CONTENTS 04 - Big Blue Coaching Staff 04 - 2008 CCIW Standings 04 - CCIW Series Records 05 - Looking at 2009 06 - 2009 Preseason Roster 06-08 - Returning Letterwinners 09 - Returners & Newcomers 10 - 2008 In Review 11 - Baseball Record Book 12 - CCIW History IBC - Millikin Athletic Facilities BC - 2009 Varsity Schedule MEDIA INFO & PresRs facOilitiesT: PleOaseC call Othe SL ports Information Office if you plan on covering an event. Interviews: Media representatives are at liberty to find their own postgame interviews. Please contact the Sports Information QUICK FACTS Office at 217.362.6429 or via e-mail a t [email protected] to schedule player interviews at all other times. Coaches may be Location . Decatur, Illinois contacted directly. Founded/Opened . 1901/1903 Enrollment . Appx. 2,200 Nickname . Big Blue Colors . Royal Blue and White Affiliation . NCAA Division III Conference . Illinois and Wisconsin Head Coach . Josh Manning Assistant Coach . Eric Law Baseball Office Phone . 217.424.3608 Letterwinners Returning/Lost . 14/6 2008 Record . 14-20-1 2008 CCIW Finish . 8th (4-16) Sports Information Director . Bryan Marshall Sports Information Phone . 217.362.6429 Athletic Department Fax . 217.362.6414 MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY MEDIA OUTLETS newspapers: wire service: Chicago Sun-Times Chicago Tribune Decatur Herald & Review Decatur Tribune Associated Press ph: 800.572.7003 ph: 312.222.3474 ph: 217.421.6979 ph: 217.422.9702 ph: 800.572.2585 fax: 312.321.3084 fax: 312.828.9392 fax: 217.421.7965 fax: 217.422.7320 fax: 312.781.1989 television: radio: WAND-TV WCIA-TV WJMU US101 WSOY/WDZ ph: 800.252.1601 ph: 800.252.3349 ph: 217.424.6377 ph: 217.428.4487 ph: 217.877.5371 fax: 217.424.2583 fax: 217.373.3663 2009 big blue baseball - 3 BIG BLUE COACHING STAFF E-mail: [email protected] Office phone: 217.424.3608 Josh Manning begins his eighth season at the helm of the Big Blue baseball program during the 2009 season, seeing his team finish 14-20-1 overall and 4-16 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). Manning was hired as Millikin’s head baseball coach in November 2001 after a three-year stint as an assistant coach at MacMurray. A 1998 graduate of MacMurray College with a degree in history/ secondary education, Manning is currently working on his master's degree in communications at the University of Illinois-Springfield. While a student athlete at MacMurray, the Highlanders finished 24th in the nation during his senior season in 1997. The team was undefeated in both conference tournament and league games. In that season, Manning also earned All-Central Region second team honors. Before joining the MacMurray baseball team, Manning played for two years at Kaskaskia Community College in Centralia. During his sophomore season at Kaskaskia, Manning was selected to pitch in the region all-star game. Manning served as an assistant coach at MacMurray from August 1998 to May 2001 and was a student assistant during the 1997-98 academic year. He has also been a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association since 1999. Manning and his wife, Traci, live in Clinton with their 1-year old son Jack. Jeff Thomas, Assistant Coach Jeff Thomas joins Millikin’s staff in 2009 for his first season as an assistant coach for the Big Blue baseball program. Thomas is a former collegiate and professional player and a former high school coach and athletic director. Thomas recently relocated to Central Illinois from Texas. Thomas played for two years at McLennan Community College before transferring to Baylor University. While at Baylor, he helped the Bears to a Regional Championship in 1993. Thomas pitched professionally for six seasons for several minor league teams. In addition to coaching high school baseball, Thomas ran a baseball academy in Texas. One of his former academy students is Pittsburg Pirate pitcher Zach Duke. 2008 CCIW STANDINGS & INFO Team Finishes CCIW Overall Millikin’s 2008 All-CCIW Players 1. Ill. Wesleyan 18-3 33-11 Second Team: 2. Carthage 17-4 36-9 Joe Frigo - Pitcher 3. Augustana 14-7 34-11 4. Wheaton 12-8 23-14 5. North Central 7-14 14-23 6. North Park 6-15 16-24 7. Elmhurst 5-16 12-28 8. Millikin 4-16 14-20-1 CCIW SERIES RECORDS Series Records W L T Millikin vs. Augustana College 60 89 0 Millikin vs. Carthage College 37 69 1 Millikin vs. Elmhurst College 54 52 0 Millikin vs. Illinois Wesleyan University 85 135 0 Millikin vs. North Central College 55 61 1 Millikin vs. North Park University 42 48 0 Millikin vs. Wheaton College 64 33 0 2009 big blue baseball - 4 LOOKING AT 2009 The 2009 Millikin baseball team is optimistic about