The baseball season kicks off February 14th which is just a little more than 2 weeks away and the baseball website has not had any updates. Will the individual player bio's and profiles be updated? Will there be a pre-season preview? Just seems like it has been really quiet on this forum and the Valpo website regarding the baseball team. How did the Dominican trip go? I thought there would be something on the website about the DR trip as that is a pretty big deal. Just wondering.......
It looks like someone was reading the forum, or it was just good timing for your question :):
http://www.valpoathletics.com/baseball/news/2013-14/13322/baseballs-trip-to-dominican-republic-a-success/ (http://www.valpoathletics.com/baseball/news/2013-14/13322/baseballs-trip-to-dominican-republic-a-success/)
The highlight of the games in the DR was an 8-2 win over a professional Dominican team (Licey of the Dominican Winter League). Emilio Bonifacio of the
Kansas City Royals and Julio Borbon of the Baltimore Orioles were in the lineup for Licey. Cole Webb pitched well against both big league players and broke Bonifacio's bat with a fastball.
I put together a story on the trip for this week's Torch. The forum will not allow me to post a link for whatever reason, but those interested can find the story by going to the valpotorch.com, clicking on the e-edition of this week's paper on the right and going to page 11.
It's sad to see the direction Borbon's career has gone in. He was a promising CF starter for our Rangers, then got hurt, and lost his job to Hamilton, then several other folks.
Quote from: Brandon on February 01, 2014, 12:01:53 AMThe forum will not allow me to post a link for whatever reason
You need five posts to prove you're a human and not a
(http://www.joelpeterson.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/deterringSpambots.jpg)
If bbtds were around again it'd be in his tagline. I miss him.
I absolutely love these creative marketing videos Valpo has been doing. This latest one is very true to reality, in that A LOT of ping pong is played (especially among pitchers), assuming it has stayed the same in 10 years. That was one thing I was actually able to do well, beat just about all players in ping pong in the clubhouse...I'm looking at you Tom Starck and Elliot Gibbs ;).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PYShFc0jEuU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PYShFc0jEuU)
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Wow....just wow....how in the world did we just lose 2-1 to a D-3 team (Ohio Northern)??? I cannot remember a time since I have followed the program (back to 1999), that we have lost to a D-3 program. I know that we have lost to scholarship D-2 and NAIA programs in the past, but never a D-3...
It is bad when you lose PERIOD. I have a feeling this will help "wake up" and strengthen the focus of a group of players that have been underachieving a bit. We shall see this weekend...
Unfortunately, after scoring just 1 run against Ohio Northern, the team continued its slump and only scored a combined 5 runs in the three weekend games against UIC. Let's hope the weather and the hitting heat up a bit for the busy week of games ahead.
Still, I did manage to get some action photos of play against UIC, including the two below that show Mark Johnson hitting and Jake Hanson about to tag out a runner trying to score.
(http://i59.tinypic.com/1038sxu.jpg)
(http://i60.tinypic.com/4r6w6h.jpg)
Congratulations to Karch Kowalczyk for being selected to the Capital One Academic All-District Baseball Team! The Academic All-America program honors male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom.
(http://i61.tinypic.com/2lkpmrt.jpg)
"Kowalczyk owns a 3.49 grade point average and is majoring in biology and chemistry. On the field, he has amassed team highs in doubles (8), home runs (4), and runs batted in (27) this season. In addition to his intimidating presence at the plate, the senior has saved eight games and tallied a 2.45 earned run average on the hill for the Crusaders. His 21 career saves rank second in Valparaiso University history. He owns a 2.00 lifetime ERA in 54 innings with the Brown and Gold and opponents have batted just .194 against the right-hander."
http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/valpos-kowalczyk-and-wsus-timm-named-to-baseballs-capital-one-academic-all-district-team (http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/valpos-kowalczyk-and-wsus-timm-named-to-baseballs-capital-one-academic-all-district-team)
Quote from: valpopal on May 01, 2014, 03:31:59 PMthe Capital One Academic All-District Baseball Team!
I'm sure Karch won't leave home without it. The award that is or whatever he received for this honor. ;)
Congrats!
An 11th-inning walk-off hit by Spencer Mahoney gave Valpo a thrilling comeback 5-4 win over Oakland today!
