Southern Illinoise University Athletics
2005 Preview
02/09/2005 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
Feb. 9, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
Third time's a charm might be something the Southern Illinois University baseball team is thinking after falling one win shy of making the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons.
A year ago, SIU opened its season at 0-12, before going on to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference with an overall record of 27-32-1, including a 15-16-1 mark in league play.
Despite the rough start, SIU heated up at the end of May, where it won five straight en route to its second MVC Championship appearance. The Dawgs, however, dropped two games to Wichita State for the second year in a row.
Although its pair of dazzling MVC Tournament runs have been the talk of the last two seasons, SIU looks for a better start in 2005. One of which the Salukis can build on as the season progresses, and hopefully, carry even further into the postseason.
Young Pups
SIU returns five position starters and three starting pitchers to a young 29-man roster consisting of 11 freshmen. With the help of four seniors, 13 juniors (four transfers) and a sophomore, it should be interesting to see how this year's rookies adjust to the college game. The Salukis also return 12 letterwinners to the 2005 squad.
Non-Conference Slate
It's always been SIU head coach Dan Callahan's philosophy to play a strong schedule early on. The Salukis will do so again in 2005, as four NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago highlight a tough schedule.
"We feel that playing quality programs early on will help prepare us for the always tough Missouri Valley Conference season, and hopefully beyond," stated Callahan.
SIU opens the season with a three-game series at Stetson on Feb. 11-13. The Hatters went 36-23 and made the Atlantic Sun Championship game a year ago. The Salukis took two of three games from Stetson the last time they visited DeLand, Fla., in 1999.
After traveling to the University of New Orleans (Feb. 18-20) the following weekend, SIU heads to Oxford, Miss., for a tough test against Ole Miss (Feb. 25-27).
The Rebels, who posted a 39-21 overall record, finished the 2004 season ranked among the top-25 in three polls. Ole Miss also advanced to the championship game of its own NCAA Regional, where it lost to Washington.
SIU faces two other NCAA Tournament participants in non-conference action. The Salukis play Middle Tennessee State on Mar. 15-16 and Missouri on May 17.
MTSU (40-22) won a share of the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title, before losing to Birmingham Southern in the elimination game of the Athens (Ga.) Regional.
Meanwhile, the Big 12 member Tigers (38-23-1) advanced to the Fayetteville (Ark.) Regional, as their 38 wins were the most in a season since 1996.
Following 10 straight games on the road, SIU returns to Abe Martin Field to host Northern Illinois in its home opener on Mar. 4-6.
Murray State, SE Missouri State, Chicago State, Western Michigan, Tennessee-Martin, Eastern Illinois, Saint Louis and South Dakota State are also on the Dawgs' non-league slate.
MVC Schedule
In 2005, the Valley switches to a three-game series format for the first time since 1994. League schools have been playing four-game sets for the last 10 years.
Callahan says the scheduling change has its advantages.
"What's interesting about the three-game format is that there will always be a series winner," quoted Callahan. "In the past, it's always been the goal to win three of four games or sweep, which can be quite difficult in the MVC."
"I think anytime you can win two of three games in this league, whether it's at home or on the road, is a feather in your cap," continued Callahan.
Wichita State (May 6-8) and Southwest Missouri State (Apr. 15-17) have been the staples of the league, and SIU plays both teams at home this season.
"We feel we've closed the gap on both programs and it's always nice to play such good teams at home," commented Callahan.
The 2004 MVC regular-season and tournament champion Shockers went 49-16, and advanced to the Fayetteville (Ark.) Regional Championship, where they lost to host Arkansas. The Razorbacks later made it to the College World Series.
SMS, on the other hand, finished third in the Valley with a 31-28 record, including a 19-12 mark in league play. SIU played both the first and last game in the Bears' inaugural season at Hammons Field a year ago. The facility opened on Apr. 2, 2004.
Along with the Bears and Shockers, Northern Iowa (Mar. 25-27) and Illinois State (May 19-21) also visit Abe's Place.
As for its conference schedule away from home, SIU makes trips to Creighton (Apr. 1-3), Bradley (Apr. 8-10), Evansville (Apr. 22-24) and Indiana State (Apr. 29-May 1).
Of the four, CU had the best showing in 2004. In fact, the Bluejays finished second in the conference with an overall 35-24, 22-9 MVC mark.
When asked about the parity of the MVC and how the Salukis fit into this year's conference race, Callahan was somewhat non-committal as far as predicting the final standings.
