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EERICRIC TTUGUG NNICKICK BBRIANRIAN BBRANDONRANDON MMATTATT MMARKARK SSCOTTCOTT SSANSOUCIANSOUCI GGILLINGHAMILLINGHAM HHALLALL TTONERONER HHODGEODGE GGERMANERMAN BBADGLEYADGLEY SSIMONIMON 22005005 22005005 22006006 22006006 22006006 22007007 22007007 22007007 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2008 SCHEDULE FEBRUARY Northern Illinois Baseball: In the Pros ...... 1 Date Day Opponent Site Time (CT) Table of Contents/2008 Schedule/Road Headquarters ...... 2 22 Fri. at Texas Tech Lubbock, Texas 3 p.m. Northern Illinois Baseball: Facilities ...... 3 23 Sat. at Texas Tech (DH) Lubbock, Texas 1 p.m. Northern Illinois Baseball: Building Tradition ...... 4-5 24 Sun. at Texas Tech Lubbock, Texas 1 p.m. Inside the Huskie Locker Room ...... 6 TOC/QUICK FACTS/ETC. 29 Fri. at Carbondale, Ill. 2 p.m. COACHING STAFF ...... 7-14 MARCH Head Coach Ed Mathey ...... 8-9 1 Sat. at Southern Illinois Carbondale, Ill. 1 p.m. Head Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Steve Joslyn ...... 10 2 Sun. at Southern Illinois Carbondale, Ill. 1 p.m. Assistant Coach Tom Carcione/Student Staff Assistants ...... 11 7 Fri. at Texas State San Marcos, Texas 6 p.m. Assistant Coach Ray Napientek/Baseball Support Staff ...... 12 8 Sat. at Texas State San Marcos, Texas 2 p.m. 9 Sun. at Texas State (DH) San Marcos, Texas 1 p.m. 2008 HUSKIES ...... 13-34 11 Tue. at Texas-San Antonio (DH) San Antonio, Texas 1 p.m. Outlook ...... 14-15 12 Wed. vs. Oklahoma Frisco, Texas (Dr. Pepper Ballpark) 6:30 p.m. Roster/Pronunciations ...... 16 13 Thu. at Dallas Baptist Dallas, Texas 6:30 p.m. Player Bios ...... 17-33 14 Fri. at Dallas Baptist Dallas, Texas 6:30 p.m. adidas ...... 34 15 Sat. at Dallas Baptist Dallas, Texas 1 p.m. 18 Tue. at Chicago State Chicago, Ill. 2 p.m. 2007 REVIEW ...... 35-40 21 Fri. at Buffalo Buffalo, N.Y. 1 p.m. Highlights/Awards and Honors ...... 36 22 Sat. at Buffalo Buffalo, N.Y. Noon Results/Record Breakdown ...... 37 23 Sun. at Buffalo Buffalo, N.Y. Noon Overall Statistics ...... 38 #25 TUE. BRADLEY (DH) RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 1 P.M. MAC Statistics ...... 39 # 26 Wed. at Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 2:30 p.m. MAC Summary ...... 40 28 Fri. at Bowling Green Bowling Green, Ohio 2 p.m. 29 Sat. at Bowling Green Bowling Green, Ohio Noon HISTORY AND RECORDS ...... 41-58 30 Sun. at Bowling Green Bowling Green, Ohio Noon Team Records ...... 42 Individual Records ...... 43-45 APRIL Records and Huskie Athletics Hall of Fame ...... 46 # 1 TUE. ILLINOIS STATE RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 2:30 P.M. Huskies in and the MLB Draft ...... 47 # 2 WED. MILWAUKEE RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 2:30 P.M. All-Americans/Awards and Honors ...... 48 # 4 FRI. KENT STATE RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 3 P.M. Awards and Honors ...... 49 # 5 SAT. KENT STATE RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 1 P.M. All-Time Letterwinners ...... 50-51 # 6 SUN. KENT STATE RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 1 P.M. Annual Statistical Leaders ...... 52-53 8 Tue. at Illinois State Normal, Ill. 6 p.m. Annual Team Statistics ...... 54 9 Wed. at Valparaiso Valparaiso, Ind. 3 p.m. Season Results ...... 55-58 # 11 FRI. AKRON RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 3 P.M. All-Time Record vs. Opponents ...... 58 #12 SAT. AKRON RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 1 P.M. # 13 SUN. AKRON RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 1 P.M. UNIVERSITY ...... 59-66 16 WED. CHICAGO STATE RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 3 P.M. President Dr. John G. Peters/Board of Trustees ...... 60 18 Fri. at Toledo Toledo, Ohio 2 p.m. Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Dr. Jim Phillips ...... 61 19 Sat. at Toledo Toledo, Ohio Noon Northern Illinois University ...... 62-63 20 Sun. at Toledo Toledo, Ohio Noon Location...... 64 # 22 TUE. UIC ELFSTROM STADIUM (GENEVA) 6:15 P.M. Jeffrey & Kimberly Yordon Center ...... 65 25 FRI. EASTERN MICHIGAN RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 3 P.M. Huskie Points of Pride ...... 66 26 SAT. EASTERN MICHIGAN RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 1 P.M. 27 SUN. EASTERN MICHIGAN RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 1 P.M. INFORMATION ...... 