HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The odd-year jinx is no more.
After picking up Great Lakes Valley Conference championships in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008, the Northern Kentucky University baseball team reversed its curse and captured the GLVC title in 2009. In the process, the Norse became the first team to repeat as GLVC champions since Southern Illinois University Edwardsville accomplished the task in the 1997 and '98 seasons.
“We've returned seven starters and 90 percent of our pitching staff,” said head coach
Todd Asalon of his team. “(The) 2009 team led the GLVC in both hitting and pitching. With the addition of some key players, we have a chance to be special.
“We have a solid balance of team speed and power. If our returners and new players can mesh, it should be fun to watch.”
And, with a bit of luck, historic, as the Norse focus on a loftier goal: Becoming the first team in 23 years to earn three consecutive GLVC championships.
Asalon's bunch placed fourth at regionals, and graduated outfielders
Kevin Dusold and
Jack Ambrose as well as pitchers
Eric Braeckel,
Sean Munninghoff and
Andy Karpowicz as well as closer
Matt Winterhalter. However, it's the returning talent from a 41-22 team that has everyone talking this year.
Reigning GLVC and Regional Player of the Year
Evan McDole is far-and-away the biggest returning offensive threat. Once again McDole will anchor the lineup and play first base. The Cold Spring, Ky., native hit .355 with 17 home runs and 55 runs batted in last season. He was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America second team, just the third NKU athlete in any sport to claim such an honor.
Pat Muth, a crafty second baseman, also returns to action after setting a new school record with 15 sacrifices in 2009. Third baseman
Jeff Bohlen, a clutch hitter and strong defender, will police the hot corner again this season. Part-time starter
Shannon McCormick will also look to solidify his spot in the NKU lineup this season.
Jake Morris, a transfer from Eastern Michigan who proved his worth at every infield position, will see plenty of time as well.
Senior
Jason Cisper is the only outfield starter returning for the Norse. Last season he was tops on the team and in the GLVC with a .413 batting average. He was second on the team with 15 steals last season and is one of just two returning starters who posted a slugging percentage above .600 in 2009.
Reserve outfielder
Aaron Mentz will also return and look to break into the starting lineup for his senior season, while sophomores
Max Colaner, used last season primarily as a pinch runner, and
Justin Vanderglas will battle for innings as well.
Behind the plate, the Norse are happy to have
Larry Pempek back, a clutch hitter with a cannon for an arm who lost last year to injury. In 2008, Pempek threw out 16 base runners and picked off two more. The platoon at backstop is completed as
Brian Erie, who was thrust into the starting role last season, also returns.
Offensive specialist
Joe Mack returns for his senior season after tying a school record by hitting three home runs, including the walk-off winner, against Bellarmine on April 4. He also drove in five runs in a 6-4 victory.
On the hill, the Norse return three of their four weekend starters, all of whom were All-GLVC honorees last season.
Dave Middendorf, who led the team with 72 strikeouts, will lead the charge in the starting rotation.
Ryan Schmidt, who maintained a 2.84 earned run average, best among NKU starters, also returns, as does
Jarrett Casey.
A strong bullpen contingent returns as well, including “Everyday K.J.,”
Kevin Jordan, who stands to set a career record with his second pitching appearance in 2010. Jordan went 6-1 last season and led the team with 77 innings of work. Jordan's 2.22 ERA last season leads all returning pitchers.
Jay Hale, who had a breakout season in which he boasted a 5-1 record, and
Andy Heston, who saw action in 19 games last season, will also see some time as middle relievers.
Brandon Slusher and
Josh Blaum also return looking to pick up some starts while
Bryan Baldini,
Brian Weis,
Brent Wethington and
Jim Ryan will contribute innings out of the bullpen.
The projected NKU lineup will return seven of nine starters, but Asalon has brought in some very good fresh talent, including some big transfers.
Outfielder
Bryan Rose spent the last two seasons at Kentucky after graduating from Columbia High School in East Greenbush, N.Y. He played in 46 games his freshman season in 2008, hitting .290 with four home runs and 21 RBI. Named a “Newcomer to Watch” by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Rose looks to give Asalon another power hitting lefty in the lineup.
Sophomore
Taylor Russell (Belmont) and freshman
Randy Jones (Wabash Valley JC) also enter their first seasons in the Norse outfield, and will battle for playing time. True freshman
Stevie Gipson-Eberhardt will also work to break into the NKU lineup.
In the infield, Arkansas State transfer
Derek Jones will get a chance to see significant time at shortstop. He joins sophomore
Randy Weinel (Ohio Dominican) and freshmen
Josh Harrell (Indiana Tech) and
Chris Morris (Brescia) as transfers to the infield. True freshmen
Bradley Vanderglas and
Mitch Adams will also fight to crack the lineup.
Freshman Patrick Hyde, a graduate of Hersey (Ill.) High School, will give the Norse a third option behind the plate.
On the bump,
Chase Stewart joins the Norse by way of Miami (Ohio) and is poised to be the closer for the Norse this season. Among the newcomers, right-handers
Blake Bagshaw,
Mike Roe and
Matt Davidson and southpaw
Luke Gyetvai will hone their craft under the direction of pitching coach
Dizzy Peyton.
Asalon, as most northern coaches must, spends the first several weeks of the season on the road, facing Lincoln Memorial, Montevallo, Christian Brothers and Henderson State in a sweeping southern tour. After opening GLVC play on the road at Quincy and Rockhurst, the Norse get the home half of their season started on March 11 against UC-Clermont.
The payoff comes in April when the Norse play 14 home games in a 15-day span, including a pair of four-game conference series against Wisconsin-Parkside and Maryville.
NKU's quest for a third conference tournament championship will be a bit longer this season as the league expands the conference tournament to eight teams, inviting the top three teams in both the East and West divisions as well as two wild card teams to the game. The tournament will be held in a similar format to the NCAA Division II Championships, with two four-team, double-elimination brackets culminating in a single-elimination championship game.
The GLVC Tournament will be held May 6-9 at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill., and UMSL Baseball Field in St. Louis, Mo.
