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Feb. 12, 2008
If the baseball adage of "pitching and defense wins championships" holds true, Northern Illinois should be in the thick of the race for the Mid-American Conference Championship in 2008. The Huskies return a veteran cast of 16 letterwinners from a record-setting squad that established school marks for Division I victories and MAC wins and finished third at the conference tournament, one win from playing for the championship. Leading the way this season is a pitching staff stocked with weekend-caliber starters that helped NIU record its best team ERA in three decades. Ultimately to equal or better the success of 2007, the Huskies will need to find replacements for four key members of that squad. All-American closer and NIU career saves leader Matt German, swingman pitcher and MAC career appearances leader Mark Badgley, four-year starter and MAC career hit king Scott Simon, and team MVP and All-MAC selection Jesse Seykora all have graduated. It will be up to the returning veterans and a group of talented and eager young players to fill the void. "One of the cornerstone goals of our program is to get into the top tier of the MAC on a consistent basis and last year's success and MAC Tournament finish helped us get back toward that level," said head coach Ed Mathey, now in his sixth season. PITCHING ROTATION
A pair of lefthanders who started during conference play will fight for weekend positions this season - senior Matt Jernstad won four of his six decisions and pitched well down the stretch and junior Brandon Copp won five games and pitched in the Cape Cod League during the past two summers. The Huskies welcome back Brian Smith, perhaps the team's best starter during his first two seasons, after missing the 2007 campaign because of surgery to remove bone spurs from his throwing elbow. Smith, a team captain, owns 10 career victories and has logged over 150 career innings in two years. "The injury Brian had was not structural and we decided to shut him down because we wanted to make sure that he was fine," said Mathey. "He bounced back with a great summer and a strong fall for us." Also in the mix is senior Adam Holdenrid, who is two years removed from Tommy John surgery and was a weekend starter before his injury. Those five pitchers will compete for three weekend rotation spots leaving the Huskies with an abundance of quality to fill in midweek starts and shore up the bullpen. "I am confident in our starting pitchers," said Mathey. "We have a very healthy competition that will be wide open and someone will have to come out of the bullpen. Feeney is a very polished pitcher, Jernstad is a workhorse who wants the ball, Smith has an increased fastball and hunger to return and will be a big boost, Copp has the ability to dominate with his stuff, and Holdenrid is regaining confidence and can win some games for us." BULLPEN
"Deain and Nykiel are two veterans who have pitched big innings in big situations for us," said Mathey. "We would love to see Deain take the closer role after doing an outstanding job last season as the set-up man and we feel that Nykiel shores up our bullpen quite well." The loss of German, one of the nation's premier closers and Badgley, an all-situation pitcher who could start, close and do everything in between, sets up a number of open and undefined roles that will be sorted out as the season goes along. Returnees Cody Beck, who pitched in six games as a freshman last season, and senior Dan Atkenson are the most experienced middle relievers. Sophomore lefthander Dave Reynolds appeared in only two games a year ago but may see additional duty this season after a strong showing as a closer during the summer. Three newcomers will also be in the mix for `pen duty. Junior college transfer Nick Badgley (brother of Mark) will likely see mound duty in addition to playing in the outfield. Freshmen Tom Zelasko and Brad Allen, who may also see time in the infield, figure to get work as well. "We lost an All-American closer and someone of that caliber doesn't come around everyday," said Mathey. "We'll assume a lot of new roles, but I like what our pitchers are capable of doing." CATCHERS
"Behren has been a solid staple in our lineup," said Mathey. "In addition to being a good hitter, he calls a great game and is a solid receiver. He understands what is going on behind the plate and has worked on his throwing. Behm is one of the guys who could be a consistent run producer for us and when he is going well, is as good a power hitter as we have." Backing up Behren and Behm will be a pair of newcomers. Sam Kapacinskas transferred from the junior college ranks and possesses a strong arm and outstanding defensive skills. Freshman Kevin Smith provides depth and may see time.
INFIELD Hood was one of four freshmen to earn All-MAC honors after a season that included six home runs and a .309 conference batting average. As well as Hood played during his rookie season, he expects to take another step in his development as one of the team's offensive leaders while making a smooth transition from second base. "Jordin has a good understanding of playing third base and did well there during the summer so he is ready to go," said head coach Ed Mathey. "We expect him to maintain his proficiency at the plate. He has a great swing and worked hard to improve and get stronger. He is a two-way threat for us because he can hit for power and can also run."