(http://i60.tinypic.com/dn0oeq.jpg)
Hopefully we take the next two as well, as Oakland is ripe for being swept!!
Our anemic offense doesn't help out another gem by Lundeen, losing 1-0...
We are stranding runners left and right. Can't put up a crooked number. Nobody is blaming anyone in the locker room--that's a good thing. A player's meeting is imminent and much needed. I still have hope. The guys care deeply and are positive. I see the bats coming alive in the last couple of weeks of the regular season. We got you, tx.
Having been a pitcher, nothing drives me crazier than your starting pitcher throwing a CG while giving up 1 run, and losing lol
Guys respond by winning the rubber game with 14 hits. Good job!! Let's hope that we go at least 4-2 over the last 6 conference games, in order to finish 12-12 in conference. We don't have an opportunity of really passing UIC for a 2 seed, so let's shoot for that 3 seed.
There were a number of Major League scouts at the game on Sunday. They stood in a row behind home plate with their clipboards and speed guns to check out the starting pitcher for Oakland, Jake Paulson, who is supposed to be a prospect. However, Valpo roughed up Paulson with 6 runs on 11 hits in only 5.1 innings of work. In fact, Valpo's red-shirt freshman, Ellis Foreman, out-pitched Paulson and went 7 innings for the victory. In addition, Michael Morman reached base all five at bats with 3 hits and 2 walks, plus he had 3 runs, 1 RBI, and 2 stolen bases.
Final score of the season's final home game: Valpo 8, Oakland 4. Below are my game photos of Foreman and Morman:
(http://i59.tinypic.com/2d7ca3r.jpg)
(http://i57.tinypic.com/xbwuuu.jpg)
Looks like we pounded out some hits in an 8-4 win over WMU! Hopefully that helps us heading into the final games.
Ellis Foreman has been named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week, and it was well deserved: http://www.valpoathletics.com/baseball/news/2013-14/13732/foreman-named-horizon-league-pitcher-of-the-week/ (http://www.valpoathletics.com/baseball/news/2013-14/13732/foreman-named-horizon-league-pitcher-of-the-week/)
We are currently in position for the 4 seed (tied for third, but lose tiebreaker to UWM), so hopefully we sweep YSU at their place this week, so that we are given the best chance at getting third by ourselves! We are the only team that has beaten WSU this season (in conference), going 3-3 vs. them. We can win the tournament just as much as any other team, outside of YSU/Oakland.
We finish the regular season in third at 23-26 (12-12). We get to play YSU in the first round, so hopefully we can bring home 1 championship for Valpo in 2013-2014!!
The Horizon League announced its end-of-year honors: Dalton Lundeen (Pitcher of the Year, First Team), Michael Morman (First Team), Chris Manning (Second Team), Ellis Foreman (All-Freshman Team), and Mario Losi (All-Freshman Team). Congratulations to all!
(http://i62.tinypic.com/2ro03z5.jpg)
Yes, congrats to all, and hopefully we have a good run in the tourney starting today! If we win the tournament, we will have a 0.500+ record (either 27-26 or 27-27 if we go 4-0 or 4-1), so it wouldn't look too terrible for us to be in the NCAA tournament lol.
Not a good sign, as our bats are silent, losing 5-1 after 7 at the moment...
Edit: This is just a sad game, now losing 7-1 to YSU in the 8th...
Some signs of life getting to 7-3 after 8. I can't see us winning the tournament if we lose this first game, unlike in softball. You only have so much starting pitching depth in baseball, whereas you can keep throwing the same pitcher in softball.
We lost 7-3, to a team we very much should beat each time out. Unfortunate, but hopefully it gets our guys to take quality swings throughout the rest of the tournament. YSU very much took advantage of the wind whipping out to the fences.
Thought that this was a cool website to track Valpo players after college, as well as historical stats from many decades ago:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/schools/index.cgi?key_school=9ee3e6d0 (http://www.baseball-reference.com/schools/index.cgi?key_school=9ee3e6d0)
I knew about BaseballReference.com, but didn't know that it tracked via schools. I was looking at a bunch of guys I grew up playing against in DFW into HS to see what level they got to or are still at, and decided to look at people I played with at VU. It's cool to see guys you played against now in MLB :). My favorite is the kid I used to babysit who lived in my neighborhood, and ended up going to my HS (4 years younger), James Russell of the Cubs.
