Ohio Wesleyan University | Battling Bishop Athletics

2008 Season Preview

[ A.J. Dote ] Tyler Mott’s situation as the first-year head coach of the Ohio Wesleyan baseball team is an enviable one.

With the potential to start 6 seniors in the field and a veteran pitching staff, Mott and the Battling Bishops should be in a good position to defend the North Coast Athletic Conference championship and return to the NCAA Division III tournament. Ohio Wesleyan finished as NCAA regional runner-up last year, posting a 27-16 record.

“We feel confident about where we are,” Mott said. “We are going to go as far as our seniors will take us.”

Back at first base is senior A.J. Dote (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne). An all-region and all-conference pick in 2007, Dote tied for second in the NCAC with 45 runs batted in last year and was the NCAC batting champion in 2006. Senior Caleb Douce (Caledonia/River Valley), junior Greg Vasami (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck) and freshman J.R. Osborne (Chagrin Falls/University School) will see time at first base and designated hitter as well as some innings on the mound.

Senior Jerrell Johnson (Shaker Heights), who has been a reliable reserve and spot starter the past 3 seasons, takes over at second base. Sophomore Tyson Snyder (Bryan) and freshman Josh Gardner (Youngstown/Boardman) also will be in the picture at second.

Junior Logan Hronis (Rocky River/St. Edward) won the shortstop position and had a breakout season in 2007, winning all-region and all-conference honors and leading the NCAC with 18 doubles. Sophomore Robbie Shiver (Baltimore, Md./Potomac (D.C.) School) and freshman Scott Wise (Delaware/Hayes) also are in the mix.

Senior Nick Collinger (Columbus/Whetstone) and sophomore Eric McComas (Beverly Hills, Mich./Birmingham Groves) are vying for the third base spot, along with sophomore Jared Turner (Versailles) and freshman Eric Livingston (Delaware/Hayes).

[ Joey McDaniel ] Senior Joey McDaniel (Dublin/Scioto), a 2008 preseason All-America pick and a first-team all-region and all-conference selection after batting .445 in 2007, will patrol rightfield. Freshman Jared Haas (Marion/Harding) also will battle for playing time.

Senior Brent Wilkins (Fairview Park/Fairview) returns in centerfield, with classmate Mike Schleiden (Canton/Massillon Perry) and freshman Zack Kaminski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) also available.

Leftfield is up for grabs between junior Matt Rhode (Port Clinton) and freshman Zach Frentsos (Delaware/Hayes), both converted infielders who have batted their way into the lineup. Freshman Jason Crouse (Darien, Conn.) also looks to contribute.

Sophomore Steve Ruygrok (Centennial, Colo./Cherry Creek) won the starting spot behind the plate last year and was a reliable receiver. Senior Eric Stitzlein (Loudonville), a 2-year letterman who did not play in 2007, is back, as are junior Pat Coakley (Newtown, Conn./Bridgton Academy) and junior Josh Dougherty (Hilliard/Davidson).

[ Xander Jones ] Senior Xander Jones (Pomfret, Conn./Pomfret School) is back atop the Bishop pitching rotation. Jones developed into one of the conference's premier pitchers last year, firing a no-hitter and recording wins in postseason elimination games against regional powers Wooster and Marietta.

Senior Sean Speed (Cincinnati/St. Xavier) had a strong finish to the 2007 season and will look to recapture his form of 2006, when he was a first-team All-NCAC selection after ranking third in the conference in earned run average.

McDaniel, who made 5 starts last year and recorded a win in the NCAA Division III regional tournament; sophomore Matthew Struble (Defiance/Edon), who recorded 3 saves in the Bishops' last 7 games of 2007; Vasami, who turned in an effective outing in his only mound start of 2007; and Livingston will contend for the other spots in the Bishop rotation.

Osborne, Douce, freshman Josh Powers (Newtown, Conn./The Forman School), Crouse and Haas will provide short relief, and Schleiden, senior Nick Horn (Dublin/Scioto) and Wise will work in middle relief.

“We have a lot of seniors and a lot of depth and experience,” Mott said, “which is great not only for having a successful spring but for grooming and developing the younger guys as well.”

Ohio Wesleyan opens its season on March 4 at Ohio University, then has its home opener on March 6 against Otterbein. A 10-game trip to Port Charlotte, Fla., is highlighted by a doubleheader against 2007 NCAC East Division champion Wooster. The NCAC West Division schedule opens on March 21 against Wabash, and contests against local rival Capital and regional foes Heidelberg, Marietta, Kenyon and Thomas More highlight the remainder of the non-conference schedule..