2005 baseball preview

Mar. 2 , 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio - Respect is a verb continually associated with Marietta College baseball. Respect for the program is rooted in its tradition, something that individuals in the MC Baseball Fraternity take great pride in and can be directly linked to their former leader, legendary head coach Don Schaly, and has been continued through the work of current head coach Brian Brewer and his staff.

The Etta Express will look to continue that tradition through its performance on the diamond in 2005. After not being voted into the pre-season top 30 for the first time in recent history last season, MC climbed to as high as ninth before finishing 26th in the final 2004 poll. This year, it enters the charts at the fifth spot, the highest-ranking Mideast Region school on the list. MC was also picked third in Baseball America’s preseason Top-5.

The Pioneers have won three national titles (1981, 1983, 1986) and have finished national runners-up seven times in 18 World Series appearances.

Marietta, who went 33-11 in 2004 and won the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular season title, returns a core of experienced players (nine letterwinners), including Chris Sidick and Mike DeMark, both second team All-Americans.
Sidick, who was also named the 2004 Jack Rafeld OAC Player of the Year and a first team All-Mideast Region pick, finished the 2004 season hitting a team-high .423 (69-of-163). The center fielder also led the Pioneers in hits (69), triples (6), home runs (6), total bases (108), slugging percentage (.663), sacrifices (10) and walks (26).

Sidick also finished 27-for-31 in stolen bases, collected 37 RBI and scored 49 runs during the 2004 campaign. His .423 batting average ranked second in the league, while he led the OAC in hits, triples, stolen bases and total bases.

DeMark, who went 12-2 on the mound in 2004, led the Etta Express in innings pitched (90 1/3), appearances (20), complete games (7) strikeouts (101) and ERA (1.79). His ERA was the fourth best in the OAC and his 101 strikeouts were a league best in 2004.

Seniors Bo Cooksey, Mike Mooney and Justin Papania will join DeMark to make one of the top rotations in the region, if not the country. Mooney, a second team All-Mideast Region and first team All-OAC selection, is coming off an 8-2 season with 89 strikeouts and a 2.41 ERA. Papania went 8-1 with 65 strikeouts and a 2.69 ERA and was awarded third team All-Mideast Region and second team All-OAC honors in 2004. Cooksey proved to be a reliable arm both out of the bullpen and as a spot starter a year ago, and finished 3-1 with two saves and a 6.05 ERA.

Sophomore second baseman Ryan Eschbaugh is the lone returning infielder to achieve (honorable mention) All-OAC recognition in 2004. Eschbaugh batted .306 (38-of-124) with 25 runs, 20 RBI, five doubles, two triples and two home runs, while fielding .948. Junior Justin Steranka will help Eschbaugh stabilize the infield this season. Steranka led the Etta Express with 42 RBI and batted .284 (38-of-134) in 39 games at third base. Juniors Chris Hendricks and Jarrod Klausman and sophomore John Sciullo are also expected to make larger contributions this season.

The 2005 schedule is loaded with a tough group of non-conference opponents in addition to the nine OAC rivals. For the first time in 33 years, the Pioneers kickoff the season somewhere other than Panama City, FL. MC will travel to Port Charlotte, FL, to play 10 varsity and five junior varsity games (March 4-12). Marietta’s team goals remain the same for 2005: win the Ohio Athletic Conference, the Mideast Regional and the NCAA Division III World Series.

Here is how the 2005 Pioneers look position-by-position:

Pitchers: The Pioneer pitching staff should be the team’s most stable entity in 2005, as it returns a potent one-two punch and other experienced arms. Junior Mike DeMark (RHP, 12-2, 101 SO, 1.79 ERA) and senior Mike Mooney (RHP, 8-2, 89 SO, 2.41 ERA) have the skills to dominate opposing hitters. Seniors Justin Papania (RHP, 8-1, 65 SO, 2.69 ERA), once completely healthy, and Bo Cooksey (RHP, 3-1, 36 SO, 6.05 ERA) will round out the rotation and give the Etta Express two other strong options on the hill. Juniors Brian Hanolt (RHP) and Bill Bakos (LHP), along with sophomores Mike Eisenberg (RHP, 0-1. 1 SO. 27.00 ERA) and Derek Cummings (RHP, 0-0, 10 SO, 11.42 ERA) will give support out of the bullpen and battle for innings all spring.

Catcher: Juniors Lee Guerrera and Chris Hendricks are the front-runners to lead the defense behind the plate in 2005. Guerrera started seven games a season ago and had the luxury of learning from many outstanding signal callers during his first two seasons with MC. Both Guerrera and Hendricks have gained valuable experience on the junior varsity level. Sophomores Ryan Eschbaugh and John Sciullo will be asked to provide depth at this key position come spring.

First Base: Junior Jarrod Klausman, if not in left field, is expected to be the starter at first base. Klausman hit .386 in 17 games as MC’s first baseman last season. Sophomores Joe Litke and Sciullo will compete for time here as well. Sciullo batted .375 in 10 games at first base during the 2004 season, while Litke saw action at first base in 14 reserve games.

Second Base: Eschbaugh is the Pioneers’ returning starter at second and he is expected to only get better with experience. He hit .306 and fielded .948 as the every day second basemen in 2004. If Eschbaugh needs to spend some time behind the plate, sophomore Ryan Belanger or junior Justin Steranka would fill in on the right side of the infield.

Shortstop: The position many feel is the key to a defense is up for grabs this spring, following Andy Coble’s transition from player to assistant coach. Freshmen Tyler Banachowski, Tony Piconke and Zach Welch are in competition for the starting nod. Depending on how the freshmen react to collegiate baseball, Steranka or Eschbaugh may be asked to move over and anchor the infield.

Third Base: Assuming shortstop plays out as expected, Steranka is the Pioneers’ man at third. The junior hit .290 and fielded .870 in 38 games at the hot corner a year ago. He will be expected to run the defense and provide stability on the infield from third base. Sciullo and freshman Dominick Winters, who transferred from New Haven, will fit somewhere into the third base picture as well.

Outfield: All-American Chris Sidick will patrol the outfield of Pioneer Park in center for one final year. The Etta Express’ leadoff hitter fielded .930 last season. Depending on what transpires at first base and behind the plate, Klausman and Hendricks may be the leading candidates for the left field and right field starting spots, respectively. Belanger, freshman Tom Doty and Piconke will also see time in the outfield this spring.

Outlook: Each season is a new test for the Etta Express and 2005 will be no exception. Coach Brewer and his staff have worked hard to prepare this squad to make another charge at the Pioneers’ annual goals. A core group of experienced players is determined to keep Marietta atop the Ohio Athletic Conference and get back to postseason play.