Lewis-Clark State Baseball Outlook 2003

The Warriors enter the 2003 season capable of making another run at an NAIA national championship.  The 2002 Warriors, led by senior right-hander and tourney MVP, Andy Torres, won an unprecidented 12th national title.  Filling big losses in personnel is always a challenge for LCSC and this year will be no different.  Departed All-American catcher, Gabe Stajduhar, outfielders Nick Bullen and David Bernstine, first basemen Zeph Zinsman and Mike Madrid, third baseman Nick Walker, shortstop Matt Morgan, and pitcher Ryan Heitmann will all be tough to replace.  However, a strong nucleus of returning players and an another outstanding group of recruits will come together to form another competitive team.

            Junior catcher, Tyler Best, got significant playing time behind the plate and as a DH.  This past summer Best and LCSC teammates, RHP Kevin Welch and infielder Brendan Ryan, had the unique experience of playing on the Fairbanks (Alaska) Goldpanner team that won the National Baseball Congress National Title.  Behind Best on the depth chart it’s all question marks - talent players but unproven.                              Redshirt freshman, Gavin Concepcion, and returnee, Jaime Cortes, join Walla Walla Community College transfer, Seth McCauley, behind the plate.  Emerson Frostad, one of the team’s top hitters, will also get a look behind the plate.  “We need to figure out where he is going to play as we need his bat in the line-up and he’s athletic enough to play several positions,” states Coach Cheff on Frostad.  Still another possibility could be Marc Kaiser, a University of Arizona transfer, who was a high draft pick as a catcher coming out of high school.  Yet, Kaiser is also one of the top pitchers on the ballclub and has promise as a pro prospect on the mound.    

            The infield has a great collection of outstanding athletes, most of whom are capable of playing anywhere.

“I don’t believe we’ve ever had a team with four guys who could legitimately play shortstop,” states Cheff.  Junior transfer, Jose Rodriguez, (Riverside C.C., CA) will most likely start at third base with San Francisco draftee, Jay Knowlton, at second base.  As a fifth-year senior Knowlton is under control by the Giants.  A broken foot kept him from signing last summer.  Returning junior, Brendan Ryan, is an experienced middle infielder possessing outstanding play-making abilities.  Rodriguez, Knowlton, and Ryan are middle order hitters.  Sophomore, Micah Furtado moves from second base to the outfield.  Freshman redshirt, Justin Fuller, is the most improved player o the club and in most years would start at shortstop or second base.  He may have to wait a year to be an everyday player.  Transfer, Wayne Stone, University of Texas, played well at second base in the fall but could move to first base to take advantage of his bat.  Yakima (WA)  Community College’s Brian Thomson and Riverside C.C.’s Cole Hilt, are other first base possibilities.  Freshman, Allen Balmer (Lewiston High School), the son of former Warrior All-American, Gary Balmer, came in as a third basemen but could play his first season in the outfield.  He’s an outstanding offensive player.  Freshman, Matt Ireland  is an infielder who may redshirt his first year.  His father, Sheldon, was an All-American catcher at LCSC. 

            Centerfielder Mark Gallagher heads a talented but thin outfield.   Moving Furtado to leftfield solves a big concern.  Cheff feels that Furtado will leave LCSC as one of the top players to have ever played for the Warriors.  Senior, Paul Gallegos, will start in right field, giving the program the best outfield since the 1992 club that featured David Bingham, Marvin Benard, and Travis Woods.  Senior, Nick Browne, is a tough, competitive player capable of being an everyday performer.  Freshman redshirt, Tyson Dietz, was impressive in fall workouts.    

Redshirt freshman, Kyle Peterson, and freshman, Mark VanOort, also played well in the fall.  Lewiston High School graduate, Neil Litchfield, played as a true freshman last season.  If he hits, his defensive skills will get him on the field.

            The only thing certain about the pitching staff is the uncertainty of who will start and the roles of middle and short relievers.  Will Simmons (4-0, 1.45 ERA) and Collin Perschon, one of 2002’s projected starters, both were plagued by injury.  They are now both healthy and ready to go, giving some projection for two possible starters.  Another right-handed senior, Tim Petke, made some major improvements in his delivery this fall.  He’s always had a great make-up and now looks to be a top starter.  Another starter could be Marc Kaiser, a U. of Arizona transfer who played for the Fairbanks Goldpanners last summer and helped that club to a national title. 

            A couple of tough left-handers, senior, Nic Puckett, and University of Washington transfer, Cam McCoy, could start or work out of the bullpen.  A lefty starter, though, would be a plus for the staff.              Right-hander, Kevin Welch, is a middle reliever who played a big role for two national championship teams last year - LCSC and the Fairbanks Goldpanners.  He should be the main guy in the bullpen along with transfers Rob Williams (Orange Coast C.C., CA), Scott Fairbanks (Bellevue C.C., WA), and returning senior, Junior Avina. 

             Sal Aguilar (Cerritos, C.C., CA) is coming off an excellent junior college season and threw well in fall games.  He could start or work in relief.  Danny Cardenas, another Cerritos product, and other junior college transfers Ben Newton (Walla Walla C.C., WA), Jesse Saunders (Bellevue C.C.) and Ryan Sallaway (North Idaho C. C.) all had their moments in the fall but need to show more consistency.

            Two returning pitchers with real potential are 6’8 Casey Hoorelbeke and 6’6 left Jeremy Mannin.  Toshiki Takahashi is a crafty left-hander from Japan via the Tomotaka Ikeda connection.  Mr. Ikeda has sent numerous players from Japan to LCSC.

            Freshman, Ikaika Lester, may end up redshirting, although, Coach Cheff has been considering using Lester right away.  “He’s got a great future ahead of him and he might be ready for innings this spring,” Cheff believes.  Cody Shreve, a freshman from Boise, ID will redshirt.

            An experienced staff will head the Warriors this spring.   All four Warrior assistant coaches were once Warriors themselves, bringing familiar faces back to Harris Field.  Former Warrior assistant coach and Athletic Director, Gary Picone, will serve as head pitching coach and Matt Hellman will work with the outfield. Shawn Lopez and David Bingham will share the duties of coaching base-runners and assist with outfielders.  

Warriors in the Polls

NAIA Preseason Top-25 Baseball Poll

Rank      2002        School                                    2002        Pts
               Final                                                       W-L                                     
 1              6              Lewis-Clark State (ID)        41-16       668
2              1              Oklahoma City                    58-16       651
3              2              Embry-Riddle (FL)              52-12       598
4              4              Bellevue (NB)                       49-17       550
5              10            Faulkner (AL)                       52-18       472
6              24            Spalding (KY)                       55-23       461
7              13            Houston Baptist                   40-17       397
8              12            Lambuth (TN)                      47-21       369
9              14            Albertson (ID)                      42-19-1   369
10            11            Indiana Tech                         47-17-1   361
11            19            Missouri Baptist                   46-19       334
12            NR          Cumberland (TN)                38-22       323
13            9              St. Thomas (FL)                    37-16       304
14            NR          North Georgia                     43-24       284
15            15            Ohio Dominican                  44-13       276
16            3              Auburn-Montgomer (AL)  50-18       267
17            NR          Culver-Stockton (MO)        43-22       261
18            NR          Olivet-Nazarene (IL)           39-16       234
19            RN          Mayville State (ND)            34-15-1   220
20            8              Union (TN)                           44-20       179
21            17            St. Scholastica (MN)            35-12       128
22            NR          Point Loma Naz. (CA)        33-19-1   11
23            16            McKendree (IL)                    38-17       98
24            NR          Oklahoma Baptist                45-19       82
25            NR          Union (KY)                           38-20       72