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Elmhurst College Baseball Team: 2008 Season Preview
ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst College Baseball team enters the 2008 season looking for a second-consecutive trip to the conference tournament. After being picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll, the 2007 Bluejays finished fourth in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) with a 10-11 record (16-22 overall), and qualified for the CCIW Tournament. The Bluejays are looking to return to the 20-win plateau for the first time since 2004 under second-year head coach Joel Southern.
"Last year was a good experience for this team," said Southern. "Based on that experience and what I saw this fall in our workouts, this group is really getting an understanding of the high level at which we have to function, day-in and day-out, year-in and year-out, in order to be the top program in this league," Southern adds.
Leading the way for the Bluejays on the field will be senior centerfielder Tom Rhein (Worth/Brother Rice), who is one of four captains on this year’s squad. Rhein is coming off a tremendous junior season in 2007 for which he was named second-team all-CCIW and third-team all-Central Region. From the leadoff position, Rhein led the 2007 team in most offensive categories, including batting average (.392), on-base percentage (.494), slugging percentage (.629), homeruns (tie, six), doubles (tie, 12), triples (tie, two), at-bats (143), hits (56), runs scored (43), total bases (90), and hit-by-pitches (ten), and was second on the team in RBI (39), bases-on-balls (22), and stolen bases (five).
"Tom had a tremendous year last season," said Southern. "His numbers speak for themselves, and we are looking for him to again lead this team offensively from the leadoff position."
Rhein will be joined in the veteran Elmhurst outfield by junior leftfielder Mike Goltz (Neenah, Wis./H.S.), who was named to the all-CCIW first team last season as a utility player. Goltz hit .331 in 2007 with a .532 slugging percentage, tying for the team lead in doubles (12) and triples (two) while belting four homeruns and driving in 33 runs.
"Mike is a full-effort player," said Southern. "He really took a step forward offensively last year as he improved his control of the strike zone."
Goltz will also see time at third base and on the mound for the Bluejays.
Rounding out the outfield will be rightfielder Noah Wiza (North Riverside/Riverside-Brookfield), who bounced back from an injury that cost him the entire 2006 season to post a solid 2007 campaign (.266, four doubles, and seven steals in 79 at-bats).
"I think Noah is poised to really break out in 2008," said Southern. "We expect big things from him this spring."
Senior Scott Perkinson (Elk Grove/H.S.), who hit .240 in 75 at-bats in 2007, had another strong fall season and will be a major contributor in 2008.
"Scott brings an ability to play all three outfield positions and a high level of intensity each day," said Southern.
Returners Matt Brauer (Streamwood/H.S.), Steve Hagstrom (Des Plaines/Maine West), along with senior Tristan Hunt (Chicago/Amundsen) and freshman Dan Matkovic (Carol Stream/Glenbard North) will also contribute to the Bluejays’ outfield.
Senior first baseman Jim Deschamps (Glenview/Glenbrook South), another of the Bluejays’ captains, leads the Elmhurst infield unit. Deschamps is coming off an outstanding junior season in which he earned second-team all-CCIW and third-team all-Central Region honors. Deschamps led the team with 40 RBI and tied for the team lead with six homeruns and 12 doubles in 2007 while drawing 25 walks.
"Jim is a patient hitter who drove in some big runs for us last year," said Southern. "He has big power and should be a force in the middle of the order for us again this year."
Senior third baseman Nick Sharkey (Bolingbrook/H.S.) hit .304 with seven doubles last season. Sharkey could also see playing time at shortstop.
"Nick is a solid defensive player who really came on with the bat last year," said Southern. "He handles the bat well and gives us some options defensively because of his ability to play in the middle of the diamond."
In the middle infield, the Bluejays have the depth to make up for the loss of all-CCIW players Anthony Contaldo and Brian Mucha from last year's team. Second base will be manned by junior Brett Lilley (Rochester Hills, Mich./H.S.), a switch-hitter. Lilley hit .361 in 36 at-bats last season.
"Brett has done a great job when called upon the last two years, and we are looking forward to his contributions over the course of a full season," said Southern.
