Lewis-Clark State College Warriors
1999 Baseball Season Outlook

If the offense catches up with the pitching, it could be a great year for the Lewis-Clark State College Warrior baseball team.
The Warriors finished their fall workout schedule with an interesting "good news/bad news" outlook. The bad news was a lack of run production and power hitting in intrasquad scrimmages. The good news was the pitching staff.
"We should have a deep and talented staff with a nice blend of different types of arms," said pitching coach Tyler Cheff. "A couple of our top guys are excellent pro prospects."

PITCHERS
Returning right-handed pitchers Ryan Baerlocher, Clint Cameron, Fletcher Lee and John Veitch are all capable of being front-line starters. Either Lee or Veitch will become the staff closer, but that decision may not be made until mid-March. San Joaquin Delta (Stockton, CA) transfer John Foster and returnee James Ramshaw are the top left-handers and both coujld be part of a starting five-man rotation.
Junior college transfers Nick Stelzner (College of Southern Idaho), Garnet Jensen (Big Bend Community College) and Jason Ellison (Bellevue Community College) were impressive at times in fall workouts. Senior right-handers Jon Zumwalt and Rob Shoults need to demonstrate a greater level of consistency to earn a starting role.
Sophomores John Lemke (RH) and Chris Rennaker (LH) have the potential to contribute this year.

CATCHERS
Senior Ryan Luther, a former shortstop and the best athlete on the ballclub, has moved behind the plate. Gil Pierce enters his junior year beginning to play like the prospect the staff thought he would be coming out of Moscow High School. Freshman Gabe Boruff (drafted by Kansas City) is one of the best freshman players the Warriors have had in recent years. J.R. Diaz (Merced JC) is a left-handed hitter and has shown good defensive skills although his arm strength needs to improve.

OUTFIELDERS
Center fielder Kendrick Wallace has the talent to be an All-American type player. The rest of the outfield is still a question mark. Based on the fall season, Jason Ellison looks to be the top left field prospect. Senior Tad Desimone missed most of last season with injuries. He carries the best bat among the outfielders but his defense is still a question mark. Transfers Joe Whitsett (University of Hawaii) and Eli Albertson (Glendale, CA Junior College) played well in the fall. Senior Brian Nannini is the best athlete, next to Wallace, among the outfielders. If he hits, he will start somewhere in the outfield.

INFIELDERS
Senior Toby Cheff, a standout defensive player and the team's leading hitter in 1998, will start at first base. Mark Thomas (Bellevue Community College) showed some offensive potential but needs to improve his defense at first base. He could get into the lineup as a designated hitter. Sophomore Rich Dean's aggressive approach to playing will earn him some playing time at first. The rest of the infield is a question mark, a problem created more by where someone should play rather than if they can play.
Elliott Strankman, a two-year starter at shortstop, is being pushed by sophomores Ryan Riley and Kurt Koshelnik. Riley and Koshelnik can both play second and third base, as well.
Left-handed hitter Brandon O'Leary, last year's starter at third base, will move to second. Junior Chad Kline, who started at shortstop early in the '98 season then assumed a utility role, worked chiefly at third base in the fall. Lewiston High School product Sennet Pierce was a key recruit for the Warriors but may be a year away from regular playing time. The bottom line for starting spots in the infield will rest with offensive production as all candidates can play defense.

DESIGNATED HITTERS/UTILITY
Freshman Tom Fazio (Lapwai High School) was the top hitter among '98 Northwest high school players, in head coach Ed Cheff's opinion. Tom is the son of former Warrior standout Corky Fazio and the first son of a former Warrior to play at LCSC for coach Cheff.

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Page Manager: Mike Tatko
Revised: January 22, 1999