67-72 29 Tue. at Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisc. 3 p.m. Media Information...... 68 Radio Information/Media Directory/Pre-Game Schedule ...... 69 MAY MAC Information/Composite Schedule ...... 70-71 2 FRI. CENTRAL MICHIGAN RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 3 P.M. NIU Baseball Summer Camp ...... 71 3 SAT. CENTRAL MICHIGAN RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 1 P.M. Opponent Directory ...... 72 4 SUN. CENTRAL MICHIGAN RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 1 P.M. # 9 Fri. at Ball State Muncie, Ind. 2 p.m. ON THE COVER # 10 Sat. at Ball State Muncie, Ind. Noon FRONT: Northern Illinois’ “four aces” # 11 Sun. at Ball State Muncie, Ind. Noon lead the pitching staff. Starting pitchers 12 MON. NORTHERN IOWA RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 2 P.M. (from left): Junior RHP Brian Smith, # 15 THU. WESTERN MICHIGAN RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 3 P.M. Senior LHP Matt Jernstad, Senior RHP # 16 FRI. WESTERN MICHIGAN RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 3 P.M. Trevor Feeney, Junior LHP Brandon # 17 SAT. WESTERN MICHIGAN RALPH McKINZIE FIELD 1 P.M. Copp. Each member of the starting # 21 Wed. MAC Tournament Regular Season Champion TBD quartet is an All-MAC candidate for the # 22 Thu. MAC Tournament Regular Season Champion TBD 2008 season. # 23 Fri. MAC Tournament Regular Season Champion TBD # 24 Sat. MAC Tournament Regular Season Champion TBD The back cover features several key Dates and times subject to change. Huskies including: SS Bobby Stevens, HOME GAMES IN BOLD. OF Pat Minogue, LHP Adam Holdenrid, # scheduled for broadcast on WLBK (1360-AM) and niuhuskies.com. RHP Andy Deain, C Matt Behren, IF Tim GameTracker or Live Stats coverage on niuhuskies.com available for most games. Kamin, OF Jeff Thomas, OF Danny Reed, and 3B Jordin Hood. ROAD HEADQUARTERS Feb. 21-24 ...... Texas Tech March 20-23 ...... Buffalo CREDITS Holiday Inn & Towers, Lubbock, TX Comfort Inn-University, Buffalo, NY The 2008 Northern Illinois Baseball Media Guide is a product of the NIU Athletic Media Relations (806) 740-9960 (716) 688-0811 Offi ce. Written, designed and edited by David Brauer. Cover design by Joe Summins and David Feb. 28-March 1 .....Southern Illinois March 27-30 ...... Bowling Green Brauer. Statistical research by Seon Brown and David Brauer. Assistance by Tim Bohn, Ben Fairfi eld Inn, Marion, IL Hampton Inn, Bowling Green, OH Killam, Dave Mason, Ray Napientek, and Nate Rakoczy. Printing by Barnaby, Syacmore, Ill. (618) 993-3011 (419) 353-3464 Photography by Scott Walstrom and NIU archives. Professional player photos provided by March 6-10 ...... Spring Trip April 17-20 ...... Toledo Dave Schofi eld (Lakewood BlueClaws), Mike Janes (Jamestown Jammers), Pat Kelly (National Holiday Inn Express, San Marcos, TX Park Inn, Toledo, OH Baseball Hall of Fame), Madison Mallards, and Southern Illinois Miners. (512) 754-6621 (419) 241-3000 Copies of the publication are available to the general public at a cost of $10 each (includes March 11-14 ...... Spring Trip May 8-11 ...... Ball State shipping and handling) by sending a check, made payable to Northern Illinois, to NIU Media Quality Inn, Arlington, TX Clarion Inn, Anderson, IN Relations Offi ce, 209 Convocation Center, 1525 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb, IL 60115. (817) 467-3535 (765) 644-2581 222 Ralph McKinzie Field has been home to the northern illinois baseball Huskie baseball program since 1965. The facility was renamed in honor of one of NIU’s early pioneers and a charter member of the Huskie Athletics Hall of Fame, Ralph McKinzie, on May 8, 1993. Since its original opening, the home of the Huskies has ffacilitiesacilities undergone several improvements, including the most recent project, a complete resurfacing of the infi eld following the 2004 season. Ralph McKinzie Field Facts Dimensions (L to R): 312-368--395-368-322 Wall Height: 8 feet Capacity: 1,500 First Game: 4/10/65, L (10-1) to Wisconsin First NIU Win: 4/30/65, (10-5) over Central Michigan All-Time Home Record: 353-295-10 (.544) Home Record since 2003: 63-35-1 (.641) About Ralph McKinzie One of Northern Illinois’ early athletics pioneers, Ralph McKinzie’s contributions spanned nearly a