2009 :: BASEBALL 33 :: FLYER BASEBALL :: :: THE FLYERS :: :: :: :: SEASON IN REVIEW :: :: HISTORY :: :: THE UNIVERSITY ::
2009 :: BASEBALL tony vittorio head coach :: FLYER BASEBALL :: :: THE FLYERS :: :: :: :: SEASON IN REVIEW :: 34 :: HISTORY :: :: THE UNIVERSITY :: SEASon At ud... > 10TH ALMA MAtER... > HAnOver COllege 88 University of Dayton head coach Tony Vittorio has solidified himself as one of the baseball program s greatest managers since he took over beginning with the 2000 season. This claim is backed by a resume that includes five 30-plus win seasons including a 31 win season in 2008 and a school record 36 victories in 2005 and UD s only four trips to the Atlantic 10 Championship. However, Vittorio (473-446, 249-248 at UD) would give many reasons why those numbers represent a starting point rather than a destination for a program that had only one winning season in the decade prior to his arrival. If you strive for excellence everyday, you might find perfection along the way, Vittorio said. In 2006, Vittorio took the Flyers to the Atlantic 10 Championships for the second consecutive season and won 33 games including a program best 18 in Atlantic 10 Conference play to finish third in the 14-team A-10. Not only did the UD pitching staff record a school-record 343 strikeouts, but the offense used its speed to record the second most doubles (115), fourth most stolen bases (75) and fifth most triples (18) in program history. He also saw a Flyer selected for the third time in three seasons in the MLB Draft.
A year earlier, Vittorio guided Dayton to its first winning season in three years, setting a then single season school record for victories with 32, while leading Dayton to its first berth in postseason play since joining the A-10 in 1996. The 32-wins in 2001 was just the second winning season in three years, and gave promise to a program that had eclipsed the.500 mark just one time during the 1990s. In his first year at Dayton, Vittorio guided the Flyers to a 23-32 season with a 10-11 record in conference play, paving the way for the record breaking 2001 campaign. This transformation of Dayton s program has come as no surprise. From the start of his 12-year coaching career as an assistant at Indiana University, Vittorio has been a builder. His first reconstruction was at Lincoln Trail Community College, a junior college in Robinson, IL. Taking over a program that suffered through a 2-48 season before he arrived, Vittorio guided LTCC to 145 wins from 1990 through 1994, including a 45-28 record his final year. While coaching the Statesmen, he mentored two MLB draftees and saw 22 players advance to four-year college teams. He then spent two years as an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky before beginning the revival of Division II IPFW, a team that was 9-41 before he arrived in the fall of 1996. Vittorio engineered his rebuilding process again and posted a 2423 mark his first season and an impressive 30-17 record in 1998. Vittorio s Mastodons won 80 games in his three years in Fort Wayne, bringing his then seven-year career head coaching record to 224-198. In 2000, coach Vittorio made the move to UD, bringing with him head assistant Todd Linklater. A native of Indianapolis, Vittorio graduated from Hanover (IN) College in 1988 with a double major in both business administration and physical education. He went on to earn his master s degree in sports management from the University of Kentucky in 1997. At Hanover, Vittorio was a four-year letterwinner as a middle infielder and was selected into the American College Hall of Fame at the conclusion of his collegiate career. Vittorio resides in Kettering with his wife Heather and their daughter Taylor Reann and son Nic. :: THE UNIVERSITY :: :: HISTORY :: :: SEASON IN REVIEW :: In 2002, UD shattered record after record, boasting school-highs in strikeouts (332) while winning 32 games, as well as an April 16 win over IPFW that gave Vittorio his 300th career victory. His ability to mold professional-caliber players was also validated during the year, with four members of the 02 squad going on to play some type of professional ball. The quartet of players moving on to the next level brought his total to five players in three years. :: :: But as bright as the future appears for Vittorio s Flyers, his past still stands at the top of UD s record books. :: THE FLYERS :: UD also won two of three games against #19 Notre Dame on Feb. 26 & 27 in Mesa, AZ at HoHoKam Park, the Spring Training home of the Chicago Cubs. It marked the highest ranked team ever defeated by the Flyers in school history. :: FLYER BASEBALL :: Vittorio led Dayton to a program record 596 hits in 2005 while ranking second in runs scored (397) and at bats (1,932), third in batting average (.308) and RBI (358). The 2005 Flyers also had a solid pitching staff with 314 strikeouts (third most in school history) and a 4.41 team ERA (fifth best). 2009 :: BASEBALL head coach tony vittorio 35
