Pat Williams
Setting the Scene:
The Wittenberg baseball team had high aspirations for the 2006 season with the return of nine letterwinners, including four of the team's top six hitters and two of its top three starting pitchers.
In a season of streaks, the Tigers wound up with an overall record of 23-16, including a North Coast Athletic Conference West Division record of 10-6. The Tigers ended the regular season with a four-game sweep of Earlham to advance to the conference tournament for the third time in five years before losing a three-game series to eventual champion Wooster.
The 2006 season was Head Coach Jay Lewis' 10th year at the helm. With a win over Muskingum on April 13, Lewis broke the school record for coaching victories previously held by Howard "Red" Maurer, who led the Red & White from 1951-75.
Postseason Honors:
Six Wittenberg players earned mention on the All-NCAC teams following the 2006 season.
Senior pitcher Jason Holmberg (Miamisburg, Ohio/Kettering Alter) made his first career appearance on the first team after posting a perfect 8-0 record as a starter for the Tigers. His 3.65 earned run average, 12 appearances, six complete games all ranked among the best on the team, while his eight wins topped the NCAC.
Five other Tigers made the All-NCAC baseball honor roll, with senior designated hitter Brian Hampp (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson), senior pitcher Steve Less (Sheffield, Ohio/Elyria Catholic) and freshman outfielder Pat Williams (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) all named to the second team. Hampp led the Tigers with 33 runs batted in, Less ranked second in the NCAC and first on the team with a sparkling 1.99 ERA and Williams ranked among the team leaders in almost every offensive category while stealing a team-best 15 bases.
Senior K.R. Schlievert (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay), who started every one of the 152 games during his outstanding collegiate career, and senior outfielder Matt Berry (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington) were honorable mention choices. Schlievert holds the school record for career assists with 513, nearly 30 more than any previous Wittenberg player, in addition to school records for career at-bats (580) and doubles (52). He is also second in base hits with 194, fifth in runs scored with 139, fifth in total bases with 257 and eighth in runs batted in with 108. Berry made just one error in his collegiate career, and he enjoyed his best season at the plate in 2006, driving in 17 runs.
The Iron Man:
The end of the 2006 season marked the end to one of the most storied careers in Wittenberg baseball history.
K.R. Schlievert started every one of his 152 of his collegiate career for the Red & White. Schlievert finished his career with school records for career assists 513 (nearly 30 more than any other player), at-bats (580) and doubles (52). He also is second in base hits with 194, fifth in runs scored with 139, fifth in total bases with 257 and eighth in runs batted in with 108.
Andrew Wellman and teammates celebrate a big hit.
Super Seniors:
The Tigers were unable to put it all together in 2006, although the senior class was outstanding across the board.
Jason Holmberg had the aforementioned breakout season in 2006 and didn't lose a game in his 12 appearances, including nine starting assignments. Steve Less enjoyed his finest collegiate season, becoming one of a select few Tiger pitchers to finish a season with an ERA under 2.00.
In addition,the three seniors in the everyday lineup were stellar. K.R. Schlievert started every game of his collegiate career and was a fixture at the top of the batting order while Brian Hampp led the Tigers in RBI in 2005 and 2006. Matt Berry was a steady defensive centerfielder who started 36 of 37 games in 2006.
A Bright Future:
Despite the graduation losses, the future remains bright for the Tigers, who are expected to return all-conference outfielder Pat Williams and first baseman Andrew Wellman (Huntington, WV/Huntington), two of the top hitters in the Tigers' 2006 lineup. Freshman Jacob Michael (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) also was a welcome addition in 2006 as he started 37 games for the Tigers, recording a .345 batting average. Michael, who played several different positions, ranked second on the team in triples.
Also of note was the play of sophomore catcher Matt Steinke (Wapakoneta, Ohio/St. Mary's Memorial), who started a whopping 36 of the Tigers' 39 games in his first season in the Red & White. He hit .280 while playing solid defense. He also did a fine job working with the pitching staff, which figures to return several standouts in 2007, including sophomore Joel Puthoff (Houston, Ohio/Russia), the team leader in appearances with 13. Among the most pleasant surprises in 2006 was freshman reliever Josh Fiebiger (Fletcher, Ohio/Miami East), who was one of team's most reliable bullpen figures in the late-going of the season.
The Coach:
Jay Lewis (Wittenberg '94) became head baseball coach at his alma mater in 1996, with his first season at the helm in 1997. Lewis, who previously served as an assistant coach for one year for the Tigers, has compiled an 212-168-4 record, breaking the school record for career baseball coaching victories during the 2006 season.
Lewis excelled on the diamond for the Tigers in the early 1990s. Lewis was a three-year starting catcher for Wittenberg from 1991-1993 after spending his first season at West Virginia Wesleyan. Prior to his time at Wittenberg, Lewis was an assistant coach at St. Paris Graham High School, where he helped lead the Falcons to a Division II State runner-up finish in 1995.
During his head coaching stint at Wittenberg, Lewis' teams have averaged more than 20 wins a season. Several players, including Brent Parke, Ryan Born, Ryan Peters and Kurt Hartfelder, have gone on to play professional baseball.