quarter century (1940-63) and resulted in his induction as a charter member of the Huskie Athletics Hall of Fame in 1978. Before coming to NIU, McKinzie was a three-sport standout as an undergraduate, served in the U.S. Army in World War I, and coached at two colleges. At Eureka College, McKinzie coached President Ronald Reagan, who played offensive guard on the football team from 1928-32. A view of the Huskies’ locker room. McKinzie served terms as coach of the Huskie baseball, tennis and track teams and was an assistant football coach and an athletics trainer. He led the baseball program in 1945 and from 1949-56 Northern Illinois hosts an annual game at Elfstrom and totaled 70 career wins, including consecutive Stadium in Geneva, Ill., home of the Oakland Athletics Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles in Class A affi liate and site of the 1950-51. 2007 All-Star Game.

The dedication plaque (left) at the entrance to McKinzie Field and the board honoring the 1950 and 1951 IIAC Championship teams (right).

Opened in August 2007, the $14 million state-of-the-art Jeffrey The Huskie Indoor Training (H.I.T.) Center (above) and Kimberly Yordon Center (above) serves all 486 student- opened in November 2007 and serves as the indoor athletes and 17 programs. The 62,000-square foot facility home for the NIU baseball team. The 9,800-square features the Frances and George Wilkins Academic Support foot facility features an astroturf fl oor and sport- Center and a 12,500-square foot strength and conditioning specifi c lighting. Four full-size batting cages allow the center (right) with all new weight equipment and sprint lanes. Huskies to train year-round.

233 northern illinois baseball bbuildinguilding ttraditionradition RESULTS State Success 42-19 (.689) against Illinois opponents since 2003 and has the most intrastate victories of state schools during that span ... 20-5 (.800) against Division I intrastate opposition over the past two seasons … 11-2 with victories over all seven “Land of Lincoln” opponents to claim “state championship” in 2006 ... One of three Illinois schools with three 30-plus win seasons since 2003 … Only Illinois school represented on both the NCBWA Stopper of the Year and Wallace Award national watch lists during 2007 season … Records Notched school’s three highest victory in the past fi ve seasons, The record-setting 2007 team was honored at halftime of a NIU football including a school-record 34 Division I wins in 2007 … game in September. Set school records for strikeouts, Modern Era ERA and Division I Era fi elding percentage in 2007 … SUMMER LEAGUES Became the fastest NIU team to 20 victories and recorded the fi rst Represented in the prestigious 4-0 MAC start in school history in 2007 … Cape Cod League for the fi rst Claimed its fi rst MAC series win over Miami and fi rst series victory at time in two decades in 2006 and Ball State since 1980 during the 2007 season … sent two players in 2007 ... Set the school-record for two-year victory total with a combined Placed players in the top college 65 wins during the 2003 and 2004 seasons … summer leagues across the Rewrote the school record book with seven team marks since 2003… country including: Cape Cod, Finished the 2007 season ranked No. 17 in the Midwest, third among Northwoods, Coastal Plains, Cal Ripken, Sr., Central Illinois Matt Behren, Brian Smith and Trevor both MAC schools and state schools, and higher than Miami (Ohio), Feeney teamed up with the Madison Kansas, Illinois, Notre Dame, Missouri State, Purdue and Ball State … Collegiate, Alaska, New England Mallards of the Collegiate and Great Lakes ... in 2007. MAC Success Collected the CICL’s MVP, Posted a school-record 16 league victories and six MAC series wins Fireman of the Year and Tournament MVP awards in 2006 and NBC in 2007 … World Series MVP and Baseball America Summer League All-America Placed third at the 2007 MAC Tournament, one win from playing accolades (Scott Simon) in 2004. for the league title, the school’s best postseason MAC fi nish … Compiled the second-best overall winning percentage of MAC INDIVIDUAL HONORS schools in 2007, better than tournament champion Kent State and Produced school’s fi rst Division I All- regular-season champion Eastern Michigan ... American and national award fi nalist Reached three MAC Tournaments