:: FLYER BASEBALL :: :: THE FLYERS :: :: :: :: SEASON IN REVIEW :: :: HISTORY :: :: THE UNIVERSITY :: 2 0 0 9 : : B A S E B A L L q & A WIth head coach tony vittorio WHAT KInDS OF VALuES DO you LOOK FOR WITH THE university OF DAyTOn BASEBALL TEAm? The core values of our team are hard work, loyalty, hustle, intensity, sportsmanship and communication. Those are not only core values for baseball but also for life. I think the game of baseball teaches you about how to live your life. We are all possessed with winning as coaches and as a program, but there is nothing better than helping develop young men into men. WHO ARE your LEADERS THIS SEASOn? We have a lot of seniors. There is a lot of leadership on this 2009 team. I think our senior class has done a great job of leading our program from the first time they steppped foot onto the University of Dayton campus. Our team has a strong identity now because of our experience. A couple people that stand out are catcher Scott Dunwoody who is almost a picture perfect person on and off of the field. Also, Quinn Haselhorst is the same way. Those two guys have done a great job of leading out of the senior class. WHAT DOES THE university OF DAyTOn DO TO PREPARE THEIR STuDEnT-ATHLETES FOR THE next STEPS In LIFE? The University of Dayton is a prestigious academic institution that is not only known in Ohio, but also across the country from New York to Los Angeles. We are known across the country and it is something that we take great pride in while representing Dayton. Because of our standing as one of the top Catholic institutions in the United States, our players are able to achieve great things from a profession standpoint across the country. WHO HAS BEEn DRAFTED WHILE PLAyInG AT THE university OF DAyTOn? We have had success in putting players into the big leagues. With one regular starter and another that is on the verge of making it to the top level. We are very proud of Jerry Blevins (Oakland Athletics) as a player who was called up two years ago and has made a name for himself, solidifying a spot on the roster going into this year. Craig Stammen (Columbus Clippers, AAA) is one of the Top 50 prospects in the Washington Nationals organization. I would suspect that he could have a good opportunity to be called up to the big leagues this year. AFTER AnOTHER 30-PLuS WIn SEASOn In 2008, HOW CAn you BuILD On your SuCCESS AS A TEAm? We won a lot of games last year, but we didn t win when it counted the most. We went 2-7 last year on Friday nights and that is not acceptable, our team was still trying to find its way. I think eight of our nine starters were in that role for the first time in Division I baseball, so they were struggling to figure out who they were. Now we have seven returning position players this year with great experience. You can see the change in them since they set foot on this campus in the fall that they know their role and can see where they need to be. I am looking forward to taking advantage of the experience and camaraderie our team has. TALK ABOuT THE COmPETITIVEnESS In THE ATLAnTIC 10. WHO ARE your BIGGEST RIVALS? Atlantic 10 baseball is the largest Division I baseball conference with 14 teams. Whenever you are dealing with 14 teams it can be difficult without a doubt. Charlotte has obviously stood out in our conference the last few years, even though we have had success against them. We have won four out of the last six games we have played against them. The next teams two through 12 have a lot of parity between them. All the schools are comparable talent wise and it comes down to who executes best. As far as rivalries go, with the proximity of our opponents the games against xavier and Wright State will be big. However, in baseball it is a little different because of the number of games. You play and compete hard with those teams and then you move on. Every game we play in the season is important. 36
ASSocIAtE head coach SEASon At ud... > 10TH ALMA MAtER... > lake forest COllege 96 todd LInkLAtER After beginning at UD in 1999, Todd Linklater was promoted to Associate Head Coach of Flyer Baseball on August 28, 2006. At Dayton, Linklater serves as the pitching coach as well as the player development coordinator, which entails the designing and application of the strength program for all players. He also plays a major role in the recruiting process. Todd has always been an integral part of our program, Vittorio said. Throughout Todd s playing and coaching careers, he has always shown great work ethic and outstanding loyalty. His attention to every detail along with his progressive approach to development makes him one of the best coaches in the country Since coming to UD, Linklater s pitchers have made a habit of record-setting performances and success after their career as a Flyer is complete. A Dayton pitcher has been selected in three of the last four MLB Drafts and four of the last six overall. In 2008 the Flyer Pitching Staff finished with a 4.24 ERA which ranked 1st in the Atlantic 10 and 30th Nationally out of 286 Division I teams. This stellar staff also lead the A10 in walks given up per nine innings and ranked 27th nationally. Last year s staff featured two pitchers that have or will pitch in the prestigious