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Feb. 12, 2001 |
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NORSE LOOK FOR TURNAROUND IN 2001 |
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Asalon begins first season as NKU head coach |
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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - If Todd Asalon has his way, the Northern Kentucky University baseball program will be a contender for the Great Lakes Valley Conference title a bit sooner than expected. Asalon, entering his first season as the baseball head coach at NKU, inherits a team that posted a 27-28 record a year ago. The Norse were also 8-19 (10th place) in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Though NKU is 18-56-1 against GLVC opponents during the past three seasons, Asalon said he believes his 2001 squad can challenge for the league championship. “Our expectations are simple - win the GLVC, win the regional and advance to the World Series,” Asalon said. “Our goal every year is to win 40 games, and if our senior leadership is solid, and if our underclassmen can mature quickly, this could be a special year for us.” Asalon, a former All-Region catcher for NKU during the 1980s, spent the previous six seasons building the Thomas More College baseball program into an NCAA Division III Tournament team. He inherits six starters from Bill Aker, who retired from coaching at NKU after the 2000 season. Senior first baseman Matt Mason, a second team All-GLVC performer a year ago, returns to the lineup after batting .346 last season and is NKU’s top offensive player. Mason led the Norse with nine home runs and 42 runs batted in, and he also collected a team-leading 20 doubles. The 6-foot-3 senior also had a .596 slugging percentage in 2000. “Our seniors need to be the driving force behind this team, and Matt Mason is a key to our offense,” Asalon said. Senior Michael Tudor is an excellent defensive catcher with a strong arm, and he also hit .347 last season. Junior catcher/designated hitter Jason Martin batted .339 a year ago with four home runs and 30 RBI. Those two players will share the catching duties for NKU in 2001. Junior outfielder Steve Walton posted good power numbers (six home runs, 33 RBI) last season and could earn a starting position. Junior Justin Rahschulte (.305 batting average, 14 doubles last year) will be the starting center fielder. Sophomore Devin Brown will add depth to the outfield. A pair of transfers, junior third baseman Charles Hatton and junior right fielder Pat Eschan, could earn starting positions for NKU. Hatton is an outstanding hitter with good power, while Eschan will provide the Norse offense with solid hitting and good speed at the top of the lineup. Freshman Shane Gordon is an excellent fielder and will be the team’s starting shortstop. Returning letterwinners Chris Osterkamp, Derek Anderson and Beau Brake are other candidates to start in the infield. Osterkamp will probably be the starting second baseman. Junior right-hander Lenny Bays posted a 6-6 record last season and is the Norse’s top starter on the mound. Bays posted a 5.53 earned run average and had 46 strikeouts a year ago. Bays, who also played the infield last season, will be used exclusively as a pitcher in 2001. Senior right-hander Andy Cox posted a 3-0 record with a team-best 2.72 ERA a year ago and is NKU’s top middle reliever. Cox had 48 strikeouts in 53 innings on the mound, and he should be a candidate for All-GLVC honors this season. Senior right-hander Shaun Fausz will again be NKU’s closer after recording nine saves a year ago. Fausz also had a 4.40 ERA. Senior left-hander Kyle Pfetzer is another solid starter for NKU. A year ago, Pfetzer posted a 3-2 record with a 4.97 ERA. He also set school record by striking out 17 batters in a game against St. Xavier (Ill.) last season. Chaz Goetz, Josh Whaley and Chad Anderson will also be in the starting rotation in 2001. Returning letterwinners Bryan Ayers and Heath Scarbrough will add depth as starters and relievers this season. Freshman right-hander Chris Unkraut could be a factor as a middle reliever for the Norse. NKU will open its 2001 schedule Feb. 18 with a doubleheader against Lindsey Wilson College at Columbia, Ky. |