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February 7, 2002 New Pitching Staff Takes the Mound for SIUE The 2002 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville baseball team has a pitching staff which returns just four of 41 wins from last season. That may leave pause for some coaches, but SIUE Coach Gary Collins thinks his new pitching staff will be up to the task. The Cougars' offense returns a handful of the players who helped bring home the University's eighth regional championship and fifth-place at the NCAA Division II College World Series. Collegiate Baseball magazine perhaps agrees as the Cougars have risen to 24th in the NCAA Division II poll from its preseason ranking of 27th. SIUE was 41-27 last season and had a record four All-Americans. Five players signed professional contracts, including Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year Dave Crouthers. As a third-round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles, Crouthers left after his junior season as the highest draft pick in school history. Only Nick Seibert (Edwardsville), Mark Quisenberry (Marquette Heights) and Eric Meyer (Topeka) return from last season's staff. Collins will look to some newcomers as starters and relievers. "Nothing is set in stone with this staff. Everything is up for grabs," said Collins. The Cougar coach does not have his rotation set as the season begins. Some of the early-season games will help determine who gets the baseball for conference play. Collins said he expects juniors Jarrod Peters (Ellis Grove) and Michael Bowen (O'Fallon) to be among the impact pitchers on the staff. SIUE also will have several other players who will be fighting for time on the mound, including Brad Hinton (Clinton), Adam Brennan (St. Louis), David Briesacher (Waterloo), Jared Rettberg (Divernon), Ryan Spurgeon (Bethalto), Jerry Mahn (Imperial, Mo.), and Jeff Ebeler (Waterloo). The Cougars already have a team leader in place at shortstop. Chad Opel (Edwardsville) returns for his fourth season at SIUE. A third team All-American last season, he set the school record for runs scored last season with 82. He also broke the school record for hits with 104 only to be topped by former Cougar and two-time All-American Mark Bugger's 110 hits. "He's the best shortstop in all of Division II," boasted Collins. "Opel is our leader on this infield. He stabilizes everything. He's made himself into a good hitter and fielder." Luke Humphrey (Rantoul) joins Opel on the left side of the infield at third base. Collins said Humphrey may be the most talented player on the team, and he plans to showcase the sophomore by placing him in the cleanup spot in the batting order. Justin McBride (Troy) transfers into SIUE from Kaskaskia Community College. "He's a good defensive player and a solid all-around player," said Collins. SIUE has several options at first base. Josh Hanewinkel (Kirkwood, Mo.) was a "run producer" previously at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. Jeff Schwierjohn (Edwardsville) transfers into SIUE from Southwestern Illinois College. Pat Key (Mattoon) played in 26 games last season. Collins said he could also see placing junior Jason Kessler (Mattoon) at first base. He is listed as a catcher but has competition for the position from returning starter senior Todd Haug (Rosewood Heights), junior Justin Baecht (Jerseyville) and freshman Zach Wooley (Alton). "Todd has the No. 1 job," said Collins. "He has the one thing the others don't have ?? experience." Collins will shift Baecht to center field for the early portion of the season until Wes Pickering (Springfield, Mo.) has completed men's basketball season. Pickering sat out last season with a basketball injury but appears ready to break back into the lineup. He expects his outfield to have depth and flexibility with Pickering, Bowen, Baecht, Seibert and senior Josh Cate (Imperial, Mo.), who led last year's team in walks with 40 while hitting .274. Freshman Jared Bruggeman (East Alton) also will be working for some playing time in his first season as a Cougar. SIUE opens the 2002 season on Feb. 16 with a noon doubleheader at Pittsburg State (Kan.). -siue cougars- |