Cape Cod Collegiate Summer League. Coach Link s list of protégés is highlighted by current Oakland A, Jerry Blevins. Blevins earned his way onto the A s roster just before the Major League Baseball All Star Game in 2008. He finished with 37.2 innings pitched with a 3.11 ERA in 36 appearances as he proved to be a crucial component to the A s bull pen. Blevins was drafted in the 17th round at the conclusion of his junior year in 2004. During his Junior year, Blevins was joined by Craig Stammen and Luke Trubee to form the most prolific pitching staff at UD to date. Stammen was drafted in the 12th round in 2005. He finished the 2008 season in AAA for the Columbus Clippers (Washington nationals) and is knocking on the MLB door. Trubee, a career 30 game winner during his time at UD, was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 33rd round at the conclusion of his senior year in 2006. Luke holds the records for single season and career strikeouts along with single season and career wins at the University of Dayton. In UD s school-record 36 win season of 2005, the Flyer pitching staff had the lowest team ERA in 34 years with a 4.41 mark. The right handed duo of Trubee and Stammen each recorded the top two UD single-season marks for both strikeouts, innings pitched, and complete games. The right-handers tied for the national lead in complete games with 9 a piece. Closer, Craig Rohren was named the Atlantic 10 Reliever of the Year in that same year with a 4-1 record to go along with 10 saves and an opponent s batting average of.214. In 2003, UD s pitching staff recorded 301 strikeouts-the third highest single season mark in UD s 100 year history, bested only by the 332 put up by 2002 squad and the 343 in 2006. During 02 Dayton reached the then record 32-win mark for a second consecutive season in large part to a pitching staff that featured four pitchers that would go on to play professionally after their tenure under Coach Link. The quartet was highlighted by seniors Mike Kerins, who collected eight wins, tying him for the career wins mark of 19, and Sam Fischer, who would later be selected in the 22nd round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros. Kerins joined Linklater pupils Mike Rolih (who formerly held the single-season win mark and was named to the A-10 s All-Conference squad in 2001) and Aaron Pahs (who was a second-team All-Conference performer in 2002) on the roster of the Frontier League s Richmond Roosters. In all, Linklater has coached seven players to professional careers. In the summer of 2003, beyond his responsibilities at Dayton, Linklater also served as the head coach of the Southern Ohio Copperheads of the Great Lakes Collegiate Wood Bat League. There, he led the Copperheads to a fifth-place finish in conference play and a return trip to the league tournament in just their second year of existence. Linklater began his collegiate playing career at Lincoln Trail Community College, pitching for the Statesmen from 1992-93. He then transferred to Lake Forest College where he played football and graduated with a degree in History in 1996. His coaching career began at Lake Forest High School where he served as pitching coach from 1996-97. In December of 2002, he finished his master s degree in Educational Leadership at UD after earning his bachelor s in Education at Indiana University in 1999. Linklater lives in Kettering with his wife Kerry and three daughters Caroline, Elizabeth and Madeline. :: FLYER BASEBALL :: :: THE FLYERS :: :: :: :: SEASON IN REVIEW :: :: HISTORY :: :: THE UNIVERSITY :: 2 0 0 9 : : B A S E B A L L 37
:: FLYER BASEBALL :: :: THE FLYERS :: :: :: :: SEASON IN REVIEW :: :: HISTORY :: :: THE UNIVERSITY :: 2 0 0 9 : : B A S E B A L L 38 The University of Dayton welcomed a baseball talent, Brian Harrison, as an assistant coach on July 5, 2007. Harrison joins the Flyer baseball program after serving as head coach at Urbana for the past three seasons. The addition of Harrison to the staff paid off immediate dividends during the 2008 Flyer campaign. Returning only three offensive starters from the 2007 team that won 21 games, the 2008 Flyer squad won 31 games and the offensive unit enjoyed tremendous increases in nearly every category including the big four: batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage and RBI. Harrison s influence was vital to the breakout year that senior outfielder Kevin Miller enjoyed. A lifetime.167 hitter in his previous three seasons, Miller finished his senior season with the seventh best batting average in the Atlantic 10 with a.362 average. Harrison also adds professional coaching experience with the Chillicothe Paints of the Frontier League in 2007. As a hitting coach with the Paints, Harrison helped the team to a second place finish in the East Division. He was also instrumental in guiding veteran shortstop Travis Garcia to a Frontier League MVP crown during the summer of 07. Harrison, a native of Cleveland, took over the Blue Knights and suffered through a 7-43 record in 2005, his first season as head coach of the NAIA program. After adding his first