March 12.
The home opener at Warren Steller Field is set for March 15 against Indiana State University and will be followed the next day by a second home game against the University of Northwest Ohio. The Falcons will play in ten additional non-conference games following those two, including Big Ten opponents Ohio State and Michigan. Twenty-one games will be played in-conference, twelve of which at home. Bowling Green opens its conference slate on the road against Northern Illinois on March 25 and brings MAC action back to Warren Steller Field to begin the month of April. This year's MAC Tournament will again be held in Chillicothe, Ohio from May 25 to May 28.
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