There is good competition at the shortstop position, with sophomore Vince Mathe (Park Ridge/Maine South) and junior transfer Mike Saylor (Cicero/College of DuPage), as well as Sharkey, vying for time. Saylor could also see time on the mound for the Bluejays.
"I believe we would be in good hands with any of these individuals manning the shortstop position," said Southern.
Freshman Zach Hofer (Algonquin/Jacobs) could contribute in the infield, but should also see time behind the plate and on the mound for the Bluejays. Freshman Dan Bosco (Carol Stream/Glenbard North) will also compete for time in the infield.
Junior Tyler Manske (Rockton/Hononegah) should see significant time as the designated hitter.
"Tyler has outstanding power potential and was swinging the bat well last year before an injury ended his season," said Southern.
A pair of freshmen, Steve Glagola (Flossmoor/Homewood-Flossmoor) and Patrick O'Connor (Villa Park/Willowbrook) will battle for time at first base; both should see time at the designated hitter position. Glagola may also see time in the outfield.
Senior Pat Meginniss (Elgin/H.S.), another of the four team captains, will lead a deep group of quality catchers. Meginniss was a workhorse for the Bluejays last season, appearing in 24 of the team's final 25 games after an injury sidelined Dan Bocian. Meginniss finished the 2007 season hitting .300 in 110 at-bats.
"Pat was playing well before Dan got hurt last year, but he really turned it on shortly after that," said Southern.
Junior transfer Kris Saylor (Cicero/College of DuPage) along with Hofer and Michael Kerr (Glenview/Glenbrook South) will also be in the hunt for playing time at the catching position.
The Bluejays' pitching staff will have to recover from the loss of a large group of seniors that combined for 190 innings in 2007, over 60% of the team's total. The team welcomes back fifth-year senior righthander Steve Huisel (Gurnee/Warren Township). Huisel, one of four captains on the team, will lead the pitching staff in 2008. Huisel finished 3-3 with an 8.01 ERA in 39 1/3 innings last year.
"The plan is for Steve to be one of our top starters this spring," said Southern. "Other than a couple of tough outings, Steve was an effective pitcher for us last year."
Also returning for Elmhurst is senior lefthander Matt Seroka (Chicago/Brother Rice).
"Matt has a lot of talent, and if he throws strikes consistently, which he did in the fall, he could put it all together this year," said Southern.
Also returning to the Elmhurst staff in 2008 will be sophomore righthanders Andrew Auriemme (Addison/Addison Trail), Scott Jones (Island Lake/Wauconda), and junior lefty Kevin Capps (Des Plaines/Maine West).
"Each of these three individuals had good moments this fall, and we are hoping for big contributions from all of them," said Southern.
Junior righthander Cyrus Rogers (Wheaton/Harper College) returns to Elmhurst this year and should be a major factor in a relief role. Rogers appeared in four games for the Bluejays as a freshman in 2006 prior to spending last spring at Harper College. Another transfer, junior righthander Patrick Saylor (Cicero/College of DuPage), showed excellent stuff in the fall and looks to be a major piece of the Elmhurst pitching staff in 2008.
The coaching staff was also impressed this fall with freshman righthander Kyle Silbert (Wheaton/Wheaton North).
"Kyle has a great future in this program," said Southern. "He has a projectable pitcher’s body, and he's added velocity since we scouted him last winter. We're looking forward to seeing him on the mound this spring."
Freshmen lefthander Dan Napientek (Villa Park/Willowbrook) and righthander Tom Deschamps (Glenview/Glenbrook South) both will battle for time on the mound in 2008. The Bluejays also boast a number of position players who should see time on the mound this spring, including Goltz, Mike Saylor, Hofer, Hagstrom, and Sharkey.
Overall, Coach Southern is confident that the team can make a return trip to the conference tournament and is capable of much more. "We have a good mix of veterans and youth on this team," he said. "If our pitching comes around like I know it can, this could be an exciting season for Elmhurst Baseball."
Elmhurst opens its 2008 season with a doubleheader against Gustavus Adolphus at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn., on March 2.
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