THE COVER The cover features EIU's four seniors Richie Derbak, Alex Gee, Curt Restko and Josh Wilson as well as other key returning players Zach Borenstein, Josh Mueller and Mike Recchia. The Panthers' trophies from winning the 2008 OVC Tournament and 2009 OVC regular-season championships are also pictured in the top corners. MEDIA GUIDE CREDITS The 2010 Eastern Illinois University Panther Baseball Media Guide was prepared by the EIU sports information office, supervised by Rich Moser. The guide was written, edited and designed by Ben Turner, assistant sports information director. Cover design and all photos of current players by Sandy King, EIU athletics photographer and graphic designer. PHOTO CREDITS Photos courtesy of Bev Cruse, EIU media services; Sandy King, Don McQuistion, Phil Glosser, Cary Frye, Patrick Clark, Sean Lyons, Skylar Meade and Ben Turner. 2010 PANTHER BASEBALL GENERAL INFORMATION Location... Charleston, IL (21,000) Year Founded / Enrollment... 1895 / 11,075 Nickname / School Colors... Panthers / Blue & Gray Affiliation... NCAA Division I Conference... Ohio Valley (14th Year) Stadium... Monier Field at Coaches Stadium (600) BASEBALL INFORMATION HEAD COACH Jim Schmitz...Wilmington College, 1979 Eastern Illinois Record... 411-388* / 16th Year Overall Record...575-549* / 23rd Year ASSISTANT COACHES Skylar Meade (3rd Year)... Louisville, 2007 James Conrad (1st Year)... Lafayette, 2007 Drew Locascio (1st Year)...Indiana-Southeast, 2009 2009 Overall Record... 31-19* 2009 OVC Record (Finish)...13-5^ (1st) Letter-winners Returning/Lost...15/13 Starters Returning/Lost...5/4 Pitchers Returning/Lost...6/6 Newcomers...17 *Records include five losses by forfeiture after the 2009 season ^Record includes one loss by forfeiture after the 2009 season EIU ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF University President... Dr. William Perry Director of Athletics...Barbara Burke Faculty Athletic Representative... Dr. Gail Richard Senior Associate AD (Operations)... Mark Bonnstetter Associate AD (Media & PR)...Rich Moser Associate AD (Athletic Support Services)...Tracy Scott Associate AD (Development)...John Smith Assistant AD (SWA)... Mary Wallace Assistant AD (Philanthropy)... Joel Moersch Assistant AD (Special Projects)... David Kidwell Director of Marketing & Corporate Sales...Ryan Gilmore Director of Academic Services...Cindy Tozer Business Manager... Kim Bagwell Ticket Manager...Cindy Bayes EIU SPORTS INFORMATION STAFF RICH MOSER Director of Athletic Media & PR rlmoser@eiu.edu (217) 581-7480 BART RETTBERG Assistant Sports Information Director bvrettberg@eiu.edu (217) 581-6408 BEN TURNER Assistant Sports Information Director & Baseball Contact bwturner@eiu.edu (217) 581-7020 (217) 549-7965 INDEX TO CONTENTS Quick Facts & School Info... 1 2010 EIU Roster... 2 Program History: Draft Picks & Postseason Results... 3 2009 Season by the Numbers... 4 2009 Season Recap... 5 Coaching Staff...6-9 Head Coach Jim Schmitz...6-7 Asst. Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Skylar Meade... 8 Assistant Coaches James Conrad & Drew Locascio.. 9 Panther Profiles...10-34 Returning Players...10-26 Newcomers...27-34 2009 Situational Stats... 35 Habitat For Humanity Projects...35-36 The OVC Challenge... 37 2009 Statistics & Results...38-39 Records...40-41 Season Top 10... 40 Career Top 10... 41 Annual Leaders...42-43 Hitting Division I era... 42 Pitching Divsion I era... 43 Program Honor Roll... 44 Year-by-Year Records & Coaching History... 45 2010 Opponent Info...46-47 OVC Standings History... 48 Yearly Game-by-Game Results...49-60 Series History vs. OVC Opponents... 60 SUPPORT STAFF Athletic Trainer... Aaron Haselhorst Strength & Conditioning...Eric Cash & Joe Niehaus Baseball Equipment Manager... Steve Calhoun Athletics Photographer... Sandy King Official Scorer & PA Annoucner... Ben Turner Sandy King Photographer & Graphic Design Artist slking@eiu.edu (217) 581-7761 CONTACT US BY PHONE (217 AREA CODE) Athletic Department...581-2319 Coach Schmitz...581-2522 Coach Meade...581-8510 Coach Conrad...581-7283 Baseball Fax...581-7192 Sports Info Office...581-6408 Sports Info Fax...581-6434 Baseball Pressbox...549-7965 Pressbox Alternate...581-8464 E-MAIL Jim Schmitz... jrschmitz@eiu.edu Skylar Meade... stmeade@eiu.edu James Conrad...jwconrad@eiu.edu Baseball Staff...baseball@eiu.edu BY MAIL Panther Baseball Office 1202 O'Brien Stadium 600 Lincoln Avenue Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL 61920 PANTHER ATHLETIC MISSION STATEMENT: The Department of Athletics is committed to providing a competitive, culturally diverse, gender-equitable sports program that operates within the rules and regulations of Eastern Illinois University, the Ohio Valley