Morehead State University Baseball 1976
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Morehead State University Baseball 1976 EAGLE SCHEDULE ~ Date Opponent EDT Wed. March 17 TAYLOR (2) 1 :30 Thurs. March 18 TAYLOR (2) 1 :30 Fri. March 19 WEST VIRGINIA (2) 1 :30 Sat. March 20 WEST VIRGINIA (2) 1 :00 Tues. March 23 MARSHALL (2) 1 :30 Thurs. March 25 Xavier (2) 1 :00 Sat. March 27 * East Tennessee (2) 12:00 Mon. March 29 XAVIER (2) 1 :30 Tues. March 30 OH IO 2:30 Wed. March 31 INDIANA-PURDUE 2:30 Thurs. April 1 INDIANA-PURDUE (2) 1 :30 Sat. April 3 * TENNESSEE T ECH (2) 12:00 Mon. April 5 Cincinnati 3:00 Wed. April 7 * EASTERN KENTUCKY (2) 1 :00 Fri. April 9 Louisvi lle (2) 1:00 Sat. April 10 * EAST TENNESSE E (2) 12:00 Tues. April 13 * Eastern Kentucky ( 2) 1 :00 Wed. April 14 ANDERSON (2) 1 :30 Thurs. April 15 ANDERSON (2) 1 :30 Sat. April 17 * Ten nessee Tech (2) 1 :00 Tues. April 22 Marshall (2) 1 :00 Wed. April 23 LOUISVILLE (2) 1 :30 Tues. April 27 MORRIS HA RVEY (2) 1 :30 Fri. April 30 CINCINNATI 2:30 * Ohio Valley Conference Eastern Division Games All Home Games Listed in Capitals Steve Hamilton Head Coach Former MSU basketball and baseball standout Steve Hamilton is entering his first season at the helm of the Eagle baseball program. He was appointed the Eagle field boss when John (Sonny) Allen was elevated to assistant athletic director. Allen served as head coach for 14 seasons. Hamilton earned Al l-American honors in basket bal l at MSU in 1957. He twice was named to t he All-Ohio Valley Conference team. "I am pleased to return to MSU as baseball coach," said Hamilton. "Much of my life has been devoted to baseball and I consider coaching young people a real challenge." Hamilton distinguished his basketball career by setting all of MSU's rebounding marks. He currently holds the marks for rebounds in a game (38). rebounds in a season (543). rebounds in a four-year career (1,675). best rebounding average in a season (20.1) and best rebounding average in a career ( 16.4). He also is the No. 3 all-time scorer at MSU with 1,829 points. But the slender native of Charlestown, Ind., will probably be remembered most for his professional baseball days. He left MSU and joined the Min neapolis Lakers of the National Basketball Associa tion and the Cleveland Indians of t he American League. Hamilton spent 11 seasons in the majors and played for the Indians, Washington Senators, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs. He stayed with the Yankees for seven and one-half seasons and played in two World Series. He retired from the major leagues following the 1972 season and managed the Johnson City {Tenn.) franchise in the Appalachian League during 1973. Hamilton returned to the majors as pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers last season under his long-time friend and former manager, Ralph Houk. "In baseball,1 left home for seven months out of the year and could only see my fami ly for a day at a time," said Hamilton. "I decided I wanted to stay close to home." Hamilton sees his appointment as a chall enge and responsibility. " It is a great opportunity to take over a program like this one," he said. "But it will take a great deal of hard work to maintain MSU's tradition in basebal I." Hamilton received his bachelor's degree from MSU in 1958 and his master's in 1963. Hamilton, the player 1957 1976 OUTLOOK After losing last season's Ohio Valley Conference Eastern Division title game, Morehead State Univer sity's baseball Eagles have their sights this season on a return to the championship. Last year's squad posted a 26-19 record under veteran Coach Sonny Allen and won the OVC's Eastern Division spring title. Abolition of fall baseball means the entire divisional championship will ride on spring records. The Eagles, now under Coach Steve Hamilton, return 10 non-pitchers who started at one time. In all, 15 lettermen are back. Five lettermen will not be back this season. Four were graduated and the fifth, pitcher Gary Reiter, did not return to school. Second baseman Ken Nooe broke five offensive records last season, including most hits in a season record which formerly was held by Boston Red Sox second baseman Denny Doyle. Nooe hit -409 and also broke records for most at-bats, runs scored, doubles and total bases_ He was named the team's most valuable player. On the other side of second base is shortstop Jim Brockman. He has played two seasons of college baseball and twice has been named AII-OVC. He hit .322 last year and was second in walks with 33. Junior Bobby Wells will probably get the early nod at first base over freshman Danny Kiser. Both are Morehead natives. Versatile Jeff Stamper has inherited the third base position. He hit .326 last season while playing six different positions. "Because of his versatility, Jeff is one of the most valuable players on the team," said Coach Hamilton. Bobby Whitaker will provide depth in the infield. The outfield features AII-OVC returnee Mac Whitaker and former AII-OVC star Greg Tucker. Whitaker hit .294 and led the team in walks. Tucker will be attempting to recover from an eye injury suffered last season. Joining them in the battle for the three outfield positions are defensive ace Harry Hall and consistent Jeff Elwert. Dave Bennett will add depth. Catching duties will be shared by Kirk Hudson and Rick Gunterman and it may be the strongest position on the team. Hudson hit .318 and will be the regular defensive catcher and Gunterman will catch the second game of doubleheaders and serve as a designated hitter. Gunterman broke MSU's records for home runs and runs batted in last season and batted .331. A trio of hard throwin'g southpaws head the pitching staff. Tinker Chapman led the team in wins, games, complete games, innings pitched and earned run average. He returns for his senior season. Jim Duff also returns to defend his team strikeout crown. Fast-improving Mel Wolf will provide a third lefthanded starter. Righthander Harry Arnold also returns. Righthander Jim Schmidt also may get a starting slot. Southpaw Doug Fryman and righthander Marc Griesinger head the bullpen staff. They will be joined by two untested freshmen, Mike Patton and Jerry Bloomfield. "One of our main strengths will be offensive ability," said Coach Hamilton. "We have excellent hitting and should have more team speed. We'll be able to play a more open type of baseball with more running." "Our question marks will be depth in pitching and defense on the corners of the infield," said Hamilton. " I hope to establish definite starting pitchers and point the rotation around conference games." The Eagles will play 43 games in 44 days. At stake is the OVC crown and a trip to the NCAA Tourna ment. HARRY ARNOLD - RHP 6-3, 190, Sr., Frankfort, Ky. Should be hi s best year . t hrew two-hitter against Louisville . right-handed starter . graduate of Franklin County High ... son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry T. Arnold Sr. of Frankfort. DAVE BENNETT- OF 5-10, 170, Jr., Wheelersburg, Ohio Still battling hand injury suffered two years ago .. will add depth to left-handed pinch hitting . can hit with power .. graduate of Wheelersburg High . .. son of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Bennett of Wheelersburg. JERRY BLOOMFIELD - RHP 6-3, 200, Fr., Camp Dix, Ky. Untried freshman . will pitch in short re lief . .. graduate of Lewis County High ... son of Mr. and Mrs. Estill Bloomfield of Camp Dix. JIM BROCKMAN - SS 5-8, 135, Jr., Findlay, Ohio Two-time AII-OVC ... physicall y stronger this season ... hit .322 last season .. surprising power for small frame . graduate of Find lay High . son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brockman of Findlay. TINKER CHAPMAN - LHP 5-9, 170, Sr., Louisville, Ky. Led staff in games, complete games, wins, saves, innings pitched and ERA . A II-OVC ... left-handed starter .. was 7-4 with 2.04 ERA . .. graduate of Butler High ... son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. Chapman Sr. of Louisville. JIM DUFF - LHP 6-3, 190, Sr., Nashville, Ind. Won six of eight decisions . led team in strikeouts ... left-handed starter .. graduate of Nashville High . .. son of Mr. and Mrs. J ames Duff Sr. of Nashville. JEFF ELWERT - OF 5-7, 155, So., Cincinnati, Ohio Fighting for starting position .. left-handed ... hit .308 last season ... makes excellent contact .. graduate of Northwest High . .. son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Elwert of Cincinnati. DOUG FRYMAN - LHP 6-1, 180, So., Carlisle, Ky. Long relief specialist last year . may start some . graduate of Nicholas County ... son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Fryman of Carlisle. MARC GRIESINGER - RHP 6-0, 145, Jr., California, Ky. Hard worker ... will be used in relief .. graduate of Campbell County High .. son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Griesinger of California, Kentucky. RICK GUNTERMAN - C 5-11 , 175, Jr., Sellersburg, Ind. Set MSU records for home runs with 11 and RBl 's with 54 . .. also hit .331 ... will be designated hitter and catch in doubleheaders ... graduate of Si lver Creek High . son of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Gunterman of Sellersburg. HARRY HALL - OF 5-9, 185, Jr., Findlay, Ohio Outstanding defensive outfielders ... hitting only obstacle to stardom .. graduate of Find lay High ... son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hall of Findlay.