Third-year shortstop Bobby Stevens returns to anchor the left side of the infield and remains a fixture up the middle. The highly-touted junior and 2008 team captain missed significant time with a hand injury before returning to make an impact at the MAC Tournament despite not playing at 100 percent. Now healthy, Stevens possesses range and a strong arm defensively and provides power and speed at the plate. "Bobby has been a consistent player for us and is potentially an all-conference caliber player," said Mathey. "He has been very good defensively and at times has been an offensive dynamo. He is a leader who takes charge, plays hard and possesses a great knowledge and understanding of the game." The most competitive spot on the infield is at second base where a trio of players, each of whom bring different strengths, will vie for time. Offensively, Tim Kamin is the frontrunner. Defensively it's Marvin Sanchez. In terms of all-around contributions, Joe Buonavolanto may be best suited. Kamin emerged at the end of the season by hitting .588 with three home runs and 13 RBI over the season's final two weeks while earning MAC West Player of the Week honors during that stretch. The senior brings a strong lefthanded bat and experience. Sanchez, a highly-touted freshman, showed tremendous work ethic and defensive abilities during the fall, and can switch-hit at the plate. Buonavolanto hit .400 in limited time last season while backing up multiple infield positions as a freshman. "I anticipate that each player will get time early in the season and who plays most may ultimately depend on the situation and whether the team needs more offense or defense or a righthanded or lefthanded bat in the lineup," said Mathey. "Kamin did very well with his opportunities last season and shows more veteran savvy. Marvin has a lot of great tools - great defensive instincts, great hands, a strong arm, and runs very well. Joe does a lot of things well, is a student of the game, and swings a good bat with the ability to drive the ball." Reynolds, who may also see time on the mound, will take over first base duties after hitting .341 with 15 RBI in 44 at-bats as a backup last season. Beyond his ability to hit to all fields, Reynolds is an accomplished fielder after seeing late-inning defensive duty a year ago. "Dave did a great job at first base last season behind Scott Simon," said Mathey. "He is the best defensive first baseman I have had since I've been here. He made the most of his opportunities offensively and has a great knowledge of the game. He's a baseball player." In addition to interchanging middle infield depth as needed, freshmen Allen and Joe Etcheverry will be the primary reserves at the corner positions. "Allen will provide depth for us at third and Etcheverry has the ability to step in and will get some opportunities at first base," said Mathey. OUTFIELD Jeff Thomas started 39 games and Pat Minogue 54 contests in left and center, respectively, last season and both are looking to regain their form of 2006 when they were table setters and ranked among the team's offensive leaders. Thomas has enjoyed successful stetches and Minogue is a two-year starter who was named a team captain. Danny Reed returns in right field where he started 52 games and ranked second on the team with six home runs in his first season after transferring from the junior college ranks.
"Our outfield competition is wide open," said Mathey. "Jeff has been pretty brilliant at times and has a contagious attitude and approach and a real passion for the game. If he can put everything together he could be a real spark plug for us. Pat is a vocal leader and may be our fastest runner with a great ability to cover the gaps in the outfield. Danny has the ability to be a middle of the lineup guy and top RBI producer. He is an all-around performer and a good rightfielder with power, the ability to run, and a good arm. We anticipate that he will continue to build on the solid season he had last year." Anthony Maziur emerged during the fall after serving primarily as a pinch-runner who scored nine runs in limited duty during his freshman season. "Maziur is an aggressive baserunner with deceptive power at the plate and the ability to play either left or center field," said Mathey. "He has been waiting for his opportunity to show what he can do." Also factoring into the outfield mix will be Smith and Badgley, both of whom will see mound time. Smith hit .245 in two seasons as a reserve outfielder and designated hitter and Badgley was a junior college All-America a year ago. Freshman Brandon House is a speedy outfielder who had a good fall and will provide depth. OFFENSE "I like our overall team speed and not only does that bode well for us defensively, but it will put pressure on the opposing defense," said Mathey. "A lot of our offense will depend on what evolves through the middle of the lineup and who becomes our run producers. I think our speed has increased throughout the lineup and that will give us the ability to stay aggressive." With versatility and depth throughout the infield and outfield, Mathey will have plenty of lineup options to choose from on a daily basis. "I see tremendous versatility when I look at our offensive lineup," said Mathey. "We have speed at a number of positions and guys who can consistently drive the baseball. We can put a lot of combinations out there, including an entirely lefthanded or righthanded lineup if we need to." SCHEDULE Back north, the Huskies will host Horizon League champion and NCAA participant UIC at Kane County, play a Big Ten foe (at Iowa) and total eight games against teams from the Missouri Valley Conference. In the always competitive and unpredictable MAC, NIU gets the benefit of having three of its five West Division series at home and hosts defending tournament champion and NCAA qualifier Kent State from the East Division. "The MAC will be a dogfight, especially in our division," said Mathey. "Eastern Michigan won the regular season title last year, returns several very good players and has a new coach who is very familiar with the league. Central Michigan is loaded again. Toledo has been building the last couple of years and has a veteran team. Ball State's 2007 season was an anomaly and I expect them to bounce back. Western Michigan has solid pitching and a nucleus of young position players back from last year." To view the 2008 Northern Illinois Baseball media guide, click here. |
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