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By Kelli Moynahan, NKU Sports Information HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - A veteran cast returns from Northern Kentucky University’s Great Lakes Valley Conference championship team, and Norse head coach Todd Asalon has added an outstanding recruiting class to complement his returning players. His team is also picked to repeat as GLVC champions, and NKU enters the 2007 season ranked 23rd nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. The Norse also feature one of the deepest pitching staffs in the nation. But, as most baseball coaches tend to do this time of the year, Asalon finds reasons to worry. He must find replacements for catcher Conor McGeehan and closer Steve Thomas, a pair of four-year standouts who led NKU to a 42-20-1 overall record last season. McGeehan earned first team All-GLVC honors after batting .302 with 28 runs batted in. McGeehan later signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Thomas, a third team All-America selection, collected 11 saves, a 1.05 earned run average and a 5-0 record during the 2006 season. “Losing two four-year players such as Conor and Steve is going to be a rough transition for the team and the staff,” Asalon said. “When it comes to our first game and I start to fill out the lineup card and can’t write in Conor McGeehan, it will really hit me then. The Los Angeles Dodgers got themselves a good one. “Steve was the bullpen anchor and was lights out at the end of a game. We never had to call down to the bullpen because Steve always knew when it was his time to get ready. He was a quiet leader and led by example which is the best kind of a leader to me.” Asalon does have a strong core of seniors to lead the way this season. The Norse roster features 12 seniors, all looking to make their last season one to remember. “Because we have 12 seniors, they need to take ownership of the program to make sure we stay focused toward our team goals,” Asalon said. “These seniors are a special group, and I feel very good about their leadership. "But, our weakness will be determined by how our seniors take control and assume their leadership roles. We have never been a senior-dominated team, and I hope that these seniors can take us to that next level.” Along with the senior class, the Norse once again feature a talented pitching staff, which Asalon believes is the strength of the team. Seven of the 12 seniors help make up the pitching staff.
One senior pitcher has been named to the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association NCAA Division II preseason All-America team, left-hander Josh Bruns. Last season, he posted an 8-2 record and a 2.86 ERA. Bruns hurled two shutouts, three complete games and struck out 64 batters in 78 2/3 innings on the mound. “He is a preseason All-American and will also be a starter again,” Asalon said. “Last year, he was All-GLVC and All-Region and was outstanding in his first season at NKU. He has blossomed into one of the best pitchers in the country.” Two additional seniors will accompany Bruns as starters this season for the Norse, Matt Marksbury and Brian Beltz. Marksbury, a Norwood High School graduate, finished with a 6-3 record and a 2.09 ERA last season. He also pitched two shutouts, five complete games, collected 64 strikeouts and walked just 15 batters in 77 2/3 innings on the mound. Beltz compiled a 6-4 record on the way to a 2.05 earned run average in 70 1/3 innings. He finished with 53 strikeouts, and Beltz limited opposing hitters to a .201 batting average last season. “Matt is an All-GLVC performer who will get the ball every weekend and should repeat as an all-conference selection,” said Asalon. “He will be a four-year starter and is a fierce competitor. We expect him to give us 80 to 90 quality innings again and give us a great chance to win every time he pitches. “Brian will look to continue where he left off last season. He won six games as a starter, and we see Brian being a 10-game winner this season. He gets better every time he steps on the mound and is a fierce competitor.” Also earning a starting job this spring is junior right-hander Nate Jones, a graduate of Pendleton County. He saw action in six games last year and posted a 2-0 record. He recorded 29 strikeouts in 23 innings on the mound. “Nate will also be a mainstay in the rotation," Asalon said. "He is a hard throwing right-hander who have been clocked in the mid-90s and also will be selected in this June’s draft.”
Senior Mark Bogenschutz and sophomores Kevin Quick and Matt Winterhalter could also see starting time throughout the season as needed. Last season, Bogenschutz made 11 appearances and picked up one save, while Quick made four appearances before redshirting after an injury. Winterhalter finished with a 4-2 record. He started seven times and struck out 26 batters in 39 1/3 innings on the mound. “Mark has developed into a quality pitcher,” Asalon said. “He will be one of the first guys out of the bullpen and can start when needed. He has an outstanding fastball that goes right after the hitters. Kevin will return after a redshirt last year due to arm surgery. As a true freshman two years ago, he stepped into the starting position and was outstanding. “Matt will come out of the bullpen and be a spot starter as was his role last year. He throws a ton of strikes and has an outstanding curveball as his out pitch.” Also seeing time on the mound this season will be David Armstrong, Adam Bell, Greg Pass, Paul Behrens, Drew Hoffman and Kevin Jordan. “We are blessed with 15 quality arms and we plan on using them all,” Asalon said. Asalon believes another strength for this year’s squad will be NKU’s improved offense. Four seniors - Kory Lonergan, Matt Wagers, Chris Nann and Jim Volpe - will lead the offense. Lonergan received first team All-GLVC accolades last season after batting .292 and collecting 23 stolen bases. The shortstop also scored 40 times and led the team with 68 hits. “Kory always seems to deliver the big hit in the key situations,” Asalon said. “He is an outstanding athlete who can hit for average, has terrific speed and a powerful throwing arm. We look for Kory to be our next All-American at NKU.” Wagers, who could see time in both the infield and outfield, led the team with 43 RBI, which ranked second in the conference, and five home runs while batting .227. “Whenever we have runners in scoring position, we want him at the plate,” Asalon said. “Matt is a true team player and is willing to make those sacrifices for the good of the team. I know teams in the GLVC will be happy to see him go.”