Conference, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The department strives to recruit academically sound student-athletes who have the desire and motivation to graduate and to become responsible citizens. Department of Athletics personnel and student-athletes shall act with honesty and sportsmanship at all times representing the honor and dignity of fair play and the universally recognized high standards associated with wholesome competitive sports. The intercollegiate athletics program is dedicated to a belief that athletic participation promotes the development of sportsmanship, good character, and a strong work ethic. The overall physical and mental well being of student-athletes is a top priority of the department of athletics. University spirit and community pride will be developed through a successful athletics program. 2010 Panther Baseball
2010 EIU Roster # Name Pos Ht Wt B/T Yr Hometown (High School/Previous College) 1 Shawn Ferguson OF 5-11 190 R/R Jr South Bend, IN (Mishawaka/Lincoln Trail CC) 2 Curt Restko OF 5-11 175 R/R Sr Tinley Park, IL (Andrew) 3 Ryan Dineen IF 6-2 180 L/R Fr Valparaiso, IN (Andrean) 4 Daniel Rowe IF 6-1 175 L/R Fr Crystal Lake, IL (Prairie Ridge) 6 Brian Hannig P 6-0 155 L/L Fr Peotone, IL (Peotone) 8 Rich Ruff C/P 6-2 180 R/R Jr Chicago, IL (Niles Notre Dame/Parkland CC) 9 Scott Foley P 6-2 185 R/R RS-Jr Tinley Park, IL (Andrew) 10 Cam Strang IF 5-10 170 R/R Jr Champaign, IL (Champaign Central) 11 Richie Derbak DH/IF 6-1 185 L/R Sr Lebanon, IL (Trenton-Wesclin) 12 Ethan Burau OF 6-0 195 R/R Fr Winfield, IL (West Chicago) 13 Ryan Voitik IF 5-10 180 R/R Jr Shorewood, IL (Minooka/Joliet CC) 14 Mike Hoekstra P 6-2 175 R/R RS-So Lansing, IL (Thornton Fractional South) 15 Nick Priessman OF 5-10 170 S/R Fr Cincinnati, OH (Colerain) 16 Josh Wilson P 6-1 200 R/R Sr Charleston, IL (Charleston/Lake Land CC) 17 George Kalousek IF 6-3 205 R/R RS-Fr Schaumburg, IL (Schaumburg) 18 Zach Borenstein IF 5-11 190 L/R So Buffalo Grove, IL (Buffalo Grove) 21 Dillon Roark P 6-1 180 R/R Jr Wilmington, IL (Wilmington/Joliet CC) 22 Matt Miller P 6-5 185 R/R Jr Charleston, IL (Charleston) 23 Brent McNeil P 6-2 190 R/R Jr Lafayette, IN (Jefferson/Lincoln Trail CC) 24 Ben Thoma OF/C 6-2 195 R/R So Columbia, IL (Columbia) 26 Brad Schweigert IF 5-10 170 R/R So Bourbonnais, IL (Bradley-Bourbonnais) 27 Josh Mueller P 6-4 190 R/R Jr Columbia, IL (Columbia) 28 Mike Recchia P 6-1 210 R/R Jr Palos Heights, IL (Shepherd) 29 Daniel Bracken OF 5-9 160 R/R RS-Fr Louisville, KY (Fern Creek) 30 David Ciaglia OF 6-3 200 R/R Jr Addison, IL (Addison Trail/Lake Land CC) 31 Troy Barton P 6-5 225 R/R Fr Libertyville, IL (Libertyville) 32 Kevin Austin IF/C 5-11 180 R/R Fr Chicago, IL (St. Rita) 33 Mike Martin P 6-3 205 R/R So Lombard, IL (Glenbard East) 34 Gerik Wallsten C 5-11 210 R/R So Ingleside, IL (Grant) 35 Alex Gee 1B/DH 6-3 225 R/R Sr Springfield, IL (Sacred Heart-Griffin) 37 Tom Kimbro P 6-2 215 L/L Jr Braceville, IL (Reed-Custer/Joliet CC) 38 Matt Kucharski OF 5-8 180 R/R Jr Oak Forest, IL (Oak Forest/Prairie State CC) www.eiupanthers.com Head Coach: #7 Jim Schmitz, 16th year (Wilmington College, 1979) Assistant Coach/Pitching: (#20) Skylar Meade, 3rd year (Louisville, 2007) Graduate Assistant Coach: (#5) James Conrad, 1st year (Lafayette, 2007) Volunteer Assistant Coach: (#36) Drew Locascio, 1st year (Indiana-Southeast, 2009) #2 Curt RESTKO: Ress-co #3 Ryan DINEEN: Din-een #10 Cam STRANG: Str-ang (Not Strange) #11 Richie DERBAK: Der-back #12 Ethan BURAU: Buure-oh (like FBI Bureau) #13 Ryan VOITIK: Voy-tick #14 Mike HOEKSTRA: Hoke-stra Pronunciation Guide #17 George KALOUSEK: Cal-ooh-sick #18 Zach BORENSTEIN: Bore-en-steen #21 Dillon ROARK: Roark #24 Ben THOMA: Toe-muh (Not Tom) #26 Brad SCHWEIGERT: Sch-y-gert #27 Josh MUELLER: Miller (Not Mule-er or Mull-er) #28 Mike RECCHIA: Reck-ee-uh O OVC Regular-Season Champions: 1998, 1999, 2001 & 2009 O #30 David CIAGLIA: Chall-yuh #35 Alex GEE: G #38 Matt KUCHARSKI: Koo-char-ski AC Skylar MEADE: Meed AC Drew LOCASCIO: Low-cosh-ee-oh
Draft Picks & PostseasON Retired Numbers Marty Pattin's #19...Retired in 2009 Academic All-America Selections Brian Morrell (1st Team, Pitcher)... 2009 Brian Morrell (2nd Team, Pitcher)... 2008 Erik Huber (1st Team, First Baseman)... 