2009 Warrior Baseball Outlook

In the history of NAIA baseball, only one program has won at least four consecutive national titles.  So as the Lewis-Clark State College baseball team takes aim on its fourth straight Avista NAIA World Series title this season, the program could join that elite status – with itself.

The Warriors won six consecutive national titles during 1987-92 and have won 16 national titles overall in the last 25 years. The program has been so dominant under veteran coach Ed Cheff that Grand Canyon, with four titles, is second on the championship list.

Despite some key personnel losses, the Warriors are expected to make another run at the title. The Warriors are ranked No. 1 in the NAIA preseason poll and feature a roster that could provide Cheff one of his deepest teams as he begins his 33^rd year at the helm.

The Warriors have seven position players returning who saw action in at least 20 games last year, including four regular starters. The pitching staff returns six players who appeared in at least eight games last season when the Warriors went 58-7.

“I don’t know if we have a super big-time player or a guy who can carry the team, but the thing that stands out with this team is just the overall depth,” Cheff says. “The depth at every position is pretty good. We’ve got a lot of corner and middle infielders, and our depth in the outfield is good.”

The key for the team, Cheff says, is with the pitching staff.  The Warriors have some solid returners from last year and have added some quality arms as well. It will depend how this staff comes together and how healthy it can stay.

The Warriors kick off the season on Feb. 13 in the Regence BlueShield of Idaho Tournament. The Warriors also will play host to the Guardian Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Tournament the following weekend.

Along with their home-and-away Region I schedule, the Warriors will play host to Fresno Pacific, Western Oregon and St. Martin’s in either a three- or four-game series. Road trips include a four-game series against Dixie State in St. George, Utah, a three-game series in Lacey, Wash., against St. Martin’s, and a trip to Seattle to face the University of Washington on April 28.

Earlier this year, Cheff received the Lefty Gomez Award from the American Baseball Coaches Association for his lifetime contributions to amateur baseball. Cheff has an all-time record of 1,627-410-2 at LCSC for a winning percentage of 79.9 percent. His win total is the most by any baseball coach at the NAIA level.

Former Warrior Allen Balmer is the only new assistant coach for this season.

Here’s a preview broken down by position for the 2009 Warriors. 
 

CATCHER:

As with several of the positions, the Warriors have multiple options when it comes to who will be behind the plate.

Junior Travis Georgius, from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, proved capable last season, but could wind up being the team’s third baseman. Entering the season, the Warrior coaching staff isn’t sure where Georgius will wind up, but they like the versatility that Georgius gives the team.

Cheff says senior Bernard Pena probably won’t catch a lot this season, but that he could be in the lineup as the team’s left-handed designated hitter.  “He could be a real valuable guy to us offensively as the designated hitter,” Cheff said.

Sophomore Kawika Emsley-Pai is a transfer from the University of Texas, who can also play left field. Cheff says Emsley-Pai is a multi-dimensional player who can also hit well.

Tyler Carson, a sophomore from Lewiston, also is a catcher on the squad.

INFIELD:
 

The first couple of months will go a long way in determining who is playing where and playing time by the end of the season. The Warriors have several players who will get a good look in the early season to show what they can do.

At first base, senior Sean Halton returns and would likely be the leading candidate, except he will probably end up in right field. He was the team’s main designated hitter last season and hit .371 with seven home runs.

“I think he can do it because for a guy who is 250 pounds, he runs pretty well,” Cheff said of the move to the outfield. ”He’s a special hitter, he can run, and he can throw pretty well. Professionally the world is full of first basemen that can hit and do little else. So to get to the next level, it’s better for him to be in the outfield. He’s an interesting guy. He’s as athletic as some of our other outfielders and will hit in the middle of our order.”

If Halton goes to the outfield, Pat Murray, a transfer from Oral Roberts, heads the list at first base. Murray hit .330 and started 21 games at Oral Roberts last season. Pena also could see some time at first to give the Warriors a left-handed bat at the position, while Armando Reyes and Jaime Ballesteros give the team depth. Reyes hit .364 during an injury-prone year and Cheff says the nagging wrist and shoulder injuries are still there. Ballesteros is a senior transfer from Northern Iowa.

Cheff said Matt Allen, a junior transfer from Santa Ana Junior College, also could play some first. Cheff says Allen is one of the team’s best all-around players and can also play second and third base. “He gives us a lot of depth so if we’re not happy with the defensive play at first base, Matt Allen might be the guy,” Cheff says.

The middle infield positions are interchangeable at this point with a number of players being able to handle both second base and shortstop. Junior Josh Ashenbrenner was the team’s starting second baseman for most of last season and hit .357 with 41 RBI.

