Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - The Grace College baseball team began the 1997 season with just eight men returning from last year's squad. With many new faces and an optimistic approach, Lancer coach Glenn Johnson expects his team to improve on last year's seventh-place finish in the Mid-Central Conference.
Leading the way for the Lancers this season will be seniors Brian Walta and Eric Gonzalez and junior Terry Aukeman. Walta, a third baseman and designated hitter, was the team's top hitter in 1996. He hit .365 with 14 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
"Brian has unlimited offensive skills," Johnson said. "With the discipline and balance he has learned this year, we expect he will be more consistent and will put up even better numbers this year."
In the team's first three games this season, Walta is 3-for-6 with five walks and five RBIs. He hit a game-winning home run on Saturday in the Lancers' 9-7 victory over St. Francis.
Eric Gonzalez is the team's centerfielder and lead-off batter. Nicknamed "Speedy" by his teammates, Gonzalez gets on base often and will steal plenty of bases.
"With his speed, Eric will shore up our outfield," Johnson said. "Offensively, he draws a lot of walks and steals a lot, which will help us in run production this year."
Sophomore Chad Newhard (Ft. Wayne Carroll) will split time between leftfield and first base this season. He will hit in the No. 2 slot. Junior Matt Grimm is the rightfielder and will start the season as the team's cleanup hitter. Last year, Grimm hit .341 with 16 RBIs.
In the infield, senior Mark Abel and sophomore Lincoln Howard (Warsaw High School) fill the middle infield positions. Abel has been the Lancer second baseman for the last three years. Howard looks to fill a hole the Lancers have had at shortstop. Junior Chris Bates will see action at both first and third.
Behind the plate is freshman Andy Manes. Manes hit well in the fall and has one of the most powerful bats in the lineup. He will likely hit fifth in the batting order.
Leading the pitching staff is left-hander Aukeman. Last year, Aukeman was among the team leaders in complete games, wins and strikeouts.
"Terry has been throwing well lately," Johnson said. "He had a good fall, and looked good Saturday. He has command of three pitches - his fastball, slider, and changeup, and he is a smart pitcher. We really need him to have a good season this year."
Gonzalez will fill the No. 2 starting role. He has the lowest ERA of the returning pitchers from last year, and had the best strikeout to walk ratio.
Newcomer Steve Babinski is the third starter. Babinski transferred this spring from Kankakee Community College in Illinois. He will also fill in at leftfield and behind the plate this season.
Sophomore Josh Bailey will round out the starting rotation. Bailey saw some action last year, but should continue to improve with more time.
In middle relief this season, the Lancers will look to three new players in Renier Stiglingh, Mike Raasch and Tim Pycraft. All three have potential, and will be depended on heavily in the middle innings. Bates will also see action on the mound.
Freshman Mark Butcher will be the Lancers' closer. He consistently threw in the mid-80s in high school, and is expected to be strong in the late innings this year.
The Lancers will not be able to rely only on two or three players this season.
"Everyone on the team will have to contribute for us to be successful," Johnson said. "Offensively, we look for Walta and Gonzalez to have good years, but we need Grimm, Manes, Abel, Babinski, and Newhard to really support them. If we can get runners on base and drive the ball, we will be successful."
Last year, the team improved its overall batting average by 45 points, and expect to jump another 25 points this season.
"We could be over .300 as a team this year," hitting coach Matt Husted said. "We need to concentrate on consistency and aggressiveness. Because we don't have as much depth or experience on our pitching staff, we really need to score more runs than the opponent."
The Lancers will play a 54-game schedule this season, including MCC opponents as well as NCAA Division II schools Hillsdale and Saginaw Valley. Over Spring Break, the team will travel to Tennessee and North Carolina for contests with Montreat, Tusculum, and Milligan.
The Lancers opened their season last Wednesday at Franklin with an 8-6 loss. Against St. Francis on Saturday, the team picked up its first win of the season in the second game of the doubleheader, 9-7. The Lancers will host Indiana Wesleyan Thursday at 1 p.m.
Grace Baseball Schedule
March
5zzat Franklinzz1 p.m.
6zzat Marianzz1 p.m.
8zzSt. Franciszz1 p.m.
11zzManchesterzz1 p.m.
13zzIndiana Wesleyanzz1 p.m.
15zzHillsdalezznoon
22zzSpring Arborzz1 p.m.
25zzBethelzz1 p.m.
27zzat Indiana Wesleyanzz3:30 p.m.
29zzat Wabashzz1 p.m.
April
1zzat Montreat(SC)zzTBA
2zzat Milligan(TN)zzTBA
3zzat MilliganzzTBA
4zzat Tusculum(TN)zzTBA
8zzGoshenzz1:30 p.m.
10zzMarianzz1 p.m.
11zzSaginaw Valleyzz3 p.m.
12zzSaginaw Valleyzz1 p.m.
15zzat Purdue North-Centralzz4 p.m.
17zzat Bethelzz1 p.m.
19zzTaylorzz1 p.m.
22zzat Goshenzz1:30 p.m.
24zzPurdue North-Centralzz4 p.m.
26zzHuntingtonzz1 p.m.
29zzat Taylorzz1 p.m.
May
1zzat Huntingtonzz4:30 p.m.
3zzat St. Franciszz1 p.m.
6zzat Hillsdalezz4 p.m.
Grace Baseball Roster
Eric GonzalezzzSrzzCF/P
Steve BabinskizzSozzP/C/OF
Lincoln HowardzzSozzSS/2b
Terry AukemanzzJrzzP
Mark AbelzzSrzz2b
Mark ButcherzzFrzzP
Andy ManeszzFrzzC/P
Josh BaileyzzSozzP
Matt GrimmzzJrzzRF
Tim PycraftzzFrzzP
Brian WaltazzSrzz3b
Chad NewhardzzSozzOF
Renier StiglinghzzFrzzP
Chris BateszzJrzzINF
Mike RaaschzzSozzP