2007 All-Time Draft Picks YEAR PLAYER MLB TEAM 2009... Tyler Kehrer (Comp A, 48th overall)... Angels... Brett Nommensen (8th)... Rays... Jordan Kreke (13th)... Braves 2007... Erik Huber (12th)... Pirates 2004... Kyle Haines (31st)... Giants... Chris Uhle (31st)... Astros 2003... Jordan Pals (20th)... Cardinals... Bret Pignatiello (27th)... Expos 2001... Chris Martin (FA)...Yankees 2000... John Larson (21st)... Pirates 1999... Matt Gage (20th)...A's... John Larson (17th)... Twins 1998... Bobby Castelli (4th)... Expos 1997... Randy Eversgerd (12th)...Blue Jays 1996... Steve Dunlop... Arizona 1995... Willy Hilton (13th)...A's 1994... Joe Keusch (33rd)...Rangers 1993... Tad Smith (28th)...Mets 1992... Steve Lemke...A's 1990... Ryan Edwards... Reds 1989... Dan Hargis (5th)... Expos... Jim Sweeney... Cubs 1988... Stan Royer (1st, 16th overall)...a's... Shannon Coppell (15th)... Giants... Bill Taylor...A's 1987... Tim Bogar (8th)... Astros... Eric Hillman (16th)... Mets 1986... Kendall Snyder (20th)... Twins... Terry McDevitt (27th)... Padres... Tim Torricelli... Brewers 1985... Monty Aldrich (28th)... Braves... Mick Freed (31st)... Cardinals 1984... Brian Jones... Pirates 1983... Kevin Seitzer (11th)...Indians... Kevin Gordon (23rd)... Pirates... Bill Morton... Phillies 1982... Matt Cimo (14th)... Giants... Tom Detmer... Cardinals 1981... Tim Pyznarski (1st, 15th overall)...a's... Elliott Skorupa (35th)... Expos... Randy Weibel... Expos 1980... Marty Pulley...Blue Jays... Ken Westray (22nd)... Expos 1978... Pat Rooney (20th)...Expos... Rick Doss (19th)... Giants... Jeff Gossett (5th)...Mets... Tim West... Expos 1976... Bill Tucker (16th)... Braves 1973... Randy Trapp (24th)...Mets... Rod Maxwell... Angels 1972... Dave Diamond... White Sox 1971... Bill Taft... Giants... Phil Bracken... Giants 1968... John Burns (6th)... Braves 1967... Stu Cann...Mets 1965... Marty Pattin (7th)... Angels... Nick Balodimas...Mets... Val Bush (23rd)... Giants... Gene Vidoni (28th)... Giants 1963... Bart Zeller... Cardinals 1962... Ted Huddleston...Yankees... Frank Caliendo... White Sox 1961... Gary Wagner...Phillies 1956... Tom McDevitt... Cardinals 1955... Ken Ludwig... Pirates... Jack Kenny...A's 1953... John McDevitt... Pirates 1952... J. D. Anderson... Phillies Boldface = reached the majors Underline = active (If known, round selected listed in parenthesis) National Postseason Results 2008... 27-30 (Jim Schmitz) NCAA Division I Regional at Lincoln, Neb. (4th) EIU - 10...Nebraska - 13 EIU - 7...Oral Roberts - 8 (10 innings) 1999... 33-23 (Jim Schmitz) NCAA Division I Regional at Waco, Texas (3rd) EIU - 3...Baylor - 7 EIU - 13...Arizona - 4 EIU - 10...Minnesota - 15 1981... 36-14 (Tom McDevitt) NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional (1st) EIU - 4...Lewis - 14 EIU - 9...Central Missouri - 2 EIU - 7...Lewis - 5 EIU - 8...Nebraska-Omaha - 5 EIU - 14...Nebraska-Omaha - 7 NCAA Division II World Series (2nd) EIU - 3...Troy State - 12 EIU - 7...Le Moyne (N.Y.) - 5 EIU - 8...Troy State - 3 EIU - 3...Cal State-Northridge - 2 EIU - 0...Florida Southern - 9 1978... 27-19 (Tom McDevitt) NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional (1st) EIU - 7...Univ. of Indianapolis - 3 EIU - 8...Western Illinois - 9 EIU - 3...Wright State - 2 EIU - 9...Western Illinois - 6 EIU - 6...Western Illinois - 1 NCAA Division II World Series (5th) EIU - 6...Univ. of San Diego - 15 EIU - 21...Missouri State - 11 EIU - 9...Valdosta State - 11 1976... 36-11 (J.W. Sanders) NCAA Division II Mideast Regional (3rd) EIU - 1...Valparaiso - 3 EIU - 11...Evansville - 7 EIU - 3...Valparaiso - 2 EIU - 4...Wright State - 7 1975... 25-15 (J.W. Sanders) NCAA Division II Mideast Regional EIU - 6...Wright State - 7 EIU - 0...Marietta College (Ohio) - 7 1973...27-13 (Bill McCabe) NCAA College Division Mideast Regional (1st) EIU - 7...Univ. of Indianapolis - 6 EIU - 6...Cleveland State - 2 EIU - 9...SIU Edwardsville - 8 EIU - 7...Marietta College - 2 NCAA College Division World Series (3rd) EIU - 9...Florida Southern - 2 EIU - 2...California-Irvine - 6 EIU - 7...Missouri-St. Louis - 4 EIU - 2...Ithaca College - 3 1972...19-11 (Bill McCabe) NAIA District 20 (2nd) EIU - 2...Illinois Benedictine - 1 EIU - 5...Illinois Benedictine - 2 EIU - 5...Lewis - 3 EIU - 2...Lewis - 3 EIU - 4...Lewis - 6 1971...25-12 (Bill McCabe) NAIA District 20 EIU - 6...Illinois Benedictine - 2 EIU - 7...Lewis - 8 EIU - 11...Illinois Benedictine - 0 EIU - 1...Lewis - 7 1964...23-7 (Bill McCabe) NAIA World Series EIU - 1...Sam Houston State - 3 EIU - 9...Mayville (N.D.) - 10 Conference Tourney Results Ohio Valley Conference Era (1997-Present) 2009... Paducah, Ky. (#1 Seed) EIU - 5... #6 Jacksonville State - 11 EIU - 4... #2 Murray State - 5 2008... Paducah, Ky. (#4 Seed) EIU - 4... #5 Tennessee Tech - 1 EIU - 8... #2 Samford - 2 EIU - 10... #1 Jacksonville State - 6 EIU - 7... #6 Southeast Missouri State - 4 OVC Tournament Champs 2006... Paducah, Ky. (#3 Seed) EIU - 6... #6 Southeast Missouri State - 7 EIU - 2... #5 Austin Peay - 10 2004... Paducah, Ky. (#2 Seed) EIU - 18... #5 Southeast Missouri State - 9 EIU - 3... #3 Jacksonville State - 5 EIU - 1... #6 Samford - 6 2003... Paducah, Ky. (#6 Seed) EIU - 12... #1 Austin Peay - 11 EIU - 9... #3 Tennessee Tech - 2 EIU - 7... #5 