Cheff says Crispin Tarango, who played with Allen at Santa Ana, comes to the program with impressive credentials. He was the Southern California All-America Player of the Year as a freshman and hit .328 last season.  Along with Todd Muecklisch, a junior from Tacoma Community College, Danny Anguiano from Glendale CC, and Vaughan Prow of Columbia Basin CC, Cheff says the team has some solid transfers to use in the middle infield positions.

Cheff also feels that Trent Bridges, a freshman from Coeur d’Alene, could be a factor. “I like him a lot,” Cheff says. “He’s just steady. He kind of reminds me of someone who is a junior out there.”

Also back is Kyle Melton, who received an extra year of eligibility after he was diagnosed with cancer early last season and left the team to receive treatment.  Two years ago, he played second, short, and third and started 24 games.

Cheff says, as with other potions, “those guys will play themselves into a position or not.”

At third base. Georgius may have the nod, but the team also has Rene Escobar, a transfer from Louisiana State University. “He can play second or third,” Cheff says. “We like his bat. He’s one of the better hitters we have.”

Junior Ben Ornelas, and seniors Ricky Reavis and Chris Lum return and could be factors as well. Ornelas has been solid during the fall workouts, while Reavis started 13 games last year, splitting time between third base and the outfield. He hit .317 with a grand-slam home run last year.  Lum saw action as a catcher, designated hitter and pinch-hitter last season and hit .308.

OUTFIELD:

Paul Martin joins a rare group of being a four-year starter during his career. The senior has started 138 games prior to this season and gives the Warriors a solid center fielder as well as a good bat with his .318 career average. He started more games than any Warrior last year at 59.

Cheff said if the team had to use another center fielder, it could be Muecklisch, who he describes as a Brent Wyatt-type player who can handle both the center field and middle infield positions.

In left-field, heavily-recruited Kris Miller probably has the nod. He was a first-team JC All-American and a Gold Glove winner last season after hitting .412 with 19 home runs, 20 doubles and 92 RBI. “He can really flat-out hit and is a good defensive player,” Cheff says. “He can be on of those special players.”

Halton is the leading candidate for right field.

Bret Spencer and Bryson Tajiri, both juniors, could also see time in the outfield. Spencer made one start a year ago, while Tajiri was out last season after seeing playing time in 2007.  Murray also could move to the outfield if depth becomes an issue. Curtis Dupart played in the outfield the last two seasons at Georgia Tech, but has been converted to a pitcher.

PITCHING:

The Warriors do return some strong arms from last season and bring in some good recruits, but the health of the staff may be the key.  Both Brad Schwarzenbach and Kyle Cruikshank return after having Tommy John surgery last season.

“Schwartzenbach could be totally outstanding,” Cheff says. “We think he could be really good. He’s coming back only 9-10 months after surgery where it takes some guys 1-2 years. One thing that is helping him is that he has changed his delivery to take some stress of his elbow. But I like him a lot.

“Cruikshank still has to prove himself as a pitcher,” Cheff continued. “He had the operation before Schwarzenbach, but he’s still a little behind in recovery.”

Among the returning pitchers, Michael Guerrero, Ryan Woods, Matt Stabelfeld and Nick Masters, all seniors, saw action in big games last season.  Guerrero and Stabelfeld both pitched in the championship game last year and Stabelfeld earned the win.  Guerrero was 8-1 with a 2.64 earned run average, while Woods was 8-2 with a 2.08 ERA. Masters finished the season at 6-1.

“Guerrero certainly is capable of being the leader and will just get better out there,” Cheff says. “And Woods has made tremendous strides. He’s a different guy than he was a year ago. His delivery is way better.”

Lewiston’s Tyler Knigge, who compiled a 3-0 record as a freshman last year, also returns as does senior Dustin Willis, who battled injuries but pitched 19 innings and had a 2.84 ERA.

Among the newcomers, Cheff likes Henry Buenrostro as the team’s closer. The transfer from Santa Ana CC had a 1.63 ERA in 16 appearances last season and struck out 20 without allowing a walk.  Also Zach Clanton, a freshman from Lake City High in Coeur d’Alene, could be a factor in the bullpen. Cheff says Buenrostro and Clanton both have the ability to come in and throw strikes immediately rather than needing time to find their groove.

Brian Erickson, a transfer from Lower Columbia CC, has changed his delivery to more of a side-arm type that Cheff compares to former Warrior great Steve Reed.  Andrew LeDuc comes highly recruited from California as does Tom Peale, a transfer from the University of San Francisco, who went 13-0 two seasons ago at Long Beach City College.

Dupart also is expected to be counted on as he makes the conversion from the outfield.