Season Preview After finishing second in the confer- 7-1 with a 4.58 ERA last season. He ence behind perennial power Central also tied for the team lead with three Missouri State by only one game and complete games. posting a 37-21 record after a 7-6 On the offensive side, the Ichabods start, Washburn baseball is ready to have some big shoes to fill. As in the take that next step. size of shoe it takes to replace a .417 “We would like to take last year’s batting average, 88 hits, and 72 runs success and use it as a springboard scored — the numbers put up last sea- into this season,” head coach Steve son by graduated senior Harley Anson said. Douglas. The importance of being successful Really, the Ichabods shouldn’t have early was evident last year. After the too much trouble finding offense. slow start, the Ichabods caught fire Senior rightfielder Pat Colley returns late in the year, ending the season after leading the team last season in with a 21-9 conference record. Even several offensive categories including with the great play late, the Ichabods average (.459), hits (94), runs batted missed out on the NCAA Central in (64) and leading all NCAA hitters Regional Tournament. nationally with 14 triples. And although the Bods are missing Anson has told his players not to five position starters from last year’s worry about trying to do to much to club, the coaching staff doesn’t feel it fill the offensive void. will be that much of a problem. “I told the guys to just do what they “We do have a lot of guys back that can, play as a team, and we will be played on that team last year,” Anson fine offensively,” he said. said. “They realize how important it is to start well and carry it through the Infield season.” There are several changes around the horn for the Ichabods this season. Outlook The two position starters for the club Balance is the word for the last year, sophomore Ben Rutherford Ichabods’ squad this season. Anson and senior Billy Crooks, have moved sees his team possessing several key with Rutherford switching from short- ingredients essential to having a good stop to second base to make room for season. Hutch juco transfer Kyle Wilson, and “We have a good mix of speed and Crooks moving over from first base to power in the lineup this year,” Anson third. said. “On top of that the pitching is as First base is still up for grabs with deep as it’s been for a long time.” junior transfers Mike Cole Jud Part of that deep pitching is in the Easterday, and NWMSU senior trans- form of top-returning hurler Matt fer Trevor Webster all competing for Wilkens. The senior right-hander was that spot. 2001 Washburn Media Guide 15 Season Preview Behind the plate, Fernando Esquivel started 13 games for the Ichabods last will be missed. Esquivel hit .349 and season en route to throwing the most started all 58 games for the Bods last innings out of anyone on the staff season. To fill that void, Anson will (74.1). look to Topekan Willie Janosik, who is Anson will also have the luxary of back for his third year with the Bods, calling on lefties from the bullpen this and newcomer Dustin Sherley, a trans- season. After being granted a medical fer from Cloud County. redshirt last season, Seaman graduate Matt Holloman returns healthy and Outfield ready to contribute. Sophomore lefty A major portion of the Ichabods’ Brigham Joy can be called on out of offense from last season is gone. All- the pen, and newcomer Brandon Pope American Pat Colley is back in right- will also see action. field for his senior season, but Nathan Senior Andy Sorenson, who battled Peter, who started 56 games and led arm problems most of last season, is the team in home runs last season also back after posting a 3-2 record in with 12, is gone as well as MIAA sec- 12 appearances in 2000. ond-teamer, speedy centerfielder Harley Douglas has graduated. MIAA To fill those spots, Anson will look to The story sounds like a broken put sophomore Dylan Smith, who record this season in the MIAA. spent time last season as a backup to Central