Eastern Kentucky - 8 EIU - 4... #4 Murray State - 6 (13 innings) 2002... Paducah, Ky. (#2 Seed) EIU - 0... #5 Tennessee Tech - 8 EIU - 21... #6 Morehead State - 1 EIU - 6... #4 Murray State - 5 EIU - 10... #5 Tennessee Tech - 11 2001... Paducah, Ky. (#1 Seed) EIU - 8... #6 Eastern Kentucky - 14 EIU - 2... #2 Southeast Missouri State - 1 EIU - 6... #5 Austin Peay - 10 2000... Cape Girardeau, Mo. (#6 Seed) EIU - 3... #3 Middle Tennessee State - 4 1999... Cape Girardeau, Mo. (#1 Seed) EIU - 8... #4 Middle Tennesse State - 7 EIU - 9... #3 Eastern Kentucky - 4 EIU - 4... #4 Middle Tennessee State - 3 OVC Tournament Champs 1998... Cape Girardeau, Mo. (#1 Seed) EIU - 3... #5 Eastern Kentucky - 15 EIU - 10... #6 Morehead State - 8 EIU - 26... #5 Eastern Kentucky - 10 EIU - 11... #2 Southeast Missouri - 15 1997... Murfreesboro, Tenn. (#4 Seed) EIU - 5... #5 Southeast Missouri State - 6 Mid-Continent Conference Era (1984-96) 1996... Troy, Ala. (#1 West Seed) EIU - 1... #2E Pace (N.Y.) - 5 EIU - 5... #1E Troy State - 9 1995... Charleston, Ill. (#1 West Seed) EIU - 6... #2E Troy State - 13 EIU - 5... #1E Youngstown State - 4 1993...Chicago (#3 Seed) EIU - 11... #4 Cleveland State - 10 EIU - 4... #2 Illinois-Chicago - 5 EIU - 3... #1 Wright State - 5 1992...Chicago (#1 Gray Seed) EIU - 4... #3B Youngstown State - 3 EIU - 2... #2B Akron - 1 EIU - 4... #1B Wright State - 6 EIU - 5... #2B Akron - 9 1991...Chicago (#1 Gray Seed) EIU - 11... #3B Valparaiso - 7 EIU - 2... #1B Akron - 3 EIU - 7... #2B Illinois-Chicago - 11 1990...Chicago (#2 Gray Seed) EIU - 2... #1B Illinois-Chicago - 5 EIU - 8... #2B Akron - 1 EIU - 2... #1G Missouri State - 9 1989...Chicago (#2 Gray Seed) EIU - 2... #1B Cleveland State - 3 EIU - 12... #2B Illinois-Chicago - 6 EIU - 4... #1B Cleveland St. - 3 (10 innings) EIU - 6... #1G Missouri State - 4 EIU - 1... #1G Missouri State - 5 1988...Chicago (#2 Gray Seed) EIU - 1... #1B Valparaiso - 0 EIU - 3... #1G Missouri State - 4 EIU - 6... #2B Illinois-Chicago - 4 EIU - 15... #1G Missouri State - 5 EIU - 2... #1G Missouri State - 9 1987...Chicago (#1 Gray Seed) EIU - 6... #2B Cleveland State - 3 EIU - 11... #2G Missouri State - 22 EIU - 18... #2B Cleveland State - 11 EIU - 9... #2G Missouri State - 10 (13 innings) 1985... Charleston, Ill. (#1 Gray Seed) EIU - 2... #2B Cleveland State - 2 EIU - 2... #2G Missouri State - 4 EIU - 11... #1B Valparaiso - 2 EIU - 2... #2G Missouri State - 3 1984... Chicago (No Seeds) EIU - 5... Missouri State - 3 EIU - 9... Valparaiso - 1 EIU - 6... Northern Iowa - 8 EIU - 0... Missouri State - 1 2010 Panther Baseball
2009 by the numbers Eastern Illinois Baseball 2009 Ohio Valley Champions 1st EIU s National Ranking in Difference (+0.95) between Team Batting Average and Opponents Batting Average Against. 2nd EIU s National Ranking in Batting Average (.362). 2 Weeks the Panthers led the Nation in Batting Average (April 20 and May 11). 3 Panthers Selected in the 09 MLB First Year Player Draft (all in the First 13 Rounds). 4 Leadoff Home Runs to Begin a Game Hit by Brett Nommensen. 4 First Team All-OVC Selections. 5 Former Panthers Currently Playing in MLB Farm Systems. 5 Consecutive OVC Player of the Week Winners (March 16-April 13), a Conference Record. 6 Weeks EIU was Nationally Ranked in Collegiate Baseball (2) and PingBaseball.com (4) Polls. 8th EIU s National Ranking in Home Runs per game. 8 Sets of Back-to-Back Home Runs Hit by Panthers. 9th EIU s National Ranking in Scoring (9.2 rpg). 21 Victories by the Weekend Rotation of Josh Mueller (8), Mike Recchia (8) & Tyler Kehrer (5). 29th Richie Derbak s National Ranking in Batting Average (.417). 30 Runs EIU scored in the April 11 rubber game Win at UT Martin. 30 EIU s Highest RPI Ranking During the Season. 40 Jordan Kreke s RBI Total in the 18 OVC games, helping him win OVC Player of the Year honors. 48th The overall selection in the 09 MLB Draft that the L.A. Angels picked Tyler Kehrer. 61 EIU s Final RPI Ranking, the Highest in the OVC & State of Illinois. 90 Tyler Kehrer s League-Leading Strikeout Total. 92 EIU s Home Run Total in its 50 games, the most in the OVC & 16th Best in the Nation. 111 EIU s Doubles Total in its 50 games. +145 The Difference in Strikeouts recorded by EIU Pitchers and Opposing Pitchers vs EIU Batters..267 EIU Pitchers Batting Avg. Against, Tops in the OVC. www.eiupanthers.com 13 EIU s Winning Streak from March 21-April 10, the Fifth Longest in the Country in 2009. 14th Richie Derbak s National Ranking in Toughest to Strikeout, fanning only 10 times in 203 Plate Appearances. O OVC Regular-Season Champions: 1998, 1999, 2001 & 2009 O.362 EIU Batting Average, Tops in the OVC..436 EIU On-Base Percentage, Tops in the OVC..590 EIU Slugging Percentage, Tops in the OVC & Third Best in the Nation.