"Valley weekends are wars and it doesn't matter who you're playing," he said. "You always face good pitching and you can never take a day off. The MVC is very balanced and competitive, but I like our chances."
Magic up the Middle
In the last two years, SIU has turned 68 or more double plays, and as a result, finished among the top-10 in the nation in double plays per game.
The Salukis set a school record and ranked atop the NCAA Division I baseball nation with 72 DPs (1.3 avg.) in 2003. Last season, the Dawgs collected 68 twin killings to finish ninth (1.1 avg.).
A lot of the Dawgs' defensive success can be attributed to senior shortstop/pitcher P.J. Finigan (Springfield, Ill.). Finigan was involved in 47 of his team's double plays a year ago.
Along with his defensive prowess, the solid two-way threat produced at the plate and on the mound as well. In 57 starts, he hit .265 and ranked among the Salukis' top-three in triples (1st; 5), doubles (2nd; 13), runs batted in (3rd; 33), hits (3rd; 56) and runs scored (3rd; 34). Finigan's five triples tied for second in the Valley.
On the bump, Finigan went 1-1 in 13 appearances, including two starts. In 29.1 innings, he struck out 27 batters to 14 walks.
Last summer, Finigan ranked among the Springfield Rifles' top-three in many offensive categories and made the Central Illinois Collegiate League All-Star Game (later cancelled due to rain), before joining his former summer league team, the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the prestigious Cape Cod League. The timing couldn't have been better for Finigan, as YD ended up winning the 2004 CCL Championship.
No Bluffin'
If this were a card game, you can bet that junior utility player Nathan Emrick (Griggsville, Ill.) would be the Salukis' trump. Emrick returns to campus after a successful summer, which saw him make the Cape Cod League All-Star Game as a catcher for the Cotuit Kettleers.
At 6-0, 180, he made at least one start at seven different positions -- catcher, first base, third base, shortstop, left field, right field, designated hitter -- for the Salukis last season. He is expected to return to his natural home as a middle infielder this year.
A first-team all-MVC pick, Emrick hit a team-leading .353, while topping the Dawgs in several other categories, including games started (60), at-bats (238), runs (36) and hits (84). He also ranked second in RBIs (34), total bases (97) and stolen bases (15).
Koski, Brewer, Look to Have Good Year
With returning starters Kevin Koski (Schaumburg, Ill.) and Matt Brewer (Springfield, Ill.), the Saluki outfield should be strong again this season.
A sophomore, Koski made 54 of 59 starts between the left (52) and center (2) field positions in an impressive collegiate debut for the Dawgs a year ago.
Offensively, he hit a second-best .293 with 33 runs, a second-best 63 hits, seven doubles, two triples and 21 RBI. Additionally, he stole a team-leading 16 bases and made the All-Tournament Team at the Irish Classic in San Antonio, Texas.
Koski had a solid offseason as well, where he hit a third-best .331 with 37 runs, five doubles and 14 RBI for the Harrisonburg Turks of the Shenandoah Valley Baseball League. He was also named his team's Player-of-the-Week in the second week of the wooden bat summer league.
Meanwhile, Brewer hit .266 in 47 starts and ranked second on the team with seven home runs. He also registered 27 runs scored, 45 hits, 11 doubles, a triple and 26 RBI.
A junior, and one of SIU's strongest players, Brewer smashed a pair of home runs against Evansville on Apr. 11, while homering in each of his first two games of the Creighton series (Apr. 23-24) for four of his long balls.
Closing In
Although SIU has to rework its starting rotation a bit this season, after ace junior left-hander Eric Haberer was drafted in the third round by the St. Louis Cardinals, the Saluki bullpen is in good shape. Especially, with the return of senior closer Andrew Weber (Peotone, Ill.).
Haberer initially started the 2004 campaign in the pen, but once he became the team's ace, it was Weber who took over the closing role.
A right-hander, Weber's emergence as SIU's top closer was nothing shy of spectacular, as he went 5-1 with both a team and league-leading 11 saves. Also finishing third on the team with a 3.13 ERA, he struck out 36 batters to 14 walks in 37.1 innings.
Not to mention, Weber was named first-team all-MVC and ranked 17th in the nation in saves, and returns for his final season at SIU ranked second in career saves (12) behind Al Levine (19 SV; 1990-91).
Rueger and Chavez Return
Seniors Bryan Rueger (Mt. Vernon, Ind.) and Jason Chavez (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) are two of SIU's three starters returning to the mound this season.
A southpaw, Rueger was 1-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 appearances, including seven starts. He struck out 19 batters in 38.0 innings after being bothered by a sore shoulder at times throughout the 2004 season.
