Matt Foster
The Wittenberg University baseball team enters the 2004
campaign with high hopes of returning to the top of the North Coast
Athletic Conference West Division, which Wittenberg last won in
2002. With the opening of the Carleton-Davidson Stadium and the
return of 14 letterwinners and an influx of new talent this spring,
the Tigers hope to improve upon last season's 17-22-1
record.
The key words for the Tigers in 2004 will be versatility and
depth. A number of players are expected to get significant playing
time at multiple positions this season. Topping the list is junior
outfielder/catcher Matt Foster (Granville,
Ohio/Granville), an honorable mention All-NCAC
selection last season who was second on the team with seven home
runs and fourth with a .351 batting average.
Seniors Kyle Wolf (Hamilton, Ohio/Middletown
Fenwick) and Tom Fox
(Urbana, Ohio/Urbana) are also expected to be
key contributors in the outfield, possibly backed by
sophomore Matt Berry (Pickerington,
Ohio/Pickerington) and
junior Shawn Jarecki (Brookpark, Ohio/Valley
Forge), a two-year letterwinner who has battled
injuries in his collegiate career.
The Tigers' greatest strength may lie in a talented young
infield, led by sophomore shortstop K.R.
Schlievert (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay). Schlievert,
honorable mention All-NCAC and Tiger Newcomer of the Year in 2003,
started all 40 games for the Tigers while batting .389 and leading
the Tigers in hits. Junior second basemanJon
Komperda (Bay Village, Ohio/Bay) also returns
after a breakout 2003 campaign in which he batted .333.
Sophomore Justin McCulla (St. Paris,
Ohio/Graham) is expected to see playing time at
both middle infield positions as well as third base and outfield.
Junior Tom Pickering (Newark,
Ohio/Catholic)started 38 games at third base in
2003. And as many as five players are competing for time at first
base, including juniors Ryan Goldschmidt (Fort
Loramie, Ohio/Fort
Loramie) and Shawn
Rudegeair (Yellow Springs, Ohio/Yellow Springs),
sophomores Bret Wiseman (New Richmond, Ohio/New
Richmond) and Brian Hampp
(Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) and
freshman Andrew Wellman (Huntington,
W.Va./Huntington).
The Tigers feature a deep pitching staff, led by three
returning starters: Fox, Goldschmidt and
sophomore Steve Less (Sheffield, Ohio/Elyria
Catholic). SeniorJason Flick
(Hamilton, Ohio/Middletown Fenwick), who led the
Tigers in appearances last season, will also be counted on this
season, either out of the bullpen again or in the starting
rotation. Junior Kurt Hartfelder (Columbus,
Ohio/Upper Arlington) is returning from
off-season Tommy John surgery, and a return to his 2001, All-NCAC
form will be important to the team's fortunes. A host of other
pitchers are vying for opportunities this season, including
junior Wayne Massie (New Carlisle,
Ohio/Tecumseh), sophmores Pat
Rice (Lancaster, Ohio/Fisher
Catholic), Tyler Jacobs (St.
Paris, Ohio/Graham), Jason Holmberg (Miamisburg,
Ohio/Kettering Alter), Graham Ketcham (Norwalk,
Ohio/St. Paul)and McCulla and
freshmen Brandon Deford (Westerville,
Ohio/North) and Chris
Leaver (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee). Five players
will battle for time at catcher: Foster,
senior Matt Oberdorfer (Chagrin Falls,
Ohio/Gates Mills Hawken),
sophomores Brad Koopman (Pleasant Hill,
Ohio/Newton) and Adam
Keller (Mechanicsburg, Ohio/Mechanicsburg) and
freshman Jason Hutson (Piqua,
Ohio/Piqua).
The Tigers begin the season with the annual Spring Break trip
to Florida next week, and then return to play one of the toughest
schedules in the nation, featuring national and regional powers
Ohio Wesleyan, Wooster, Marietta, Thomas More and NCAA Division I
foe Dayton.