2009 Season recap A regular-season Ohio Valley Conference championship and the program s first-ever national ranking from Collegiate Baseball highlighted Eastern Illinois' memorable 2009 campaign. The Panthers claimed their fourth OVC regular-season title and first since 2001. It was also the program's second OVC trophy in the last two seasons after also capturing the 2008 Tournament title. From March 21 to April 10, EIU posted a 13-game winning streak. It was the longest of the program s Division I era (1982-present) and the fifth longest streak in the country in 2009. After it was snapped in game two of a doubleheader at UT Martin, the Panthers hit nine home runs and scored 30 runs in the rubber game of the series the following day. However, that weekend proved costly. Brett Nommensen suffered a broken hamate bone in his right wrist in game one of the April 10 doubleheader, an injury that sidelined him until the OVC Tournament. At the time of the injury, Nommensen was leading the nation in on-base and slugging percentage while also ranking second in the country in batting average; Baseball America had named him a Midseason All-American the same day the injury occurred. EIU's 2009 All-OVC Honorees (L-R): Mike Recchia, Jordan Tokarz, JorNommensen reached base safely five times in his seven plate appear- dan Kreke, Richie Derbak and Zach Borenstein. ances at the OVC Tournament to finish the year with an even higher average and OBP (.652) than he had compiled before the injury. His.525 batting average represented a new EIU single-season record. He also tied the program s all-time runs scored mark. A number of players stepped up in Nommensen s absence as EIU completed the journey to the conference title. Jordan Kreke became the third Panther to win OVC Player of the Year honors after recording a.507 average, nine home runs and 40 RBIs in the 18 conference games. He was also named a Louisville Slugger Third Team All-American. Jordan Tokarz, Richie Derbak and Mike Recchia joined Kreke as First Team All-OVC selections. Tyler Kehrer struck out 10-plus batters on three occasions on his way to finishing the season with 90 K s, the second-highest single-season total in program history. The lefthander struck out 14 in his complete game one-hitter against SIU Edwardsville on April 26. Kreke and Nommensen teamed up to win five straight OVC Player of the Week awards from March 16 to April 13, establishing a new conference record for consecutive POWs. Kreke was the first player in league history to be a three-time Player of the Week. Nommensen was also named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association s National Hitter of the Week on April 7. Recchia and Kehrer, meanwhile, each earned OVC Pitcher of the Week honors once. The Panthers enjoyed one of the finest offensive campaigns in program history, establishing a new single-season hits record (644). Eastern s 92 home runs and the.362 team batting average both ranked second in program history, with the.362 clip also being the highest of the OVC era. The Panthers led the nation in batting average the weeks of April 20 and May 11 and were tops in the league in average, home runs and on-base percentage for much of the season. Eastern won the four-team Bulls Baseball Classic in Tampa, Fla., the weekend of March 13-15, defeating South Florida, Bethune-Cookman and Oklahoma in three consecutive days. The Panthers eventually entered the Collegiate Baseball Top 30 national poll on April 6 and retained their ranking for another week. Ping!Baseball.com also ranked EIU among the Top 30 nationally from April 27 to May 18. On May 2 in Cape Girardeau, Mo., Eastern rallied back from a pair of 4-0 deficits to sweep a big OVC doubleheader against rival Southeast Missouri State. The two teams entered the weekend series onetwo in the standings, and it was those two victories that essentially locked up the regular-season league title. However, EIU would not play again for nine days. The series finale at SEMO was rained out and the entire series at Austin Peay the following weekend was canceled due to over three feet of standing water in the outfield. Eastern was also idle the week of May 4-8 due to final exams on campus. 2010 P anther B aseball Tyler Kehrer and Jordan Kreke, with EIU Athletics Director Babarba Burke, were honored during an EIU basketball game in February for being selected in the 2009 MLB Draft. The 2010 team cheers on their former teammates from the Lantz balcony. 2009 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL RECAP The 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft proved to be one of the best in Eastern Illinois history. Tyler Kehrer, Brett Nommensen and Jordan Kreke were each selected in the first 13 rounds, marking the first time since 1988 that three Panthers were picked in the same draft. Kehrer was selected 48th overall in Compensation Round A by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, EIU's highest draftee since Stan Royer was picked in the first round by the Oakland Athletics in 1988. On day two of the draft, Nommensen went in the eighth round to the Tampa Bay Rays and Kreke was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 13th round. For the second time in the last three years, the first OVC player selected in the MLB Draft was a Panther. Additionally, Kehrer was the first collegiate player from an Illinois university selected in 2009. Three of the first five players picked from Illinois universities in 2009 were Panthers. Kehrer, Nommensen and Kreke each signed with their respective organizations within a week and were assigned to Rookie League affiliates, joining Kyle Haines and Erik Huber as former Panthers currently playing in the Minor Leagues. Huber (Carolina League with Lynchburg), Kehrer (Pioneer League with Orem) and Kreke (Appalachian League with Danville) were all part of Minor League championship teams in the summer of 2009. Meanwhile, alumni and former Major Leaguers Tim Bogar and Kevin Seitzer continued to serve as coaches with MLB franchises. Bogar is the first base coach with the Boston Red Sox and Seitzer is the hitting coach with the Kansas City Royals. Another former Panther, Andy Haines, was promoted in the Florida Marlins farm system. He is now the manager of the Greensboro Gophers of the Class-A South Atlantic League.