recruiting class, he turned around the program in just one season, resulting in a 37-21 record and a second place finish in the American Mideast Conference South Division. Urbana also finished fourth at the Region Ix Tournament in 2006 to wrap up one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in NAIA baseball history. I am excited about Coach Harrison joining our staff at The University of Dayton, UD Head Coach Tony Vittorio said. He brings a great amount of baseball knowledge to our program along with what I feel ASSIStAnt coach SEASon At ud... > SeCOnd ALMA MAtER... > defiance 03 ASSIStAnt coach SEASon At ud... > TwelfTH ALMA MAtER... > Old dominion 83 is outstanding passion for the game of baseball as well as recruiting great players. His track record at his last two stops speaks for itself. His work ethic and loyalty definitely was noticed. The 2006 Blue Knights broke 13 school records including a program record for wins in a season with 37. As a result, five Urbana players earned First Team All-Conference honors, another three were Second Team and two were Honorable Mention honorees. Harrison was named the 2006 AMC South Coach of the Year while guiding the 2006 AMC Player of the Year as well as three First Team All-Region picks and three NAIA All-America selections. Harrison commented, What I expect out of my players is what I expect out of myself: hard work, dedication and passion toward the game of baseball. Before coming to Urbana, Harrison turned the tables for the better at Cuyahoga Community College. He was the head baseball coach for two seasons prior to joining the Blue Knight program. In his first season at the helm, the Challengers came within one victory of the school record and had the first winning season in eight years at Tri-C. That team improved their win total from 16 wins in 2002 to 35 wins in 2003. The team set 15 school records along the way, had three players nominated 1st team all-conference and was district runners-up. More importantly, Coach Harrison s influence was vital in helping a record eight players receive a scholarship to a four-year university. In 2004, the Challengers success continued. Tri-C finished above.500 again and was crowned district champions. The team received their first invitation to the NJCAA Region xii tournament in seven seasons and closed it out with an impressive fourth place finish. Another three players were voted First Team All-Conference and Coach Harrison again placed eight players to a four-year university with a scholarship. Coach Harrison got his start with the Challengers as the hitting and defense coach during the 2001-2002 season. BRIAn harrison I enjoy teaching and molding people into better baseball players, said Harrison. It is my ultimate goal to build a solid program, and it is not just a habit of success on the field, but also off the field as well. Harrison completed his outstanding collegiate playing career at Shawnee State University, amassing more than 40 home runs and 200 RBI s. He earned All-America honors after leading the Bears to the NAIA College World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. Shawnee State finished 5th nationally as Harrison s concluded his season hitting.415 with 19 home runs, 21 doubles and 87 RBI s. During the summer of 1998, Harrison was selected to play for US National Team. With the honor of being selected for the team, Harrison helped lead the American squad to an 8-1 record in an international tournament in the Czech Republic. Team USA also conducted clinics and exhibition games in Germany and Austria. Coach Harrison s collegiate accolades afforded him the opportunity to continue his playing career in the professional ranks, where he played for the Evansville Otters of the professional Frontier Independent Baseball League. Coach Harrison completed just one professional season before an arm injury in his second season sidelined his career. Coach Harrison also served as an associate scout of the Cincinnati Reds baseball organization from 2004-2006. Coach Harrison and his wife Traci reside in Fairborn, Ohio with their newborn son Braden. terry BELL Terry Bell began as an assistant coach at the University of Dayton in 1996. He is primarily responsible for handling the coaching of catchers and also assists UD hitters. Coach Bell is the guy that s been there, done that at all levels of baseball, head coach Tony Vittorio says of his assistant. He brings an outstanding level of experience to us, especially with our catchers. A catcher himself, Bell graduated from Fairmont East High School and was drafted in the fifth round by the Oakland A s. He attended Old Dominion University instead and was an All-American while playing for the Monarchs. He also earned Sun Belt Conference MVP accolades in 1983. He participated in the 1982 World Games and the 1983 Pan American Games before being selected in the first round of the 1983 draft by the Seattle Mariners. Bell broke into the majors with the Kansas City Royals in 1986 and played the next season with the Atlanta Braves. He retired in 1989. Bell and his wife LeAnn reside in Dayton.