7 March 2001
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, (309) 556-3206 or head coach Dennis Martel, (309) 556-3335
Titan Baseball Squad Loaded With Veterans
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The Illinois Wesleyan University baseball team returns 19 lettermen from last year's 29-win team, including five starting pitchers and six starting position players.
The Titans, 29-16-2 overall and 14-7 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin last spring, open their season against Simpson at 2:30 Friday (March 9) at the Greenville College Tournament. On Saturday, IWU will meet Greenville at noon and Benedictine at 2:30 p.m.
"We're a team with outstanding speed and depth and with quality and depth in our pitching staff," said IWU head coach Dennis Martel, whose 13-year record is 299-209-2. "Our defense is solid with so many returning players and we're excited about the season. We're confident about their chances of challenging for a conference championship and a bid in the regional tournament."
Heading the list of returners are seniors Adam Palmer and Chad Rock, who were last season's "Most Valuable Pitcher" and "Best Defensive Player," respectively.
Palmer (Naperville, North HS) had a 9-2 record with a 1.70 earned run average and set a school single-season record with four shutouts. He holds the IWU career record with six shutouts, topping the old mark of five by Ed Moore from 1975-78.
The CCIW first team selection fanned 64 batters in 79 1/3 innings and has 155 career strikeouts, fourth all-time at IWU. His nine wins is second most in an IWU season and his 16-11 mark after three years ties him for seventh in Titan wins.
"Adam had a terrific season last year and we'll look for him to be a leader again this season, not only on the mound but in the clubhouse," said Martel.
Rock (Roberts, Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS), a catcher, made only three errors in 269 chances for a .989 fielding percentage. Offensively, he provided seven doubles, knocked in 21 runs and batted .262.
In addition to Palmer, other returning starting pitchers are seniors Matt Fehland (Herscher HS) and Josh Ward (Lindenhurst, Carmel HS), junior Ben Pasulka (Chicago, Loyola Academy), and sophomore Steve Brook (Chicago Heights, Homewood-Flossmoor HS).
Pasulka, who was second team all-CCIW and honorable mention all-region, was 6-3 with a 2.39 ERA in 2000 and struck out 50 in 60 1/3 innings.
Fehland is a former team "MVP" and all-CCIW selection who was limited by arm problems to only 11 innings pitched last spring.
Freshman Rob Blumberg (Freeburg HS) and sophomore Steve Schilsky (Springfield, Sacred Heart Griffin) are other pitchers who are also position players.
The relief pitching corps is also solid, including juniors Matt Harms (Fairbury, Prairie Central HS) and Jon Sikma (Momence HS), and sophomores Scott Schiller (McHenry, Johnsburg HS), Eric Zier (Lockport HS) and Bryce Frerichs (Royal, St. Joseph-Ogden HS).
The Titan infield lines up with senior Tony Merritt (Decatur, MacArthur HS) at shortstop and sophomore Ryan Gilfillan (Peoria, Notre Dame HS) at second base, while junior Nate Kren (Joliet, Catholic HS) or Schilsky will split time at first base and as the squad's designated hitter.
Merritt batted .306 last year with 24 runs batted in and 29 runs scored while Gilfillan batted .342 in with 54 hits, 45 RBI, 13 doubles, and four triples, all ranking among the top 11 performances in a season in IWU baseball history. He led IWU with a .438 on-base percentage.
Sophomore Chris Kaufman (Normal, West HS) will take over for the graduated Jeff Clift at third base.
Freshmen Andy Brandt (Atlanta, Stanford Olympia HS) and Blumberg are middle infielders while Kevin Morris (Ridgewood HS) and Chuck Nelson (Elk Grove Village, Conant HS) are third base candidates.
Senior Haneef Omar (Rockford, Guilford HS) returns to patrol rightfield and sophomore Jeremy Hunt (Champaign, Centennial HS) will be in center. As a freshman, Hunt led IWU with a .358 batting average. His 47 runs scored is third most in a seaon at IWU and his 58 hits is tied for fifth best.
"A key to our offensive success this year will be our ability to limit our strikeouts and put the ball in play," Martel said. "We'll also take advantage of our overall team speed and take the extra base more often this season."
The new IWU leftfielder is junior Justin Cripe (Crystal Lake, South HS), a transfer from.Illinois State who played previously at McHenry County College. Martel has others giving depth to the outfield, including sophomores Mike Mazzone (Carol Stream, Glenbard North HS) and Kory Blumer (Farmer City, Blue Ridge HS), and freshman Shawn McGuire (Forrest, Prairie Central HS).
Last season, Hunt, Gilfillan, and Omar each played in all 47 games, a school record, and as a team the Titans established school marks for at bats (1,401), innings pitched (353), complete games pitched (22), and strikeouts (270).