www.eiupanthers.com HEAD COACH JIM SCHMITz Early in the 2006 season, Jim Schmitz won his 300th game at Eastern Illinois and in the process became the program's all-time wins leader. Overall Schmitz has registered 575 career wins in 22 years as a head coach at Eastern (1995-present), Cincinnati (1987-90) and Wilmington (1984-86). Under Schmitz, EIU has won four Ohio Valley Conference regular-season titles, two OVC Tournament titles, posted a pair of runner-up finishes, and captured two West Division championships when the Panthers were a member of the Mid-Continent Conference. A regular-season OVC championship and the program s first-ever national ranking from Collegiate Baseball highlighted the memorable 2009 campaign. From March 21 to April 10, 2009, EIU posted a 13- game winning streak. It was the longest of the program s Division I era and the fifth longest streak in the country in 2009. After it was snapped in game two of a doubleheader at UT Martin, the Panthers hit nine home runs and scored 30 runs in the rubber game of the series the following day. During the 13-game win streak, Schmitz recorded his 400th win as the leader of the program on April 5. The Panthers, who lost back-to-back games only twice in 2009, enjoyed one of the finest offensive campaigns in program history, establishing a new single-season hits record (644). Eastern s 92 home runs and the.362 team batting average both ranked second in program history, with the.362 clip also being the highest of the OVC era. The Panthers led the nation in batting average the weeks of April 20 and May 11 and were tops in the league in average, home runs and on-base percentage for much of the season. Eastern won the four-team Bulls Baseball Classic in Tampa, Fla., the weekend of March 13-15, defeating South Florida, Bethune-Cookman and Oklahoma in three consecutive days. The Panthers eventually entered the Collegiate Baseball Top 30 national poll on April 6 and retained their ranking for another week. Ping!Baseball. com also ranked EIU among the Top 30 nationally from April 27 to May 18. Brett Nommensen was leading the nation in on-base and slugging percentage in batting average when he suffered a broken hamate bone in his right wrist April 10, an injury that sidelined him until the OVC Tournament. A number of players stepped up in Nommensen s absence as EIU completed the journey to the conference title. Jordan Kreke became the third Panther to win OVC Player of the Year honors after recording a.507 average, nine home runs and 40 RBIs in the 18 conference games. He was also named a Louisville Slugger Third Team All-American. Jordan Tokarz, Richie Derbak and Mike Recchia joined Kreke as First Team All-OVC selections. Three Panthers were selected in the first 13 rounds of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the most EIU selections in a single draft since 1988. Tyler Kehrer went 48th overall to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Compensation Round A, the highest Panther picked since 1988. On day two of the draft, Brett Nommensen went in the eighth round to the Tampa Bay Rays and Jordan Kreke was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 13th round. All three players signed with their organizations and began their pro careers in Rookie Leagues. Erik Huber (Carolina League with Lynchburg), Kehrer (Pioneer League with Orem) and Kreke (Appalachian League with Danville) were all part of Minor League championship teams in the summer of 2009. Four wins in four days versus four different teams, a memorable postseason run that allowed EIU to capture the OVC Tournament title and qualify for the NCAA Tournament, highlighted the Panthers 2008 campaign. Eastern was sent to the Lincoln, Neb., Regional of the NCAA Tournament where the team scored a combined 17 runs in its two losses. The Panthers led the OVC in team ERA nearly the entire season. The pitching performed well in Paducah, but it was the monster weeks for Nommensen and Tokarz at the top of the order that allowed EIU to hold the lead for 28 of the 36 tournament innings. Both players hit safely in all six postseason games. Tokarz, one of 17 new players on the roster when the season began, was named the OVC Tournament MVP and collected multiple hits in each of EIU s six postseason games. Besides team ERA, Eastern s pitching staff also led the OVC in batting average against. The Panthers enjoyed a 157-115 advantage in extrabase hits. In 2007, Schmitz graduated a 12-player senior class that rewrote the EIU record book. Huber batted better than.400 for the second year in a row and was the first OVC player selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft when the Pittsburgh Pirates picked him in the 12th round. Ryan Campbell established new career marks for hits and doubles. Pitcher Chris Vaculik, along with breaking the program saves record, finished his career as just the third player in program history with 20 wins and 200 strikeouts. Schmitz also won his 500th game as a collegiate head coach on March 24, 2007. Though he downplayed the milestone victory, his players and family were still very excited for him and honored to be part of the historic win. O OVC Regular-Season Champions: 1998, 1999, 2001 & 2009 O EDUCATION Wilmington College...Bachelor of Arts, 1979 Ohio State University...M.S. in Sports Administration, 1986 COACHING AWARDS AND HONORS 2001... OVC Coach of the Year OVC Champions (19-1) 1999... OVC Coach of the Year NCAA Regionals (Waco, TX) OVC Tournament Champions OVC Champions 1998... OVC Coach of the Year OVC Champions YEAR-BY-YEAR COACHING RESULTS (NCAA DIVISION I) Year School Records conference Finish 2009.. Eastern Illinois..31-19* / 13-5^... Ohio Valley / 1st 2008.. Eastern Illinois.. 27-30 / 13-13... Ohio Valley / 4th 2007.. Eastern Illinois.. 23-28 / 12-14... Ohio Valley / 7th 2006.. Eastern Illinois.. 31-24 / 17-10...Ohio Valley / 3rd 2005.. Eastern Illinois.. 17-39 / 14-13...Ohio Valley / T-6th 2004.. Eastern Illinois... 26-30 / 17-9... Ohio Valley / 2nd 2003.. Eastern Illinois... 26-31 / 8-12... Ohio Valley / 6th 2002.. Eastern Illinois... 25-26 / 12-8... Ohio Valley / 2nd 2001.. Eastern Illinois... 35-20 / 19-1...Ohio Valley / 1st 2000.. Eastern Illinois.. 22-33 / 10-13... Ohio Valley / 6th 1999.. Eastern Illinois... 33-23 / 17-7...Ohio Valley / 1st 1998.. Eastern Illinois... 37-16 / 17-6...Ohio Valley / 1st 1997.. Eastern Illinois.. 25-28 / 13-11... Ohio Valley / 4th 1996.. Eastern Illinois... 25-22 / 15-3... Mid-Continent / 1st (West) 1995.. Eastern Illinois... 28-19 / 15-5... Mid-Continent / 1st (West) 15 Years...411-388* (.514)...182-122^ (.599) OVC 1990.. Cincinnati... 23-29 / 5-10...Metro 1989.. Cincinnati... 21-30 / 3-14...Metro 1988.. Cincinnati... 28-21 / 7-10...Metro 1987.. Cincinnati... 31-21 / 5-8...Metro 4 Years 103-101 (.505) YEAR-BY-YEAR COACHING RESULTS (NCAA DIVISION III) 1986.. Wilmington (OH)... 26-19 1985.. Wilmington (OH)... 22-20 1984.. Wilmington (OH)... 13-21 3 Years... 61-60 (.504) OVERALL (22 Years)...575-549* (.512) *Records includes five losses by forfeiture after the 2009 season ^Records include one OVC loss by forfeiture after the 2009 season