Nann, a first baseman from Maryland, completed the season with a .247 batting average and led the team in extra base hits. He finished with 14 doubles, five triples and three home runs. Volpe, an outfielder and Elder High School graduate, batted .240 with 29 hits and 18 runs batted in. “Nann is a true power hitter,” Asalon said. “He is very solid defensively, and I look for him to be a difference maker this season. Through Jim’s hard work and dedication, he has turned himself into one of the best outfielders in the GLVC. He is especially tough in the clutch and was a key run producer last year.” Starting at second base for the third consecutive season will be junior Jon Back. Back completed the 2006 season with a .223 batting average. He collected 43 hits, four doubles and 17 RBI. He also stole 17 bases. “I haven’t seen a better defensive second basemen in my 13 years of coaching, especially turning the double play,” Asalon said. “He is an excellent baserunner and can be very disruptive on the bases.” Newcomer Jake Schaffer, a sophomore transfer from Winthrop, will join Volpe in the outfield. A year ago, Schaffer saw action in 40 games for the Eagles and batted .281 while finishing with 11 runs batted in. Joining both Volpe and Schaffer in the outfield will be sophomore Kenny Wilson. Last season, he finished with a .214 batting average, 36 hits and scored 24 times. He led the team with 27 stolen bases. “Jake has been blessed with the five tools that professional scouts look for. He hits for average, has power, fast runner, excellent defense and a strong throwing arm,” Asalon said. “He will be one of the best players in the conference this year. “Kenny is probably the fastest player in the conference and region. As a true freshman, he swiped 27 bases and was a definite disruption for opposing defenses. He is a talented defender and uses his speed to the fullest.” Freshman Aaron
Mentz, a transfer from Ball State, will also contend for playing
time in the outfield. “Kevin is an outstanding athlete with the opportunity to be a special player at NKU,” Asalon said. “He is a solid hitter who will hit for average and power. He is slotted to hit third in the order to take advantage of his speed and athleticism.” Two starting
positions will see a rotation of players depending on matchups:
catcher and designated hitter.
This will be Johnson and Pempek’s first season with the Norse. Johnson, a junior transfer from Forest Park Community College, batted .257 last season with eight doubles and 35 RBI. Pempek is also a Ball State transfer. “Brad is a big, strong-armed catcher who will log key innings behind the plate,” Asalon said. “He is an excellent receiver and solid hitter who was all-conference at Forest Park. Larry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience behind the plate from an excellent Division I program. He has a great arm and is an excellent receiver and will help guide the NKU pitching staff.” Schunk, a 2006 graduate of Oak Hills High School, will also see time behind the plate during the 2007 season. “Tyler will see quality time behind the plate this season,” Asalon said. “He has major-league arm strength and should be able to control opponents' running games. He is very solid at the plate and will be a great contributor this season.” Rushing, who could also see time at first base and as the designated hitter, saw action in 16 games last season for NKU where he finished with a .238 batting average with 10 runs batted in. Rodgers, a redshirt freshman from Elizabethtown, Ky., will also provide depth behind the plate this year. Along with Rushing, junior Josh Moulton and freshman Evan McDole will see time at the designated hitter position for the Norse. A year ago, Moulton saw action in 48 games and batted .252 while battling an injury all season. He collected 33 hits and 11 RBI in 2006. “Josh is an excellent contact hitter who uses the entire field,” Asalon said. “Two years ago, he was first team All-GLVC designated hitter. Last year, Josh battled through a leg injury and his numbers went down. When healthy, Josh can be a huge asset.” McDole, a 2005 graduate of Bishop Brossart High School, sat out last season as a redshirt, but Asalon believes he has the potential to greatly impact the Norse. “Evan will be a special player at NKU,” Asalon said. “He is going to be a tremendous hitter because of his ability and he is very coachable. For a power guy, he is very disciplined at the plate and patient.” Junior Brian DeCarlo and freshman Patrick Muth will be counted on to provide the Norse with some depth off the bench this season. Last season, DeCarlo played in 34 games and completed the season with a .246 batting average while seeing action in both the infield and outfield. “He is key to the NKU season because of his versatility and gives the staff many options,” Asalon said. “He is an outstanding defender with a very strong arm and is also a solid hitter.” The combination of senior leadership and newcomer talent should produce positive results when the Norse take the field this season. NKU begins its season on Feb. 17 with a doubleheader at Delta State. NKU will open GLVC play against Missouri-St. Louis in Ft. Myers, Fla. on March 9. The GLVC Tournament will again be held in May at Sauget, Ill. NKU has won three GLVC Tournament championships (2002, '04, '06) in the past five years. |