The weirdest revelation is seeing that Troy Garrett ended up pitching in the Independent leagues for 2 seasons, as he only played C during his 1 season at Valpo (transferred from Ball State for his last season).
Tanner Vavra is playing for Cedar Rapids in the low class A Midwest League.
http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=2B&sid=t492&t=p_pbp&pid=643584 (http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=2B&sid=t492&t=p_pbp&pid=643584)
The Kernels from Cedar Rapids play at Kane County, June 7, 8 & 9 and June 19, 20, 21 & 22.
Right, and Kyle Gaedele is playing in AA for the San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres), currently on the 7-day DL. I meant to get out and watch them play the Frisco Roughriders (Dallas area), but didn't get a chance to do so. They play them fairly often, so I may still get out there, as it would be cool to see the Texas Rangers AA prospects (Frisco). Kyle is playing at the highest level for a former Valpo player since Jamie Sykes played AA in 2001.
http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=543191 (http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=543191)
I know that Tanner had a stint on the 7-day DL earlier this season, as well. He was hitting around .340 at that time, and has seen his average dip to .250+.
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Drafted in the 37th round to keep our string going of players drafted!
Man, I could've sworn he was drafted last year...but I can't find any evidence. Hard to believe after he had an even better season last year.
Karch, make us proud and make that paper!
Yes sir, 3 Texas teams in the CWS, including my MBA alma mater/previous 1 season coaching stint! Good luck to TCU, Texas, and Texas Tech!
Who knew that when they said, 'the South will rise again,' that they were speaking about NCAA football and baseball? ;)
Karch signed yesterday:
http://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/12/5804660/karch-kowalczyk-dodgers-contract-mlb-draft-2014-37th-round (http://www.truebluela.com/2014/6/12/5804660/karch-kowalczyk-dodgers-contract-mlb-draft-2014-37th-round)
Looks like the NCAAA graduate transfer rule claims another of our stars: http://www.richmondspiders.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=26800&ATCLID=209534241 (http://www.richmondspiders.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=26800&ATCLID=209534241)
This from the announcement, I had to chuckle a little. Not sure how you can call someone a "team-first" guy at the same time he is transferring teams.
Coach Woodson on Morman ...
"Michael had two unfortunate injuries – ACL tear and back fracture - during his career at Valparaiso University but was completely healthy this spring as evidenced by his stellar season in the Horizon League. We expect him to match that success here at Richmond. Michael adds not only experience and toughness to our line-up but he can flat-out hit and brings speed to the base paths. He is a high-character and 'team-first' guy which makes him a great teammate for our returning players and a tremendous asset to the University of Richmond and our baseball program."
I went looking at the milb.com site to find out where our recent drafted players are, and Karch has been promoted from the Arizona Dodgers of the AZL to the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League. He goes from late nights in the Arizona heat to Utah with games in Utah, Colorado, and Montana. Best of luck to Karch.
Tanner Vavra is still in Cedar Rapids playing for the Kernels, and Kyle Gaedele is serving a stint on the DL with the San Antonio Missions.
Good luck to all three of these guys in their hopeful journeys to the Majors!
Hope this isn't old news but Valpo is getting a pitcher, from Minnesota, who spent a couple of years in CC ball. The article says he has raised his fastball to 92-93 range and that he has been told he will be a weekend starter. When was the last time we had a pitcher throwing 92-93? Valpotx??
http://www.woodburybulletin.com/content/fritze-heads-big-stage (http://www.woodburybulletin.com/content/fritze-heads-big-stage)
Another righty from Minnesota,Fritze appears to be a good prospect. However,if we really wanted an extreme righty from Minnesota we should have recruited Congresswomen Bachman. She throws a great blooper. :lol:
We've had several guys throw low-90's going back to when I first got on campus. I believe that the most recent was Karch Kowalczyk? Elliot Gibbs was someone who threw that hard during my playing days, and I believe Justin Craker could crank it up this high as well. The main thing that we hope Fritze has is control with this speed, though :)
Quote from: setshot on August 01, 2014, 06:27:55 PM
Another righty from Minnesota,Fritze appears to be a good prospect. However,if we really wanted an extreme righty from Minnesota we should have recruited Congresswomen Bachman. She throws a great blooper. :lol:
Having seen some of her play I would judge that her lobbing a slow string of nonbreaking grapefruit to a predominately lefthand hitting lineup is not a formula for success at any level or form of competition. On the plus side her control and delivery are far better than one time hot prospect Sarah Palin.
