GAMES 10, 11 & 12
ASU INDIANS at LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE RAGIN' CAJUNS
March 7, 8 & 9, 2008
M.L. “Tigue” Moore, Jr. Field (3,755) - Lafayette, Louisiana
Radio: KJCF 103.9 Earl FM & ASUIndians.com
Live Stats on ASUIndians.com (Broadcast & Media Link)
LEADING OFF: The Arkansas State Indians travel to Lafayette, La., to open Sun Belt Conference play against the Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette. Every ASU Indian baseball game can be heard live on 103.9 Earl FM in Northeast Arkansas. The live audio broadcast can also be accessed through the StateZone portion of the Arkansas State athletics website, ASUIndians.com. Live Stats may also be accessed by logging on to ASUIndians.com and clicking on the “Broadcast & Media” link on the left sidebar.
THE TEAMS: Arkansas State enters the weekend series at 5-4 on the season. The Indians snapped a three-game losing streak Wednesday night, earning one of the biggest victories in program history when the Tribe traveled to Oxford, Miss. and knocked off the second-ranked Ole Miss Rebels 7-5. The Ragin' Cajuns will take the field Friday at 4-6 on the year. Louisiana-Lafayette opened the season with wins over Army and Texas Tech, then dropped five straight. Since then, ULL has won two of its last three, including a 2-0 victory over #29 Southern Miss. Louisiana-Lafayette was a unanimous #1 pick in the preseason Sun Belt Conference coaches' poll, garnering all 11 first-place votes.
THE SERIES: The Tribe has played the Cajuns 87 times over the years, with ULL holding a 63-24 advantage in the series. When the two teams met in Lafayette last season, the Ragin' Cajuns took two of three in the series. ULL won the Friday night matchup 6-5 and took the Saturday game 11-7. Arkansas State rebounded to win the Sunday contest 4-2, snapping an eight-game win streak in the series. The 2008 matchup is the third consecutive year for the series to have been played in Lafayette.
ON THE MOUND FOR THE TRIBE: Junior right-hander Chase Ware is scheduled to start on the mound when the series gets underway Friday night. Ware has two appearances on the year, with two starts, posting a 1-0 record while working 12.0 total innings. He has given up four runs on 11 hits, with 13 strikeouts and two walks. Left-hander Joel Boeschen will get the start for the Tribe in Saturday's game. The Indian senior stands at 1-1 on the year and has given up six earned runs on nine hits, with eight strikeouts and four walks. Junior Jacob Maggard will get the call for the Tribe Sunday afternoon. At 1-0 on the season, Maggard has yet to give up an earned run in 11.2 innings of work. He has started and appeared in two games, giving up seven hits with eight strikeouts and a pair of walks.
KESSINGER VS. RANKED TEAMS: Following the March 5 win over #2 Ole Miss, the Indians have now knocked off seven ranked teams in five-plus seasons under Head Coach Keith Kessinger. In 2003, Kessinger's first season at ASU, the Indians defeated #25 South Alabama twice. In 2004, the Indians defeated #10 Ole Miss 10-7, and later in the season after the Rebels had risen to #6 in the polls, ASU handed Ole Miss a second loss, posting a 7-6 win over Kessinger's alma-mater. In 2005, the Tribe defeated ULL 6-2 and Ole Miss fell victim to ASU again in 2006 when the Indians won 14-9. With this year's win over Ole Miss, the Indians have now defeated the highest ranked team they have played with Keith Kessinger as head coach.
MAGGARD BOUNCES BACK: Less than a year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, ASU right-hander Jacob Maggard has bounced back strong in the early going of the 2008 season. Maggard has yet to give up an earned run in 11.2 innings pitched. The junior from Monticello, Ark., has notched 8 strikeouts against seven hits. He has given up just one multi-base hit this season, that being a Michigan State triple in the second inning, but the hit did not result in an earned run.