A right-hander, Chavez was named honorable mention all-MVC after going 5-4 with a 2.44 ERA, the best of any Saluki starting pitcher a year ago. In 16 appearances and nine starts, he registered 36 strikeouts in 73.2 innings of work.
Additionally, Chavez threw one shutout and posted his first win as a Saluki against Southeast Missouri State (Mar. 23, 2004), the school where his dad is an assistant football coach.
Catching Should Improve
With the return of junior Brendan Lutz (Ingleside, Ill.) and the addition of junior transfer Hunter Harrigan (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), SIU's situation behind the plate should improve this season.
Offensively, Lutz registered 12 hits, 11 runs scored, a double and six RBI in 45 games.
Meanwhile, Harrigan comes from Cowley County CC, which houses one of the most successful junior college baseball programs in the country. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers following his freshman year at Cowley County CC, and should push Lutz for the starting role.
The Indiana Connection
Although it is close in proximity, the state of Indiana hasn't been a heavily recruited area for SIU baseball in recent years. However, that changes this season, as four Salukis hail from the Hoosier State.
Along with the return of Saluki left-hander Bryan Rueger, freshmen infielders Jeff Alexander (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Tyler Lairson (Richmond, Ind.), and junior right-hander Mark Obszanski (Munster, Ind.) give SIU its most squad members from Indiana since 1991.
Alexander was named to the Indianapolis Star's All-City Team and was tabbed his team's Offensive Player-of-the-Year as a prep at Bishop Chatard High School.
Lairson was a two-time all-conference scholar-athlete, who helped lead his team to four straight regional appearances at Richmond High School.
Obszanski stands at 6-7, 240, and joins the Dawgs from Kaskaskia College, where he went 2-0 with nine saves in 19 appearances. His nine saves ranked fourth in the nation according to the National Junior College Athletic Association.
New Faces, New Places
As mentioned, SIU will enter its 2005 season with 15 newcomers, including 11 freshmen and four junior college transfers.
Featured in SIU's group of freshmen is highly touted outfielder Dean Cademartori (Norridge, Ill.).
Cademartori was named the National High School Baseball Coaches Association District 4 Player-of-the-Year. Also, a second-team NHSBCA All-American, Cademartori garnered first-team Chicago Tribune all-state and Louisville Slugger Player-of-the-Year (Illinois) honors. In addition, he was named Illinois' Player-of-the-Year by both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times.
Other freshmen to watch are pitcher Dylan Ward (Fairbury, Ill.) and infielder Ryan Hypke (Glenarm, Ill.).
Ward was named the Bloomington Pantagraph's Male Athlete-of-the-Year, first-team all-state, first-team all-Cornbelt Conference and first-team Champaign News Gazette all-area at Prairie Central High School.
Hypke was a four-year starter at Chatham Glenwood High Schoool, who garnered first-team all-state honors, according to both the Chicago Tribune and Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association.
Along with Cademartori, Ward and Hypke, freshmen Ryan Terry (Palmyra, Mich.) and Ryan Enata (Bloomington, Ill.) should also contribute immediately.
Terry is a right-handed pitcher, who was named first-team all-conference, all-county, all-district and all-region at Blissfield High School. He helped lead his school to back-to-back Division III State Championships as a sophomore and junior.
Enata was a first-team Big 12 Conference selection, a first-team Chicago Tribune all-state pick and a member of the IHSBCA all-state team at Bloomington High School. He also led the state with 16 home runs.
Late Addition
After spending the 2004 fall semester at Marquette University, freshman pitcher Ryan Stobart (Barrington, Ill.) transferred to SIU and is eligible to play with the Salukis this spring.
Stobart was heavily recruited out of high school and SIU was one of many schools he was considering.
Stobart went to St. Viator High School, where he garnered all-East Suburban Catholic Conference and first-team all-area honors. He registered 127 strikeouts to just 27 walks in 84.2 innings as a senior.
Also boasting a 2.23 ERA, Stobart played in the Chicago White Sox's All-Star wooden bat game as a starting pitcher in each of the last two years. Not to mention, he received a special invitation to a pitching workout at Wrigley Field prior to last year's draft.
Third Degree
Junior transfer Chris McCulloch (Topeka, Kan.) is expected to take over for former Saluki starting third baseman Nathan Boldt.
McCulloch joins the Saluki program from Allen County Community College, where he hit .365 with five runs and a perfect 11-of-11 stolen bases a year ago. He also led the Red Devils with 50 RBI and was named second-team all-Jayhawk Conference.