Tex, I must apologize. :-[ It's taken me this long to find the baseball facilities tour on YouTube that Mark Johnson did. Quite nice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYAvx9k6Vkg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYAvx9k6Vkg)
Valpo has come a long way in that regard compared to the previous millennium -- but probably a teeny bit under the B1G level. One thing I noticed is that there is no provision for weight training in the BB club house. But, although the new weight room is "branded the "football weight room" I remember that all sports can benefit from it. Yet, as always, the biggest problem is locker space ----- somewhere.
I know that there is also a YouTube on the distance from campus to Em Bauer Field (BTW Em was my Co-Head FB coach), but you get the feeling that if the complex could be uprooted and drooped into the middle of the campus like the 30 year plan shows, it would be an even better enticement for recruits.
Right now, with Brown Field in turf (especially MSO, WSO practices and games), the whole East Campus footprint now belongs to baseball. Does anyone think that if the university at least installs a turf infield out there, that things would improve for the early spring?
BTW, Mark did a super job. Really nice kid, but hey, we always recruit character, don't we.
The freshman I am most excited about seeing this year is Luke VanLanen. Then again, I may be a little biased. He is my girlfriend's nephew.
Quote from: Pgmado on August 04, 2014, 05:42:49 PM
The freshman I am most excited about seeing this year is Luke VanLanen. Then again, I may be a little biased. He is my girlfriend's nephew.
Speaking of that, I went back through the Baseball news archives on the Valpo Athletic site to July 24th 2013 when the coaching change was made looking for the recruiting class for next season. With the exception of 4 signees on 11/24, zilch, nada, nuthin. And after that we lost Morman to Richmond. I'm sure that coach Schmack and the staff have been recruiting long and hard, but is there more to the recruiting class for next year or what? Given that a baseball team would carry 25-30 players, I'd think that an incoming class (including xfers) would be in the 6-8 range. Thoughts?
There are plans to install additional seating at Em.
Quote from: vu72 on August 04, 2014, 08:53:26 PM
There are plans to install additional seating at Em.
Temporary or permanent and how many seats? Doesn't add much to the complex if they can't play any games till mid May.
Quote from: VULB#62 on August 04, 2014, 08:59:59 PM
Quote from: vu72 on August 04, 2014, 08:53:26 PM
There are plans to install additional seating at Em.
Temporary or permanent and how many seats? Doesn't add much to the complex if they can't play any games till mid May.
President Heckler has mentioned it. I presume it would be permanent seating. Probably to get the place up to standards to host a conference title tournament. Softball had to bring in lights to host so presume these improvements are aimed at the same goal.
Never noticed Mark Johnson's tour, thanks for posting. The clubhouse looks about the same as 10 years ago, except that the JV locker room was turned into a review room, they added a long table for meetings in the main team area, painted inspirational words on the walls/Valpo decals, added the championship posters, and have a jersey hanging on the wall. Does anyone know why #23 is on the wall? I don't see anyone having worn that number since 2004-2005 in Jay Clites. It's also cool that they added flat-screen TVs to the HC office and main team room! We had a large TV in the main area before, but it is good to see that they are keeping the amenities updated with the times!
In the 'hitting shed,' they apparently took down 1-2 cages to make room for bullpen sessions (I forget if there were 3 or 4 tunnels before). We used to throw bullpens in the cages in bad weather, which could be distracting having that net around you while you throw every time. They also took out the 3-4 weightlifting machines we had in that area.
Also, we have several new names on the roster, so maybe we just haven't announced the full class until they enroll? There is even a transfer from Fresno State, which is a solid program, but it doesn't say if he played there or not.
http://www.valpoathletics.com/baseball/roster/#.U-BzknnQOUk (http://www.valpoathletics.com/baseball/roster/#.U-BzknnQOUk)
So by checking the roster (along with the single announcement) it looks like a 2014-15 class of 5 freshman, a Fresno transfer and 2 JCs for a total of 8 out of a total of 35. That's aroundt 25% and makes sense.
