courtesy of Lewis University
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Few seasons start with as clear expectations as Lewis head baseball coach Tim McDonough has set out for his team in 2010.
“We must make the conference tournament,” McDonough said. “Anything else is a failure.”
A Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament berth would Lewis’ first since 2002. Not an easy task while in a division with preseason No. 15 Indianapolis and No. 28 Northern Kentucky. However the Lewis skipper is optimistic.
“I feel like we’re at the point now where we have 25 new kids since I took over and the roster is in position to win,” McDonough said.
Traditional wisdom says pitching and defense wins and the Flyers look to have one of the deepest pitching staffs in years.
“The last two seasons we really didn’t have the numbers in our pitching staff, however now I feel like we have some pretty good depth,” McDonough said. “We have our first four to six guys fairly solidified; it is just a matter of defining some roles.”
One role the Flyers won’t need to worry about is an ace of the staff. Senior Joe Scumaci earned preseason All-America Third Team accolades from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The honor is no surprise considering Scumaci’s team-best 2.42 earned run average last season, the lowest for a Lewis starter since 2000. The All-GLVC Second Team selection limited hitters to just a .252 batting average last season.
“Joe established himself as a front line guy last year and we haven’t had that in awhile,” McDonough said. “But we’re expecting Joe to be better this year because Joe expects himself to be better.”
Sophomore Pat Lahey started 10 games last season. He finished second on the team in earned run average (4.48) and innings pitched (68.0). He allowed just one earned run in 7.1 innings in a tough-luck loss at eventual conference champion Northern Kentucky on April 19.
“Pat had an outstanding fall,” McDonough said. “He was really pounding the strike zone and challenged hitters. He has three pitches and trusts his stuff. I see Pat as a guy who can go deep into games and put us in a position to win.”
The rest of the rotation looks to be newcomers. Freshman Matt Frahm comes to Lewis with several prep accolades. He earned the 2009 Class 2A Player of the Year from the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association. He was the winning pitcher in back-to-back state championship games.
“Matt is going to be special,” McDonough said. “Be it this year or down the road. We expect a lot out of him, being a weekend starter as a freshman, but he’s earned it.”
Another freshman pitcher to watch is Steve Almanza. The Glendale, Ariz. native is a tall, lanky right hander who can throw in the mid upper 80s.
“The ball jumps out of Steve’s hand,” McDonough said. “He has a projectable body and a loose arm. If he can consistently throw his secondary pitches for strikes, I think he can be a mainstay in the rotation for us.
With Frahm, Almanza and a healthy Matt Zicher (the junior missed most of 2009 with an arm injury) I feel we have three more power arms who can be successful starters for us.”
Junior Tyler Newsome is a newcomer to the Flyers but not college baseball. He played 2009 at South Suburban College however he began his college career at Michigan State. Newsome made 20 appearances for the Spartans in his only season in East Lansing. At South Suburban he played mostly in the outfield.
“It’s been two years since Tyler has pitched full time but his stuff warrants a spot on the mound,” McDonough said. “He has a good slider and a plus changeup. When he is on I think he could dominate guys and be one of the best two-way guys in our league.”
The Flyers bullpen is highlighted by sophomore Drew Hicks and senior Ted Bartnik. Hicks tied a school record with 28 appearances last season. Bartnik’s submarine delivery provides an angle rarely seen by college hitters.
“Drew was thrown in some tough situations last season and more often than not he rose to the occasion,” McDonough said. “Teddy was pretty good for us in the second half of the season. If you take the Florida trip out of the equation, his ERA was in the low twos.”
Junior Chuck Gille and sophomore Ryan Servos are back after solid 2009 campaigns and look to be swing guys on the Flyer pitching staff.
Part of the reason for McDonough’s optimism for his pitching staff is the addition of Scott Sobkowiak to the coaching staff. Sobkowiak, a former Atlanta Brave and Team USA member, brings significant experience to the club.
“Scott had to step in for a pretty good coach in Chris (Carlsen),” McDonough said. “Scott has come in and clicked with the guys. He’s already made a big impact and brings great knowledge to the dugout.”
The Flyers biggest question mark to start the season is who will be behind the plate. All-GLVC catcher Chris McCall has graduated. Senior Joe Carbone, senior Michael Fedoruk, freshman Kyle Thomas and freshman Brian Norwood will vie for time.
“The freshmen had a nice fall and I know they will be very good players at this level,” McDonough said. “However with a young pitching staff I like the experience of Joe and Mike. When we get to Florida they are probably all going to play and we’ll ride the hot hand.”
Look for senior Scott Householder, an All-GLVC selection last year and sophomore Stephen Kaffel to split time at first base. Householder earned All-GLVC honors last year despite an early season injury. Kaffel comes to Lewis by way of Butler University.
“House will probably be the guy out there,” McDonough said. “Steve was hurt in the fall and we didn’t get to see him swing the bat. However I saw a lot of him in high school and know what he can do. We’ll probably DH Steve when Householder is in and vice versa.”
The Flyers return starters up the middle with junior Mike Vucsko at second and sophomore Mike Wido at shortstop. Vusko has two years of starting under his belt and will be the Flyers’ leadoff man once again.
“We will look for Vucsko to set the table for us,” McDonough said. “His averaged dipped last year but he scored five more runs. His development will be a huge factor in our success.”
Wido started 41 games last season and batted .299.
“I’d like to see Mike establish himself defensively this year,” McDonough said. “If he can make that freshman to sophomore year jump then I think he can be as solid as they come in the league.”
Look for junior Richard Forkin to compete for time at second and third. Forkin hit .274 last season but .340 over the final 18 games of the season.
“I trust Richey,” McDonough said. “When he is in the game I’m comfortable with him executing what we are trying to do and making plays defensively.”
Forkin and sophomore Cameron Anello will see time at third base behind junior Miguel Amesquita. Anello was hitting over .300 last season before a late season injury derailed his season. Amesquita redshirted last year after suffering a season ending injury in the Flyers’ fourth game.
“Miguel is our best defensive infielder and will bat somewhere in the middle of the order,” McDonough said. “We are left handed dominant and he can be a stabilizing right handed bat to split up the order.”
The Flyers have four guys for three spots in the outfield. Senior Ryan McManaman has three seasons under his belt in center field. When not on the mound, look for Newsome to see time in the outfield. Junior Zach Stetson returns after a season ending injury last year and junior Ryan Koerner, who hit .292 with 20 RBI, returns also.
“I like all four,” McDonough said. “Newsome takes great angles to the ball defensively and can be a middle of the order guy for us offensively. Koerner is the Richey Forkin of the outfield, making the right throw and hitting for an average. Zach combines speed and a bit of power. You’d be hard press to find a better guy in the league at tracking down balls than Mac (McManaman).”
The challenge for McDonough and his coaching staff is to turn the talent on the lineup sheet into runs on the scoreboard.
“I like where we’re at,” McDonough said. “But that is on paper, and it will come down to what we do on the field.”
Lewis gets their first crack on the field with a pair of doubleheaders at Henderson State in Arkansas on Feb. 13 and 14.