its chances to improve on last season’s 14-20-1 record and compete for a spot at the top of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin standings. Head Coach Josh Manning has a strong group of talented returners including 14 letter winners. The returners combined with a talented group of newcomers should provide the Big Blue enough weapons to improve its on field performance this season. The Big Blue pitching staff returns six letter winners that saw time on the mound last season. Heading the staff is Joe Frigo who was an All-CCIW Second Team Performer and Millikin’s Pitcher of the Year in 2008. Joe Frigo was 2-5 with a 4.12 ERA with one save last season. He had 27 strikeouts in 48 innings. Manning is expecting significant contributions on the mound from seniors Tony Garcia, Devin Holzer and Jim Wilson along with junior Joe Kentos. Gracia was 3-1 last season in eight appearances. He had 18 strikeouts in just over 28 innings of work. Holzer was Millikin’s Newcomer of the Year last year posting a 1-0 record with one save in 11 appearances. Wilson was 2-5 in 10 appearances with 25 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings. Kentos was 1-3 with one save last season after going 4-3 as a freshman. Returners Mike Frigo, Quin Murray and Marek Rupar will all be competing for spots on the pitching staff. Manning has also brought in transfers Chris Gregory and Michael Laird along with several talented freshmen to add depth to the pitching staff. Manning has three talented catchers ready to handle the Millikin pitching staff and make solid defensive contributions behind the plate. Junior Matt Beiler and senior Ben Hendricks both saw significant time last season. The duo will be joined by transfer Zach Charbonneau. The Millikin infield will be anchored by seniors Mike Frigo and James Hafer. First baseman Mike Frigo was the Big Blue MVP last season when he hit .326 with four homeruns and 21 RBI. Hafer who was Millikin’s starting third baseman when 2008 began is trying to rebound from an injury last season that ended his season after 10 games. Hafer had four RBI in only 36 at-bats. Manning hopes Hafer can perform like he did as a freshman when he hit .347 and earned All-CCIW Second Team honors. Manning expects a big part of the Big Blue offense this season to come from his outfield. The talented group is headed by senior Tom Bastien and junior Blaise Sylvester. Last season, Bastien started in all 35 games batting .316 with 42 hits including 10 doubles, five homeruns and 24 RBI. He was seven for seven in stolen base attempts. Sylvester had 36 hits for a .300 average. He had nine doubles, one homerun and 14 RBI. He had eight stolen bases and scored 27 runs. Manning has several talented returners and newcomers who will compete for the time in the outfield this season. The Big Blue is putting in the hard work needed to reach the top of the conference and expect to see improvement when they take the field this spring. Millikin opens the season March 4 at Blackburn College. BASEBALL MAGAZINE CREDITS The Baseball Magazine was prepared by Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information Bryan Marshall. Cover design by Michael Rauch Action photography - Kevin Krows On the Cover (Front to Back) - Jim Wilson, Tom Bastien, Mike Frigo, Joe Frigo Front cover photography - Thompson McClellan Photography (Champaign, Illinois) Printing by - O S P (Bloomington, Illinois) College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) website - www.cciw.org 2009 big blue baseball - 5 2009 PRESEASON ROSTER Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown High School Andrew Agee INF 5-6 150 Fr. Maroa, Ill. Maroa-Forsyth Tom Bastien*** OF 6-1 175 Sr. Chicago, Ill. Marist Warren Beals OF 5-7 150 So. Stewardson, Ill. Stewardson-Strasburg Matt Beiler** C 5-8 180 Jr. Decatur, Ill. Mount Zion Peter Bonner 1B 6-4 185 Fr. Lombard, Ill. Willowbrook Kevin Campbell INF 5-10 160 Fr. Joliet, Ill. Joliet Catholic Zach Charbonneau C 5-9 185 Jr. Midlothain, Ill. Oak Forest Mike Dance LHP 5-9 175 Fr. Moweaqua, Ill. Central A&M Stefen Edwards OF 5-10 175 Sr. Momence, Ill. Momence Dan Ehlert* OF 5-9 150 Jr. Franklin Park, Ill. East Leyden Joe Frigo** P/INF 5-11 170 Jr. Richton Park, Ill. Marian Catholic Mike Frigo*** P/INF 5-11 190 Sr. Richton Park, Ill. Marian Catholic Tony Gracia*** P/INF 6-0 185 Sr. Chicago, Ill. Marian Catholic Chris Gregory P 5-6 145 Jr. Decatur, Ill. MacArthur/Lincoln College James Hafer*** INF 5-9 140 Sr. Wheaton, Ill. Wheaton North Ben Hendricks** C 5-9 180 Sr. Dixon, Ill. Dixon Devin Holzer* RHP 6-1 175 Sr. Camdenton, Mo. Camdenton Rich Kaczynski RHP 5-10 155 Fr.