HEAD COACH JIM SCHMITz MLB Draft. Schmitz believes in giving back to the community, participating in a service program every fall and spring. Each fall the team assists with local Habitat for Humanity projects that benefit the underprivileged. Schmitz and Eastern have participated with Lake Land College s Friends for a Day program. Service projects aren t strictly kept to the Charleston-Mattoon area. A few years ago during a spring break trip in New Orleans, half the team visited a Children s Hospital while the other half worked at an AIDS clinic. Prior to EIU, Schmitz was an assistant coach under former Chicago Cub Don Kessinger at the University of Mississippi for four years. As recruiting coordinator, Schmitz s 1993 recruiting class ranked No. 17 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball. Schmitz was head coach from 1987-90 at Cincinnati, compiling a 103-101 record. The 87 team set a school record with 31 wins. Twice Cincinnati reached the finals of the Metro Conference Tournament. During Schmitz s tenure, Cincinnati recorded consecutive winning seasons for the first time since entering the Metro Conference. Nine of Schmitz s players signed professional contracts. He was the head coach at Wilmington (Ohio) College from 1984-86, which enjoyed its first winning season in eight years while Schmitz was head coach. Wilmington also had its first 20-win season and reached the NAIA District 22 playoffs for the first time ever in 1986. Schmitz earned his undergraduate degree from Wilmington in 1979 and a master s in sports administration from Ohio State University in 1986. He and his wife Kathy have three daughters, Casey, Abigail and Hannah. Above: Schmitz and his coaching staff celebrates after the final out of the 2008 OVC Tournament title game was recorded. Below: Schmitz and assistant coach Skylar Meade with former Panther Tyler Kehrer after he signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. 2010 P anther B aseball Even though he is a three-time OVC Coach of the Year recipient, his best coaching job may have been in the spring of 2006. Eastern finished third in the OVC despite the team's uncharacteristically low power numbers and a pitching staff that was far from overpowering. Instead it was what Schmitz calls the "base-hit approach" as well as the conference's top defense and bullpen that propelled EIU into the league's first division. The Panthers led the OVC in fielding percentage (.968), double plays turned (61) and saves (15), while also finishing second in batting average (.304). Eastern hitters struck out the fewest number of times in the conference as well. Schmitz's EIU teams are no strangers to success. Despite being the northern-most school in the OVC, the Panthers have finished below.500 just three times since joining the league in 1997. The 1999 team won the OVC Tournament title and, for the first time in program history, qualified for an NCAA Division I Regional, placing third at the Waco, Texas, Regional. The Panthers played nationally-ranked Baylor and Minnesota close and knocked No. 21 Arizona out of the tournament. Also, for the first time ever, Eastern posted consecutive 30-win seasons in 1998 and 1999. The Panthers know how to score runs and play defense. In 2003, EIU finished 13th nationally in home runs per game (1.32) with an OVC-leading 75 overall. The 1.05 double plays per game ranked 18th in 2004. Eight of the most prolific home run hitting teams in program history have been coached by Schmitz. The 1998 squad, which slugged a program-record 120, still holds the NCAA all-time record for hitting five consecutive home runs. On two occasions since, Eastern has hit four in a row. The Panthers tied another national record in 2002, hitting two grand slams in the same inning. Keith Laski, Kyle Haines and Tokarz have each homered twice in the same frame during Schmitz's tenure. Arriving on campus just prior to the start of school in 1995, Schmitz inherited a team with no returning starting pitchers and captured the Mid-Continent Conference West Division title. Eastern s record was 2819 overall, 15-5 in the league. Although the Panthers were eliminated in the postseason tournament, he coached EIU to its best winning percentage (.596) in six seasons. Schmitz guided the Panthers to yet another West Division title in 1996 with a record of 25-22, 15-3 in the division. He coached the Panthers to their first OVC regular season title in 1998 while setting records for wins, hits, runs and home runs. Eastern finished ranked nationally in home runs per game, winning percentage and batting average. In 1999, EIU won its second straight regular-season crown and firstever tournament championship, despite starting the year 0-11. Eastern knocked off Middle Tennessee, 8-7, in the first round and Eastern Kentucky, 9-4, in the semifinals before rallying for a 4-3 win over Middle Tennessee in the title game. He earned Coach of the Year honors during both championship seasons. During the 2001 campaign, EIU set league records that might not be challenged for years to come. New benchmarks were established for consecutive OVC wins (17) and best start (17-0) en route to finishing 19-1. That regular-season title and Schmitz s Coach of the Year award were both the third in a four-year span. Since Schmitz took over at Eastern, 11 players have been selected in the Major League Baseball draft. Prior to Kehrer going 48th overall in 2009, pitcher Bobby Castelli had been the highest pick of the group, chosen in the 1998 fourth round. In 1999, pitchers Matt Gage and John Larson were drafted. Larson came back for his senior year and was drafted again in 2000. In 2004, infielders Chris Uhle and Haines went in the draft. To date, 19 of Schmitz s players have been chosen in the
ASSISTANT COACH Skylar meade Skylar Meade #20 Assistant Coach/Pitching Recruiting Coordinator Third Year Louisvlle ( 07) www.eiu panthers. com After helping lead the University of Louisville to an NCAA Super Regional championship and the program s first berth in the College World Series as a senior in 2007, Skylar Meade made an immediate impact as the pitching coach on Jim Schmitz s staff. Now in his third year with the program, Meade took over as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator in the fall of 2009. Meade helped EIU win its fourth Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title in 2009. In June s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, pitcher Tyler Kehrer a fellow lefthander was selected 48th overall by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He was the highest Panther drafted since 1988. The work of EIU s weekend rotation was the pitching highlight of the 2009 campaign. Josh Mueller, Mike Recchia and Kehrer combined for 21 victories and 216 strikeouts in 217 innings pitched. Recchia was a First Team All-OVC selection, EIU s first starting pitcher to earn that award since 1999. He was named to the initial College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year watch list. Mueller has been tabbed the top college prospect in the state of Illinois after pitching in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2009. Both returning righthanders were ABCA All-Mideast Region selections. Eastern led the OVC in batting average against and strikeouts per nine innings in 2009; Panther pitchers also surrendered the fewest home runs in the league. En route to winning the 2008 OVC Tournament title, the Panthers led the league in team ERA nearly the entire season. Eastern s pitching staff was tops in the OVC in batting average against (.258) and EIU enjoyed a 157-115 advantage in extra-base hits as well. Freshman Josh Mueller led the staff with six wins and 79 strikeouts, the latter total representing the third most by an EIU pitcher in a single season. He was selected to the OVC All-Freshman Team and set the stage for the OVC Tournament