Franklin and Mount Highlight HCAC Baseball Weekend
March 27, 2008
GREENWOOD , IN – The HCAC baseball schedule heads to the second weekend of play as four teams stand within one game of the lead. Mount St. Joseph and Manchester currently stand unblemished as Franklin and Anderson linger one game back. The Grizzlies (10-6, 3-1 HCAC) will look to gain ground on the Lions (8-7, 4-0 HCAC) this weekend as the two squads will play three games.
Franklin is currently ranked No. 28 in the latest poll by Collegiate Baseball News and has posted wins in eight of their last nine games. MSJ will look to improve on its season best six game win streak.
FC’s offense has been powered by Joel Chrobak (LaPorte, Ind./H.S.) this season. The junior outfielder leads the HCAC with seven doubles, five home runs, and a .877 slugging percentage. Chrobak is batting .456 with 26 hits and 22 RBI. Freshman Mike Zuidema (Granger, Ind./Penn) leads the conference with a .474 batting average and .643 on-base percentage.
On the mound for the Grizzlies, senior right-hander Andy Clark (Louisville, Ky./Seneca) has hurled a 3.95 ERA and a 3-1 record in five starts. The senior has struck out 23 batters in 27.1 innings pitched on the young season. Junior lefty Jared Applegate (Scottsburg, Ind./H.S.) leads the team with a 3.64 ERA and ranks first in the conference with 37 strikeouts.
Mount St. Joseph’s attack has been paced by Seth DeBra (Loveland, Ohio/ Milford) and Nick Weimer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills). DeBra, a senior first baseman, leads the team with a .408 batting average and has chipped in 14 RBI. Weimer has belted two home runs and leads the Mount with 15 RBI.
Sophomore pitcher Steve Matre (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian) has posted a 0.77 ERA in seven relief appearances for MSJ. The sophomore has a 0-1 record, three saves, and 14 strikeouts on the hill for the Lions.
The two teams will meet in Cincinnati for a 5:00 PM first pitch Friday night before playing a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Franklin.
In other conference action…
Rose-Hulman and Manchester will get together for a three game set beginning Saturday afternoon in North Manchester. The Engineers (12-5, 0-0 HCAC) are off to an impressive start in their non-conference season and will open up conference play this weekend against the Spartans. Rose has won four straight games with all of those coming at home against Adrian and Robert Morris-Springfield. Sophomore catcher Keenan Long (Park Ridge, Ill./ Northwestern Uni.) leads the team with a .424 average at the plate and has added five doubles, 18 runs, and 17 RBI. Sophomore shortstop/second baseman Tim Tepe (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) is right behind Long with a .381 batting average and leads the team with six doubles and 24 RBI. On the mound for the Engineers, sophomore Derek Eitel (Marshall, Ill./H.S.) ranks third in the HCAC in ERA (1.83) and leads the league in wins (4), innings pitched (34.1), and opponent batting average (.181). Eitel also stands second in the conference with 29 strikeouts this season. Manchester (10-7, 4-0 HCAC) is off to a perfect start in conference play as the Spartans welcome RHIT this weekend. The black and gold will look to improve on its five game win streak as the Engineers head into town for a three game set. Sophomore Josh Buell (Angola, Ind./H.S.) leads the team with a .367 batting average and has also contributed six doubles and 10 RBI this season. Junior catcher Matty Miller (Rochester, Ind./H.S.) is batting .310 and leads the team with three home runs and 11 RBI. Freshman pitcher Curtis Mallery (Noblesville, Ind./H.S.) has been an anchor on the mound for the Spartans. Mallery has hurled a conference-best 1.53 ERA and is a perfect 3-0 in three starts this season, striking out 11 opponents.
