Bowling Green State University Athletics
Baseball: Previewing The 2012 Catchers
February 09, 2012 | Baseball
2012 will be a big year for Falcon catchers. The roster features four catchers, all with various levels of experience in college baseball. The veteran member of the position will be senior Matt Vannett, a native of Bowling Green, Ohio. Vannett will be joined by sophomores T.J. Losby (Bryan, Ohio) and Jeremy Shay (Garden City, Mich.), and junior Fred Sharp (Farmington Hills, Mich.).
T.J. Losby saw considerable time behind-the-dish a season ago as the backup for former Falcon Ryan Schlater. Losby got 17 starts, while appearing in 29 games, mostly at catcher. He batted .200 in 2011, but has improved not only at the plate, but behind it as well. During his freshman season, Losby caught nine would-be-stealers, and had a higher caught-stealing percentage (9-19) than last year's primary starter, Ryan Schlater (9-20).
Jeremy Shay will see time at catcher, but also as a corner infielder in 2012. Shay had a strong fall swinging the bat, and continues to improve his game from behind-the-dish. In 2011, Shay got 24 starts, while hitting .265. He hit three home runs, which was second best, behind Ryan Schlater, last spring. During the fall, Shay continued to show power, hitting key home runs in the Orange and Brown Fall World Series.
Matt Vannett, who will compete for time not only at catcher, but also in the infield, is the lone senior at the position. The 6-foot-1 graduate of Bowling Green High School saw action in 21 games last season. Vannett batted only .161, but made the most of his plate appearances. Three of his five hits went for extra bases (two doubles, one home run), with eight RBIs. Vannett is one of four seniors on the 2012 roster.
Junior Fred Sharp joined the Falcons during the fall. He is a native of Farmington Hills, Mich. where he attended North Farmington High School. Sharp was named North Farmington's Most Valuable Player following his senior season in 2009. He was also named first-team all-area following that 2009 season.
The catchers are coached by assistant Spencer Schmitz, son of head coach Danny Schmitz. Schmitz, a former infielder for the Falcons from 2001-2004, also serves as the program's hitting coach.
Check back to BGSUFalcons.com Saturday (Feb. 11) for a breakdown of the 2012 pitchers. Be sure to follow @WEAREBGBaseball on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates and information regarding the Falcon baseball program.
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