BREAKOUT GAME FOR HUDGINS: After batting just .188 in the first eight games this season, senior Ryan Hudgins, a 2007 second team All-Sun Belt selection, came up big for the Tribe in its 7-5 win over #2 Ole Miss March 5. Hudgins went 3-for-5 at the plate against the Rebels, with two RBI's, a run scored and two stolen bases.
LAMBERT EARNS FIRST SAVE: After setting the record for appearances and relief appearances in a single season a year ago, junior right-hander Nick Lambert earned his first career save against Ole Miss March 5. Lambert pitched the final inning against the Rebels, did not allow a baserunner, and struck out one batter. Lambert made 32 relief appearances for the Indians in 2007.
GOING YARD: A pair of newcomers lead the Indians in home runs on the season. Junior transfer Derrick Coleman and true freshman Drew Benes have each launched two out of the park during the 2008 season. Both players hit home runs against Seton Hall - ASU's second game of the season - while Coleman hit his second against Navy and Benes hit his second against Williams Baptist.
MORE RENOVATIONS AT TOMLINSON STADIUM: As part of an ongoing effort to improve the game-day experience for Indian baseball fans, 206 field-level seats have been added at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field. Included in the expansion is the addition of 26 handicap-accessible seats, with ramps for wheelchair access.
The addition of the field-level seats at Tomlinson Stadium will bring fans over 20 feet closer to home plate than in the past. Front-row seating at the venue is now just 37 feet behind home plate. The chair-back seats are 21 inches wide with 41 inches between rows, providing ample legroom for fans.
In addition to the new seating area, party boxes have been added to the stadium to accommodate groups or corporate events, and plans are in place for future expansion that will include private suites.
Fans throughout the stadium also have an improved view of the game with the addition of a new Dyneema backstop net. Dyneema backstop netting is used in most Major League parks throughout the nation, and gives the most unobstructed view while providing maximum protection.
The renovation marks the second major seating area improvement at Tomlinson Stadium in as many years. Last year, the Barton's Baseball Deck was added. The deck, located down the right field line, features picnic tables and barbeque grills for use by fans before and during ASU's home games.
Other recent improvements at the stadium include the addition of brick columns under the grandstand and the replacement of the infield turf following last season.
SEASON OUTLOOK: As the 2008 season gets underway, big things appear to be on the horizon for ASU Baseball. Experience returns all over the field as six position starters are back from the 2007 team. Add to that the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference, a class that ranked in the top 45 nationally, and the potential for success is very high.
Even though six starters return, the wealth of talent brought aboard with the 2007 recruiting class leaves very few starting positions locked down.
“There was a great deal of competition during the fall that will continue right up until our first game, and there were very few returning position players that had secured starting spots,” said ASU Head Coach Keith Kessinger. “We had a highly rated recruiting class, and we were very proud of what they did when they got here. It is the most talented class that we've signed since I've been here, and there was a lot of competition for the returning guys in retaining their opportunity to start.”
The Tribe's talent and youth will be tested early by what Kessinger calls the toughest schedule of his five years at ASU. The Indians open the season against Ohio State at the Service Academy Classic in Millington, Tenn., then take on Seton Hall and Navy to wrap up the three-day tournament. The home opener is scheduled for Feb. 25 against Williams Baptist College.
One-half of the 56 games on the 2008 schedule are against teams ranked in the top 100 nationally in Collegiate Baseball's preseason poll, including the season opener against Ohio State, which is ranked #78 heading into the season. The non-conference schedule features teams from the Big 10, Big East, Big 12, and SEC. The top-100 ranked teams scheduled to visit Jonesboro include Ole Miss (#4), Southern Illinois (#33), New Orleans (#50), and regional rival Memphis (#57).
“There's no question that it is the most challenging beginning to a season that we've ever had,” said Kessinger. “And the Sun Belt is unquestionably one of the top baseball conferences in the country. To win this league you have to be extremely good, and things have got to fall right for you. We want to be a team that is in competition to win this league.”
