Jacob Michael
After losing just five letterwinners, including two starters, from a 2007 team that finished 18-19 overall, the Wittenberg baseball program appears poised to make a run at the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championship and earn a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Tigers return eight of their top nine hitters from a year ago, and three of their top four starting pitchers.
Things start in 2008 with a potent offensive lineup, led by sophomore first baseman Chris Dorka (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) and junior rightfielder Patrick Williams (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield). Dorka entered the lineup due to injury early in the 2007 season, and he made a tremendous impact, hitting .408 with 27 runs batted in and 21 runs scored in 76 official at-bats. He showed solid plate discipline for a collegiate rookie, drawing 12 walks and collecting five sacrifice hits. Williams, also a record-setting wide receiver for the Tiger football team, has ranked among the team leaders in almost every offensive category in each of his first two collegiate campaigns in 2007, he batted .385 and stole a team-high 10 bases.
Also back for another go-around in the Red & White is senior catcher Matt Steinke (Wapakoneta, Ohio/St. Mary's Memorial), who batted .336 in 2007 and led the squad with 33 runs scored and 10 doubles. He committed just five errors and allowed just five passed balls in 36 starting assignments.
Senior infielder Tyler Christello (Eaton, Ohio/Eaton) has been a versatile performer for the Tigers in his career, and he is coming off his best offensive season with a .316 batting average. He scored 30 runs and collected five doubles, three triples and four stolen bases on the season. Sophomore outfielder Sam Stough (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) hit .310 in his rookie campaign and played fine defense as well in 23 appearances.
Rounding out the top returnees, senior shortstop Joel Puthoff (Houston, Ohio/Russia) hit .299 with two home runs, 25 runs scored and 27 RBI in 2007 and junior third baseman Jacob Michael (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) batted .271 with 27 runs scored and 26 RBI while starting all 37 games.
J.T. Thompson
The key to any baseball team's success is pitching, and the Tigers will have to make big strides in this area to reach their goals in 2008. While the team's offense battered opposing pitchers, leading to a 6.43 cumulative earned run average, Wittenberg's pitching staff wasn't much better with a 6.25 ERA. Youth and inexperience was the primary culprit, however, and Head Coach Jay Lewis has a wealth of options heading into a promising 2008 campaign.
The staff is led by junior Tim Antil (Brookville, Ohio/Northmont), who posted a hard-luck 1-2 record in 10 appearances in 2007, including seven starting assignments. He posted a 5.86 ERA. He will be joined in the starting rotation by sophomores Bobby Ciucki (Dublin,Ohio/Scioto), who led the Tigers with four wins and a 4.05 ERA a year ago, and Joel Assenheimer (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson), who went 3-3 with a 7.03 ERA.
Junior Josh Fiebiger (Clayton, Ohio/Miami East) and sophomore Darin Mumaw (Fort Loramie, Ohio/Fort Loramie) were key bullpen performers a year ago. They combined to make 37 appearances, with Fiebiger enjoying the most success with a 4-1 record and one save.
Puthoff will return to the pitching staff after playing a year at shortstop, and sophomore Kory Winter (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) has collegiate pitching experience as well. Each figures to see mound time in 2008.
A strong recruiting class will bolster the Wittenberg roster in 2008, providing lineup options and adding to the team's depth both offensively and defensively. Specifically looking to make an impact in their freshman seasons are pitchers Chris Tabler (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua), Zach Spring (Powell, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) and Jim Clement (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young), who are likely to make relief appearances. Joining them from the class of 2011 are a host of rookie position players who will have to compete for backup time with a sizable bench.