since 2003 with at least one victory (Matt German in 2007) … each year … Totaled a school-record six MAC Player/ Pitcher of the Week awards in 2007 and 23 since 2003 … 11 All-MAC selections since 2003, including fi ve fi rst-teamers … An active streak of four consecutive seasons with a fi rst-team All-MAC selection … Matt German’s 2007 NCBWA Three consecutive seasons (2006-08) with All-American award. a player on the Wallace Award Watch List ... Produced the MAC Career Hit King (Scott Simon) and league’s No. 2 career saves leader (Matt German) … Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award Candidate in 2007 (Scott Simon) … School’s fi rst consecutive ABCA All-Region selections (Matt German) in 2006-07) … Scott Simon (left) became the MAC’s all-time hit leader while Matt German Three Freshmen All-American honorees since 2003 … (right) fi nished second on the league’s career saves list. School-record four players chosen in the 2004 MLB Amateur Draft … 4 EXPOSURE Garnered unprecedented coverage including Baseball the Magazine and PingBaseball.com and Midwest Baseball Magazine websites in 2007 … Had 11 games, including all postseason contests, broadcast live on the radio and the world wide web last season with 10 regular season games plus postseason scheduled for 2008 … Over 50 games available on the Internet via GameTracker and Live Stats interface with the potential for live video of home games … Continuous updated content on NIUHuskies.com with live chats, player features and player blogs …

Game day excitement at McKinzie Field (above). Victor E. Huskie throws out the fi rst pitch (left). RECRUITING Consecutive nationally-ranked recruiting classes by Collegiate Baseball in 2005 and 2006. The 2005 class placed ahead of UCLA, Texas Tech, Central Florida, and Baylor and the 2006 group was second among MAC schools and above Minnesota, San Jose State, and Missouri State. Featured four all-state selections and three nationally-ranked players among its 2007 fall signees … A sampling of Northern Illinois’ media coverage during the 2007 season. ACADEMICS SCHEDULE 32 NIU Huskie Scholars (3.0-3.49 GPA) since 2003 … Rated as having the MAC’s toughest schedule in 2006, according to Nine NIU Victory Scholars (3.5 GPA and above) since 2003 … Boyd’s World strength of schedule formula … Four Academic All-MAC selections in the past fi ve seasons … Took 10-day spring break trips to California/Nevada and Florida the 13 players with a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA through Fall 2007 … past two seasons and making a Texas trip in 2008 ... Played at college baseball’s top venues, including Nebraska, Arizona State and Texas Tech and have a series at Mississippi State IN THE COMMUNITY Volunteered in several community programs including local school scheduled for 2009 … appearances and other off the fi eld service … Faced nationally-ranked teams at Nebraska, Arizona State, and Donned green for St. Patrick’s Day games including jerseys which were Florida Atlantic … auctioned off at an annual team fund-raising event ... Hosts annual Leadoff Banquet that includes guest speakers and entertainment ...

NIU has played at some of the best venues in college baseball and annually Huskie players Justin Behm and Jeff Thomas read “Casey at the Bat” to hosts a game at one of the top minor league stadiums in the Midwest. second graders at Kingston Elementary School. 5 INSIDE THE HUSKIE LOCKER ROOM Northern Illinois baseball is supplied by adidas, the offi cial outfi tter of NIU Athletics. The Huskies have four game jerseys (white, gray, black and red) and one batting practice jersey (black) with the adidas logo. They are also supplied with two sets of game shoes (black and red), practice t-shirts, fl eece, wristbands, batting gloves and other products from adidas. The Huskies have three game hats (white, black and red) and one practice hat (black/white) produced by The Game, the offi cial on-fi eld headwear for Northern Illinois and over 600 other colleges and universities. Rawlings, the number one glove in Major League Baseball, supplies NIU baseball with its fi elding gloves. In addition to its contracts with adidas, The Game and Rawlings, NIU baseball benefi ts from the numerous Huskie Athletics corporate sponsorships including Gatorade.

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