Hanover and Bluffton will both be looking for their first conference wins of the season this weekend as the two squads will meet for a three game set up at Bluffton. The Panthers (3-11, 0-3 HCAC) will look to snap a three game losing streak, while the Beavers (6-9, 0-3 HCAC) have lost seven of their last eight contests. Hanover has been led by freshman catcher Andy Holzbog (Huntington, Ind./Southridge) this season. Holzbog leads the Panthers at the plate with a .464 batting average. On the mound for HC, sophomore Jake Schwartz (Russiaville, Ind./Western) has a team-best 2.03 ERA and holds a 2-2 record with 25 strikeouts. Bluffton will try and get back on track after suffering a three game sweep against Mount St. Joseph last weekend. Sophomore A.J. Ramthun (Springfield, Ohio/Southeastern) leads BU, batting .440 at the dish with six doubles and 10 RBI. His brother Mike Ramthun (Springfield, Ohio/Southeastern) has added a .354 average with 16 RBI this season. Sophomore pitcher Cody McPherson (Millbury, Ohio/ Lake) stands 2-0 in three starts with a 6.89 ERA.
Transylvania (11-4, 1-3 HCAC), Anderson (10-7, 3-1 HCAC), and Defiance (3-9, 0-4 HCAC) will have the weekend off against conference opponents. The Pioneers have lost three of their last four after starting the season 10-1 and will look to defend last year’s conference championship. Senior outfielder Mitch Kuczek (Loveland, Ohio/Moeller) is off to a great start this season, ranking among the conference leaders in batting average (.464), runs scored (22), hits (26), on-base percentage (.552), and stolen bases (11). Junior pitcher Adam Wilkins (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) has led the way on the mound for TU, amassing a 4-0 record and 23 strikeouts in five appearances. Transy will host Birmingham Southern for a pair of games early in the week before games with Centre and Thomas More.
Anderson has won three of five heading into this week’s action. Senior outfielder Stephen Jones (Anderson, Ind./H.S.) leads the team with a .412 batting average and has chipped in seven doubles and 14 RBI in the early portion of the schedule. Senior pitcher Eric Smith (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Luers) has posted a 7.53 ERA and has a 3-1 record in five starts. Smith ranks third in the HCAC with 25 strikeouts this season. The Ravens will tangle with Taylor for a doubleheader and play host to Wabash next week.
Defiance will look to get back on track after losing four straight games to start the conference campaign. Sophomore second baseman Tim Pitro (Gahanna, Ohio/ Lincoln) leads the Jackets offensive attack, posting a .415 batting average and 10 runs scored for DC. Defiance will travel for a doubleheader at Thomas More March 30 before a game with Ohio Northern on April 1.
Baseball Schedule Mar. 27-Apr. 2
Mar. 27 |
Manchester at Ohio Northern |
2:00 PM |
|
Manchester at Ohio Northern |
5:00 PM |
|
|
|
Mar. 28 |
Birmingham Southern at Transylvania |
4:00 PM |
|
Hanover at Bluffton |
4:00 PM |
|
Franklin at Mount St. Joseph |
5:00 PM |
|
|
|
Mar. 29 |
Hanover at Bluffton (DH) |
NOON |
|
Rose-Hulman at Manchester (DH) |
NOON |
|
Birmingham Southern at Transylvania |
NOON |
|
Mount St. Joseph at Franklin (DH) |
1:00 PM |
|
|
|
Mar. 30 |
Rose-Hulman at Manchester |
1:00 PM |
|
Defiance at Thomas More (DH) |
1:00 PM |
|
|
|
Apr. 1 |
Anderson at Taylor (DH) |
2:00 PM |
|
Defiance at Ohio Northern |
4:00 PM |
|
Bluffton at Manchester |
4:15 PM |
|
Hanover at Mount St. Joseph |
5:00 PM |
|
Franklin at Rose-Hulman |
6:00 PM |
|
Transylvania at Centre |
6:00 PM |
|
|
|
Apr. 2 |
Thomas More at Transylvania |
4:00 PM |
|
Rose-Hulman at DePauw |
4:00 PM |
|
Wabash at Anderson |
4:00 PM |