Western Big Six Conference baseball outlooks
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By Shannon Heaton | Tuesday, April 15, 2008 |
Returning experience plus two solid pitching arms equals Western Big 6 Conference baseball success.
It’s a formula that has served local teams well, and it might be applicable to finding the right mix for a title as the conference season opens Saturday.
“Definitely true this year,” Moline coach Derek Lindauer said when asked how true the combination of experience in the batting order and field plus a strong duo of pitchers.
“It seems to be the strength of this class, across the board. I have two or three arms, Alleman’s got two or three arms, Scott (Harding, head coach at United Township) has two or three. Andy (Campbell, at Rock Island) always seems to have the right players, and Galesburg has the Hunter kid.”
That would be Kyle Hunter, a Kansas State signee and one of several Division I players coming out of the Class of 2008 from the league.
With weather playing havoc with local schedules, most coaches are itching to get their kids outside.
“On Saturdays, everybody’s going to have a different kind of competitive attitude, but during the week, all the coaches get along. We just want to get our kids some reps,” Lindauer said. “We just want to get them out there playing.”
Galesburg
Last year: 20-9, 4-2 conference.
Coach: Arnie Gonzalez
Roster: Seniors — Mitch Ausdenmoore (P), Kyle Hunter (P/IF), Thorne Knisley (IF), Mark Mason (P/OF), Kyle McGee (IF), T.J. Scott (IF). Juniors — Jake Anderson (C/IF), Blake Carr (IF), Caleb Diefendorf (P), Brian Gernant (IF), Michael Jordan (P), Tanner Libby (P/IF), Jake Milligan (IF), Jordan Sadiq (IF), Ben Schneider (OF), Rogue Schott (C), Austin Shearer (IF), Caleb Weaver (IF). Sophomore — Bo Merritt (C).
Outlook: Galesburg might be favored to win every game in which Hunter takes the mound, which will be a plus in five conference matchups. But, with four of five Galesburg’s 2007 all-conference honorees graduated, the Streaks are going to have to rely on their juniors to pick up the slack.
Moline
Coach: Derek Lindauer,
16th season
Last year: 26-10, 8-2 conference
Returning letterwinners: Seniors — Kevin Bradley (C), Gabe Favela (P/OF), Seth Hood (SS/CF), Chris Larsen (P/UT), Robbie Larson (OF), Luke Lasack (C), Evan Lawrence (P), Ethan Naab (3B/P), Mark Thomas (1B/2B), Dylan Warren (SS).
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Dakota Bacus (P), Derek Dye (OF), Ryan Hendricks (P), Grant Jasper (OF/C), Ryne Potter (C), Kevin Shedd (OF/P), Sam Welvaert (P/IF). Sophomore — Thomas Lindauer (2B).
Outlook: The Maroons have a plethora of arms to call on, led by Larsen, and that pitching depth has seemed to be a constant in recent years of Moline baseball. Already, experience is something Moline can rely upon early. If the juniors can mature throughout April, the potential for something special — at the least another Big 6 title — is very much a reality.
Rock Island Alleman
Coach: Chris Lemon,
sixth season
Last year: 26-8, 6-4 in conference
Returning letterwinners: Seniors — Pace Bennett (P), Robbie Burkhead (UT), Evan Garrett (OF), Justin Hauer (2B/P), Jake Hemmen (IF), Kelan Keimig (C), Elliott Kelso (1B), Charlie Mack (OF/P), Danny O’Neill (IF), John Peters (P).
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Ben Carlin (OF), Sam Parsons (IF/OF), Mark VanNatta (OF/P), Mitch VanNatta (C), John Westbrooks (OF). Sophomore — Keelan Prince (IF/P).
Outlook: The Bennett/Peters/
Hauer combo has impressed in early nonconference affairs, and Kelso is a threat to go yard every time he comes to the plate. If Lemon can shore up his infield by finding a replacement for three-year starter Noah Wethington at short, he may well eclipse the 150-win career mark (at 126 to start the season) even before the postseason begins.
Rock Island
Coach: Andy Campbell,
ninth season
Last year: 23-16, 4-6 in conference
Returning letterwinners: Seniors — Patrick Briggs (OF), Ryan Cook (P), Jay Edmonson (P/IF), David Johnson (OF), Andrew Ledford (IF). Junior — Tyler Allison (IF).
Promising newcomers: Seniors — Steven Lee (P/OF), Tyler Reyes (P). Juniors — Colin Carstens (IF), Matt Coopman (P), Tim Corwin (P/OF), Garrett Feldhahn (P), Eddie Hamilton (C), Bryn Jones P), Thaddeus Pool (P). Sophomores — Ryan Helmers (C), Cameron Mandel (IF), Mike Wieland (C). Freshman — Nathan Gray (OF).
Outlook: Campbell’s group can be back in the hunt for a conference title if the team’s offense is able to match up against Saturday pitching. Defense is going to be solid, and pitching depth is good, but will need to be proficient at throwing strikes on a consistent basis against varsity hitters. Ledford is among the better infielders in the conference, and a sizable junior class will help.
Quincy
Coach: Randy Mettemeyer,
sixth season
Last year: 14-16, 2-8 in conference
Returning letterwinners: Seniors — Adam Bailey (P), Andrew Moulton (C), Nathan Moulton (P-3B), Ethan Siebers (2B); junior – John Wert (OF).
Promising newcomers: Senior — Eric Foster (1B); juniors — Allyus Fritts (Util), Markus Goedreris (Util), Nick Harland (1B), Levi Lockett (SS/DH), Stuart Roderick (SS/2B), Andy Schmitt (C), Zach Smith (P), Ryan Taylor (OF), Matt VonderHaar (OF), Logan Wilson (OF), Kevin Wolf (P/OF).
Outlook: Quincy has three starters (Nathan Moulton, Wert and Bailey) from last year’s team that didn’t fare well in conference play. The Blue Devils are 2-4 (through Tuesday), heading into Saturday’s conference-opening doubleheader at home against Moline. Their crosstown rival, Quincy Notre Dame — a traditional Class A powerhouse before the IHSA’s four-class system — swept them early.
United Township
Coach: Scott Harding,
fourth season
Last year: 17-19, 4-6 in conference.
Returning letterwinners: Seniors — Ben Allmendinger (OF), Adam Becht (3B/P), Trevor DeJaynes (UT), Julio Riojas (C), Adam Thomas (P), Chase Vickerman (2B), Ryan Webb (UT), Garrett Yount (P). Junior — Todd Dempsey (P). Sophomores — Sean Bealer (SS), Darian Giles (OF).
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Alex Fulton (UT), Sean MacMillan (UT), Mike Park (UT). Sophomore — Dylan Merrill (P).
Outlook: While the Panthers struggled in 2007, they are the only squad to return two all-conference performers (Becht and Bealer). The trio of Becht, Yount and Thomas will be called upon for Saturdays, and it’s a pretty solid trio. How well this group swings the bat — and it has swung the bat well in nonconference play — will determine its fortunes.
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