In addition to New Orleans, other Sun Belt games scheduled for Tomlinson Stadium and Kell field include matchups with Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana-Monroe, Florida International and the regular season finale against Arkansas-Little Rock.
The Tribe returns 11 arms to the mound that have seen game action, but must replace weekend starters Nathan Gates and T.J. Brewer, along with ASU's all-time saves leader, Tim Egart.
Gates graduated following the 2007 season, and both Brewer and Egart were drafted by the San Francisco Giants in last year's MLB draft.
“Losing those three was big, and T.J. was one of the best pitchers in the conference,” said Kessinger. “Replacing him is one of the biggest concerns that we have, but we feel like we have as many arms to compete at the Division 1 level, as we've ever had.”
Three pitchers with weekend experience return.
“Jett Jones (LHP, 6'2”, 185) who did a really nice job for us at the end of the year as our Sunday starter,” said Kessinger. “He missed fall practice with some arm issues but he is back to 100 percent. Jacob Maggard (RHP, 6'0”, 192), who was a weekend starter last year until he had Tommy John surgery has made a remarkable recovery. He also looks to be nearly 100 percent when the season begins.
“We are very pleased with Joel Boeschen's (LHP, 6'2”, 190) progress as well following shoulder surgery last year, and glad to have him back on the mound. When he was healthy two years ago, he was a quality weekend starter who showed flashes of dominance. A healthy Joel, certainly figures in at the top of our rotation.”
Kessinger added that Chase Ware (RHP, 6'4”, 210) and Chris Bullington (RHP, 6'2”, 195), both junior college transfers, will be in the mix for a spot in the starting rotation in 2008. Andy Ferguson(RHP, 6'1”, 190), Cory Lambert (LHP 6'2”, 175), Danny Riemenschneider (RHP, 5'9”, 155), Zach Skaggs (LHP, 5'11”, 170), Hunter Smith (RHP, 6'3”, 190), and Jordan Torr (LHP, 6'2”, 200) will also see action on the mound.
Senior Pete Pasternak (RHP, 6'3”, 205) has battled injuries the past two years, but brings experience if healthy. “Pete showed flashes this fall of getting back to looking like the guy we recruited,” said Kessinger.
The Tribe's top reliever is expected to be junior Nick Lambert (RHP 6'0” 165). Lambert appeared in 32 games in 2007, setting the single season record for games pitched at ASU.
“Nick has got a really good arm and an arm that bounces back,” said Kessinger. He's a guy that has been in tight spots before and we could use him as the closer but he'll see a lot of time coming out of the bullpen.”
Infielders Jordan Kimball (RHP 6'0”, 175), Brandon Eller (RHP, 6'0” 175), and Drew Benes (RHP, 6'3”, 210) also could see time in relief.
With the depth on the mound, Kessinger expects to redshirt freshmen Tony Pavan (RHP, 6'0”, 170) and Cody Powell (RHP, 6'1”, 195).
At catcher, the Tribe must replace starter Drew Rogers, who left the program during the offseason following his junior season.
Three players are vying for time behind the plate, with Grey Avant (6'2”, 210) and Lawson Hipps (6'0”, 200) the most likely candidates.
“Hipps is a junior college transfer and a left handed hitter,” said Kessinger. “I really like his bat. He has a lot of enthusiasm and certainly came off a great junior college career and certainly has an opportunity to be a really good player for us.”
“Grey Avant, who got some starts early last season has a lot of experience,” added Kessinger. “ He's traveled and been to a lot of games with us and understands what were trying to get done. Grey has shown a lot of improvement this year offensively.”
Behind those two is redshirt freshman Cade Baxter (6'0”, 175), a versatile player who has played nearly every position on the field since arriving at ASU.
Experience abounds in the infield, where starters return at all four positions. Junior Brandon Eller was the regular starter at first base in 2007, sophomore Jordan Kimball saw a great deal of action at second base, senior Ryan Hudgins (6'1”, 210) is an All-Sun Belt Conference shortstop, and junior Guy Brown (6'0”, 170) was a regular at third.