title run with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball in the tourney opener. Meade battled through rotator cuff and labrum injuries from March of 2005 to February of 2007, but still made the most of his senior season. Despite starting just seven games, the left-hander posted nine wins and limited opposing batters to a.247 average. He pitched in four of the Cardinals 11 NCAA Tournament games, earning the win in the game-three blowout of Oklahoma State in the Super Regionals that sent U of L to the College World Series. He worked an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief in the OSU win. He also tossed 2 1/3 innings of shutout relief in Louisville s CWS victory against Mississippi State. The Cardinals run to Omaha was an impressive feat. Louisville had to beat Missouri twice on consecutive days in Columbia to win its regional. Meade started the second of those two games against Mizzou despite pitching three innings of relief two days earlier. He worked a scoreless first inning and the offense took care of things from there, scoring eight times in the bottom half of the frame en route to a 16-6 victory. Louisville also eliminated perennial power Miami during a successful stay in Columbia. Meade finished his career with a 16-7 record, including a 5-1 mark in conference action. A Louisville native, Meade was a member of the program during a time of great transition. The Cardinals moved into a new stadium and conference during his career (2003-07). Louisville went from one of the northern-most teams in Conference USA to one of the southern-most squads in the Big East when it changed leagues prior to the 2005-06 school year. Meade says the move from Old Cardinal Stadium (the long-time home of AAA affiliates) to the state-of-the-art Jim Patterson Stadium was just as important. Meade s collegiate career featured some transitions as well. He was recruited as a first baseman and outfielder, who could also pitch. He says by the beginning of his junior year, however, he had become strictly a pitcher. Six members of the 2007 Louisville senior class were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft and another signed a free-agent contract. Meade says he had a couple offers from independent league teams, but his shoulder would not allow him to continue his career on a professional level. Instead, Meade knew it was time to begin pursuing his career ambition to be a college head coach. The current EIU pitching staff certainly doesn t have to search long for a guy who less than three years ago was facing some of the most stacked lineups in the country on a national stage. Meade was recommended to Schmitz by Louisville head coach Dan McDonnell, who led the Cardinals to the CWS in his first year. Schmitz and McDonnell are both former assistant coaches at the University of Mississippi, although their tenures in Oxford did not overlap. Meade earned a bachelor s degree in sports administration from Louisville and completed an EIU master s degree in kinesiology and sports studies (sports management) in the summer of 2009. Above: Meade confers with Josh Mueller and Richie Derbak during a mound meeting in EIU's 2008 NCAA Tournament game at Nebraska. Below: Meade watches Matt Miller warm-up prior to the 2008 OVC Tournament title game. O OVC Regular-Season Champions: 1998, 1999, 2001 & 2009 O
Coaching staff James Conrad Graduate Assistant Coach First Year Lafayette ( 07) Drew #20 #20 Locasio Volunteer Assistant Coach First Year Indiana-Southeast ( 09) James Conrad, a three-time All- Patriot League outfielder at Lafayette, is in his first season as a graduate assistant coach on Jim Schmitz s staff. Conrad is in charge of the Panthers defensive alignments and works with the catchers. He also coaches baserunning and bunting, and assists with hitting instruction. The Columbia, Md., native joined EIU after serving as a volunteer assistant coach at VMI during the 2008-09 school year. He also served as the 2009 manager of the Covington Lumberjacks of the Valley Baseball League, a summer collegiate wood bat league based in Virginia. He led Covington to an appearance in the league s championship series. Conrad was a three-year starting center fielder and leadoff hitter at Lafayette. He batted over.300 in each of his three seasons as a starter, finishing his career with a.356 average. He stole 49 bases as a senior in 2007, ranking third nationally. Lafayette qualified for the Patriot League championship series in three of his four years, winning the conference title in 2007. Conrad went 7-for-9 at the 2007 NCAA Regional in Charlottesville, Va., earning All-Regional Team honors. He played for the Traverse City (Mich.) Beach Bums of the Frontier League in 2008. James comes with a great recommendation from the VMI staff, Schmitz said. We needed a coach who can handle the daily organizational duties as well as coach and recruit. He has already demonstrated that he is a go-getter and the players really like him. We are fortunate to get such a quality person. Conrad was named the Patriot League Scholar as a senior and graduated with a bachelor s degree in mathematics. He is currently pursing a master s degree in kinesiology and sports studies at EIU. After graduating from Lafayette, Conrad interned for Baseball Info Solutions in Bethlehem, Penn. That opportunity developed after he had corresponded with the Bill James-run statistical company for a class project as a senior. He contributed to Baseball Info Solution publications by tracking pitch charts, defensive analysis and fielding range. Conrad has also served an assistant coach with his alma mater, Atholton High School, and as an instructor at the Baseball Factory, which is based in his hometown. Drew Locascio, a two-time All- Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference shortstop at Indiana University Southeast, is in his first year as a volunteer assistant on Jim Schmitz s staff. Locascio serves as the first base coach and pitches batting practice. He also assists with baserunning, bunting and defensive instruction. The Naperville, Ill., native began his college experience at Southern Illinois before transferring to Indiana-Southeast in the spring of 2007 to resume his baseball career. He made the team as a walk-on and won the starting shortstop job a year later. He helped IUS win back-to-back KIAC regular-season titles and the 2008 conference tournament. He went 5-for-5 in a 2008 NAIA Regional win against Brescia. Locascio finished his career with a.365 batting average. As a senior, he was selected as the 2009 IU-Southeast Male of the Year after batting.391 with 44 RBIs and 56 runs scored, leading the team in numerous offensive categories. Along with serving as a team captain, he also participated in an internship that focused on coaching responsibilities. He graduated with a bachelor s degree in general studies (minor in recreation) and plans to begin pursing a master s degree in education at EIU. Locascio currently works part-time at the Heller, Holmes & Associates law firm in Mattoon before traveling to campus to help out in the baseball office and assist with afternoon practices. He also serves as a substitute teacher in area schools. His father, Jim, played shortstop and third base at Southern Illinois and was a member of SIU s 1974 team that reached the College World Series. His sister Lori played volleyball at UNC Greensboro and his brother Derek is currently a sophomore baseball player at John A. Logan College. 2010 Panther Baseball