Had the pleasure of working with the Beloit Snappers last night, and they were playing the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, and after the game I met and talked with Tanner Vavra. We did some reflecting on Valpo, talked about the fact that he was glad that he got a scholarship to attend Valpo, as he couldn't afford a $40,000+ tuition bill without it, and the difference in how much Valpo costs now compared to when valpotx and I were there from 1999-2004. I also mentioned to him where I was from, outside of Rockford, IL, and dropped the news to him that Michael Morman is going to Richmond now to play for Tracy Woodson, which Tanner hadn't heard. (Such is the life of a bus league like the low minors, where you might/might not get the best internet/wifi service for the time you have in hotels or host families.) Tanner is a good guy, loves talking about Valpo, but also is enjoying life. I wished him the best not only from myself, but also those of us here.
Game recap: Tanner was 1-3 with 2 rbis, a run scored, and 2 walks. He had a nice bloop single to right in the 6th inning to score two, and end the scoring, for the Kernels.
Also, if any of you live close to the Beloit, WI area, Cedar Rapids is still in tonight and tomorrow to finish out the season series. It would be awesome to see some other Valpo grads out there to show him some support. Tickets and the game experience are very inexpensive, tickets from $7-9, and food/beverage ranges between $2-6. Come on out and show Tanner some Valpo love! Games start at 7PM, and gates open at 6PM. Wear some Valpo gear, and I'll see you out there.
Good to hear that he reflects on his time at Valpo in a positive manner!
One of my favorite athletes I've ever been around at Valpo.
I imagine so, but no one can beat Kikas Gomes in my mind :)
Sounds like another great recruiting class!!
http://www.valpoathletics.com/baseball/news/2014-15/14104/baseball-unveils-2015-recruiting-class/#.VGTiVfnF8Xg (http://www.valpoathletics.com/baseball/news/2014-15/14104/baseball-unveils-2015-recruiting-class/#.VGTiVfnF8Xg)
Haven't read any baseball news for quite some time..
Quote from: Jase01 on February 03, 2015, 01:02:38 AM
Haven't read any baseball news for quite some time..
OK, here's some. We will be playing at San Diego State February 13-15, when they will be honoring Tony Gwynn.
http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news.aspx?s=75412 (http://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news.aspx?s=75412)
We haven't had as much baseball news because jetz has relocated, and has had a lot more work responsibilities in his new location. Once games get started, I'm sure we'll have more, but without jetz's insider information, it does feel like baseball is a lost topic of discussion on this board.
The SDSU website shows general admission baseball tickets cost $8.25..makes me wonder what our prices are.
Quote from: valpo64 on February 03, 2015, 01:49:46 PMThe SDSU website shows general admission baseball tickets cost $8.25..makes me wonder what our prices are.
nilaughtblankbottomcipherlovenadanadirnaughtnixnobodynonentitynoughtnullityoblivionscratchshutoutvoidzilchzipinsignificancylowest pointoughtrock bottomzot
C'mon man. You forgot: $0.00 and Free!
Quote from: VULB#62 on February 03, 2015, 04:57:21 PMC'mon man. You forgot: $0.00 and Free!
As Pete Carroll would say:
Not forgotten, avoided.
So true. Why go with the obvious when you can confound a nation.
Quote from: VULB#62 on February 03, 2015, 07:41:05 PM
So true. Why go with the obvious when you can confound a nation.
If it had worked they would be saying terrible things about Belichick and Brady.
Oh, wait........................they already do that.
Baseball will not die on this forum!!!!!!
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Also, Ellis Foreman picked for the second team and Connor Kaucic named preseason selection as Freshman of the Year!
Listening to the Crusaders VS the Aztecs after the basketball game and thought WOW this color guy on the broadcast really seems to know his stuff and has great insight into the game and then the play by play guy calls the guy Tony and you realize it is Tony Gwynn Jr.
It's good to see that Gaedele is seemingly healthy now, after sitting out much of his AA season last year. It must be so cool to play against some of these guys that he plays against in Spring Training!
http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=350328113 (http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=350328113)
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