Missouri is the favorite. Peter in left, in centerfield to replace Everybody else is trying to catch them. Douglas. Smith will be used primarily But, if the Bods 6-5 conference tour- for defensive purposes. nament championship loss to the The space in left field will be fought Mules is any indication, then the gap for by five other players, senior Jeff may be closing just a bit. Burke, redshirt freshmen Jason Ferris “It’s going to be tough this year in and Steve Shoultz, along with trans- conference,” Anson said. “Central fers Justin Padilla and Jason Ferris. Missouri is only losing three or four of their players. Missouri Southern has Pitching gotten better pitching, and Missouri For the first time in a long time, Western played well at the end of the Anson will have a full arsenal to season,” he said. choose from. The top returner is Matt The key to this season’s post-season Wilkens and the Ichabods are count- chances is simple-win early. ing on him to repeat his 7-1 perform- “We didn’t start well last season ance from a year ago. only going 7-6, and it cost us late,” Along with Wilkens, senior right- Anson said. “Our goal is to get that hander Devan Hansen will also be berth into the conference final four counted on. Hansen went 3-6 and and see where it goes from there.” 16 2001 Washburn Media Guide 2001 Ichabod Roster INFIELDERS POS B/T Ht. Wt. Year Hometown Previous School 1 Kyle Wilson SS R-R 5-7 155 Jr-TR Topeka, Kan. Hutchinson CC 3 Ryan Garton 2B R-R 5-8 155 Fr-RS Olathe, Kan. Kansas 5 Billy Crooks 1B R-R 6-3 195 Sr-2L Silver Lake, Kan. Fort Hays State Univ. 18 Jud Easterday 1B L-L 6-2 195 Jr-TR Westwood, Kan. Johnson County CC 23 Ben Rutherford 2B R-R 5-9 145 So-1L Topeka, Kan. Shawnee Heights HS 24 Trevor Webster 1B L-L 6-0 210 Sr-TR Laramie, Wyo. Northwest Missouri 29 Allan Cooper 3B R-R 5-11 185 So-1L Emporia, Kan. Emporia HS 31 Mike Cole 1B L-R 6-1 195 Jr-TR Kansas City, Kan. Kansas City CC 32 Sean Cochran 2B R-R 5-10 160 Fr-TR Auburn, Kan. Kansas State 35 Randy Schrempp 3B R-R 5-9 185 So-1L Maple Hill, Kan. St. Marys HS 41 Brigham Joy P/1B L-L 5-10 160 So-1L Burlington, Kan. Burlington HS 44 Justin Vanley SS/2B S-R 5-10 165 Jr-TR Wichita, Kan. Allen County CC CATCHERS POS B/T Ht. Wt. Year Hometown Previous School 39 Willie Janosik C R-R 5-8 175 Jr-2L Topeka, Kan. Topeka West HS 46 Dustin Sherley C R-R 5-8 170 So-TR Manhattan, Kan. Cloud County CC OUTFIELDERS POS B/T Ht. Wt. Year Hometown Previous School 2 Jason Ferris OF R-R 6-2 180 Jr-TR Marysville, Kan. Highland CC 4 Cameron Clurman OF L-L 5-5 165 Fr-RS Overland Park, Kan. Blue Valley NW HS 8 Jeff Burke OF R-R 5-9 160 Sr-1L Topeka, Kan. Northwest Missouri State 9 Pat Colley OF L-L 6-0 185 Sr-3L Topeka, Kan. Seaman HS 10 Dylan Smith OF R-L 6-0 165 So-1L Maple Hill, Kan. St. Marys HS 11 Justin Padilla OF R-R 5-8 170 Jr-TR Topeka, Kan. CoffeyvilleCC 16 Steven Shoultz OF R-R 6-0 175 Fr-RS Parker, Colo. Ponderosa HS PITCHERS POS B/T Ht. Wt. Year Hometown Previous School 15 Jeff Stack P R-R 6-2 200 Jr-TR Kansas City, Kan. Kansas City CC 17 Steve Rabbitt P R-R 5-10 170 So-TR Olathe, Kan. Longview CC 20 Josh Minger P R-R 6-2 190 So-1L Topeka, Kan. Seaman HS 21 Trey Heffner P R-R 6-0 175 Jr-TR Rossville, Kan. Cloud County CC 22 Jason Young P R-R 6-0 200 Jr-TR Silver Lake, Kan. Cloud County CC 25 Brandon Pope P L-L 5-8 175 Jr-TR Rose Hill, Kan. Allen County CC 26 Nathan Schroeder P R-R 6-2 190 Fr-HS Hugoton, Kan. Hugoton HS 27 Matt Holloman P L-L 5-8 145 Fr-RS Topeka, Kan. Seaman HS 28 Matt Wilkens P R-R 5-10 175 Sr-2L Healy, Kan. Sterling College 30 John Harrison P R-R 6-3 205 Sr-1L Silver Lake, Kan. Butler County CC 33 Andy Sorenson P R-R 6-1 210 Sr-1L Holton, Kan. Neosho County CC 40 Matt Deutsch P R-R 6-4 210 Fr-HS Wichita, Kan. Trinity Academy 42 Devan Hansen P R-R 6-0 170 Sr-1L Shawnee, Kan. Fort Scott CC 45 Kyle Williams P R-R 6-4 185 So-TR Topeka, Kan. Independence CC NUMERICAL ROSTER 1 Kyle Wilson . SS 21 Trey Heffner. P 39 Willie Janosik . C 2 Jason Ferris . OF 22 Jason Young . P 40 Matt Deutsch . P 3 Ryan Garton .