Although Kessinger expects all four to see significant action in 2008, each player could be in a different position, depending on the lineup.
“First base is a spot where we feel good,” said Kessinger. We have two young guys competing for that job right now in Drew Benes and Murray Watts (6'7”, 250). Each of them bring something different. Drew's a right handed hitter and maybe moves a little better defensively while Murray is a left handed hitter and is a much bigger target. The odds are that both those guys will be in the lineup a good bit somewhere, and Eller could be in the mix at first as well.”
Second base is where Kessinger expects to see Eller, who led the team with a .347 batting average a year ago. “Brandon had a great offensive year last year. We always thought that probably his best position would be second base for us, and last year, with an arm injury, he couldn't play it. We're going to give Brandon the opportunity there and see how his arm responds.”
“Jordan Kimball is a tremendous defensive player, both at second and shortstop,” said Kessinger. “ He is learning to switch hit and we think that down the road, that should really help him. He did some good things switch hitting this fall and he will definitely have some opportunity at shortstop or second base to help us, either as a starter or backup.”
Brown spent most of last year at third base, but could also see time at second. “Guy had a great fall,” said Kessinger. “He had one of our best offensive falls. He has a lot of experience, and has played a lot of games in this conference. He understands what it takes to win.”
After missing most of fall practice with a back injury, Hudgins has returned at 100 percent for the spring.
“Ryan is more than likely this years first team preseason all-conference shortstop,” Kessinger said. “He is naturally a third baseman, and that could be the position that he could be back at, but he did a great job for us last year at shortstop. We feel very comfortable with Ryan at either position.”
Baxter, Riemenschneider, Taylor Stetzer (6'0”, 180), Sean Nichols (6'0”, 185) and Todd Baumgartner (6'1”, 180) all could action in the infield as well during the 2008 season.
“Danny Riemenschneider had a really good fall for us. He is a good player and can play just about anywhere. And Baumgartner will be on the field somewhere,” said Kessinger. “More than likely in the outfield. Todd is an immensely talented offensive player that can really run and can really hit. He has not played a lot of outfield in his career, but is certainly athletic enough to go be a really good outfielder for us.”
“Taylor Stetzer could be mentioned for every infield position as well,” Kessinger added. “Taylor is a versatile, athletic infielder with a great future.”
Another newcomer likely to join Baumgartner in the outfield will be junior college transfer Derrick Coleman (5'10”, 195).
“Derrick had a tremendous fall for us,” said Kessinger. “He's a very talented player, runs well, and can play any three of the outfield positions, but he's probably more comfortable in center or left. Derrick will probably be in the top of the batting order for us. He is a switch hitter, and had the best offensive fall of any of our players.”
Aaron Ferguson (5'10”, 180), Cody Pace (6'2”, 205) and A.J. Prickel (6'0”, 195) saw significant starting time in 2007 and will be counted on in 2008 as well.
“Aaron is as good of a defensive centerfielder as anyone in our league and even maybe in the country,” said Kessinger. “He is a good senior leader for this team and he has worked very hard during the fall. A.J. moved to the outfield last year. He's a guy that had a good fall offensively. He's still trying to learn the outfield position, but we feel that he is certainly in the mix to help us out there.”
“Cody Pace played a lot of games last year,” continued Kessinger. “Cody is another guy that is a great athlete, can do a lot of things for us defensively, and is in the mix to see some playing time at all three outfield spots.”
Kessinger also expects Joey Hoffman (6'0”, 180) to see significant time in the outfield as a true freshman. “Hoffman has as good of a fall as a freshman that I have ever seen,” said Kessinger. “He hit close to 500 during our fall intra-squads.”
When not seeing time at other positions, Kessinger expects Watts, Hipps and Jones to fill the role of designated hitter.
“I will be very surprised if the team that starts the season has the same people in the same positions later in the season,” said Kessinger. “We think that there are some good combinations. There's going to be some left-right switches. There will be some opportunities position-wise that in the past, we were not able to do. “
