Morehead State University Baseball 1980

t \, . ..' -~ :- • I • 'i,' . I ' I I ··' I..,".. ,/ . .'';, ·;, .., , ·.'. { ,,,:J •. '. • I . 1 .. .-,. ' • II : ,, , • I I, • I , .· ..', ' · • I ,. ,·I ••. } • General Information LOCATION-Morehead, Ky. 40351. ENROLLMENT-7,030. FOUNDED-1922. PRESIDENT-Dr. Morris Norfleet ATHLETIC COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN-Dr. Rodger Hammons, Associate Professor of Mathematics. ATHLETIC DIRECTOR-G. E. (Sonny) Moran. Office Phone: AC 606-783-3335 Home Phone: AC 606-784-6789 ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR-John (Sonny) Allen. Office Phone: AC 606-783-3335 Home Phone: AC 606-784-5332 HEAD BASEBALL COACH-Steve Hamilton. Office Phone: AC 606-783-5292 Home Phone: AC 606-784-5424 BASEBALL ADDRESS-UPC 683, MSU, Morehead, KY 40351 . PRESS BOX PHONE-AC 606-783-5293 NICKNAME-Eagles. SCHOOL COLORS-Royal blue and gold. FIELD-John (Sonny) Allen Field. SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR-Jim Wells. Office Phone: AC 606-783-3325 Home Phone: AC 606-784-8073 ASSISTANT SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR-Becky Bennett. Office Phone: AC 606-783-3325 Home Phone: AC 606-783-4337 CONFERENCE-Ohio Valley. 1980 Media Guide-Published by Morehead State University. Information compiled and edited by Jim Wells. Photography by Morehead State University's Office of Photographic Services. Morehead State University Baseball Outlook 1980 Among the returnees is Jody Hamilton, a center fielder last season who has been switched to first base this year. The 6-4 senior was voted the OVC's " Player of the Year" last year, winning the conference triple crown and setting new season records in home runs (19), RBl's (60) and total bases (130). Another offensive weapon that has changed defensive positions is Jamey Bennett, who .. ;.•"-_~; ! has moved from left field to third : .,::_ - -·· .. - ... ~.· base. Bennett added 11 home . •,:. ~--~. runs to MSU's scoring punch, hitting .336 in his first year. The starting combination for With the majority of the team the past two seasons at second returning that posted a 14-4 base and shortstop, Chris Auer regular season Ohio Valley Con and John McVaney, return to ference record and a 23-19 mark give the Eagles solid, up-the over all, Morehead State Univer middle strength. sity Basebal I Coach Steve Hamilton is optimistic about the 1980 season. " We had an outstanding fall, concentrating on defense," stated Hamilton. " We know we can hit the ball, but we feel we have to be a complete team to win in our conference." Experience is the key to suc cess in many cases, and Hamilton is hopeful that the presence of eight returning regulars and three of the squad's top four pitchers will give his team the boost it needs. McVaney, a senior who was injured most of last season, had a .299 batting average and pro vided solid defense. Freshman Mark Mangione will see back-up duty early and could crack the starting lineup by the season's end. 7 At second base, Auer earned all-conference honors during the 1978 season, although he fell to a .252 batting mark last year. A solid defensive performer, his offense is expected to return this season. A squad question mark ap pears in left field, a spot going to Glen Jones at the beginning of the season. Possibly the team's finest athlete, the Frankfort In right field is returning sophomore was limited by in junior John Combs, one of the juries to only 13 games played squads most consistent hitters last year. If he is healthy, he over the past two seasons. A could add a new dimension to converted infielder, Combs MSU's offense. followed a .410 season his The center field slot should freshman year with a .326 mark go to freshman Alan Steele, a last season to put him among veteran of the Connie Mack the squad's leaders. World Series who should be a Catcher should be a squad sol id defensive performer. strength, both offensively and Steele should be an excellent defensively, with the return of player if his hitting improves. last year's top two performers, Jeff White and David Gaunce. White, a two-year veteran, hit .307 last year with five home runs, while Gaunce hit .304. Both have strong throwing arms. The designated hitter spot is up for grabs, with Don Allen, Brian Hawk and Mark Davis as possibilities. Depth will be a strong suit for the Eagles. Allen should back up Bennett at third, Davis will serve as a catcher and back-up out fielder, and Hawk will back up Hamilton at first base. Defensively, freshman Joey May should give the Eagles plen ty of help in the outfield, with his good fundamentals and a strong throwing arm. As most fol lowers of basebal I know, pitching is often the key to success or failure. Hamilton feels his pitching staff is solid for the campaign ahead. " We have a great deal of ability on the pitching staff this season," he stated. "Early in the year we make a lot of control mistakes, and it reflects on our earned run averages at the end of the season." Leading the way for t he The team's top left hander is Eagles' mound corps are seniors Olwine, who has the stuff and Walt Terrell, Ed Olwine and Ken control to be as effective as Ter Wilfong, three of the top four rel I. Wilfong, a right hander, has starting pitchers the past two had good consistency, making seasons. all-OVC first team in 1978 and Terrell, a right hander, is the second team in 1979. hardest thrower on the squad As far as depth goes, there ap and should be considered the pears to be plenty, as sopho squad's stopper. An all-OVC per more Mike Mattox and Glen former last season, he can be ex Napier lead the supporting cast tremely tough. of starters. Others to be con sidered are right handers Dan Hoard, Tom Deluca, and Scott Haynes. Left handers include Joe Mar tin and Mark Molitor. According to Hamilton, the league race and schedule will make for a tough season. " We may start slowly this season," stated Hamilton. " We play a number of good teams on our spring trip who will be ahead of us." He added: " Our conference schedule could be tougher than last year, as everybody in the league has improved." Head Coach Steve Hamilton rage 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, Indiana, will prob ably be remembered most for his professional baseball days. Hamilton spent 11 seasons in the majors and played for the Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, San Fran cisco Giants and Chicago Cubs. He stayed with the Yankees for seven and one-half seasons Former MSU basketball and and played in two World Series. baseball standout Steve Hamil He retired from the major ton is entering his fifth season leagues following the 1972 sea at the helm of the Eagle baseball son and managed the Johnson program, after guiding the City (Tenn.) franchise in the Ap Eagles to a record of 97-67 in his palachian League in 1973. initial four campaigns. Hamilton returned to the ma In those four years, MSU has jors as pitching coach of the won two eastern division titles Detroit Tigers in 1975 under his and one OVC championship, long-time friend and former with Hamilton being named as manager, Ralph Houk, but re league "Coach of the Year" in turned to MSU in 1976. 1977. "In baseball, I left home for Hamilton earned All-American seven months out of the year honors in basketball at MSU in and could see my family for only 1957. He twice was named to the a day at a time," said Hamilton. All-Ohio Valley Conferenc;e "I decided I wanted to stay team. closer to home." He distinguished his basket Hamilton was appointed the ball career by setting all of Eagle field boss when John NISU's rebounding marks. He (Sonny) Allen was elevated to currently holds the marks for re assistant athletic director. Allen bounds in a game (38), rebounds served as head coach for 14 in a season (543), rebounds in a seasons. four-year career (1,675), best re Hamilton received his bache bounding average in a season lor's degree from MSU in 1958 (20.1) and best rebounding ave- and his master's degree in 1963. Graduate Assistant Coach Sam Daugherty Sam Daugherty, a former Eagle player under Leston Stewart and Sonny Allen, will be serving as graduate assistant with the MSU team this spring. Daugherty, a native of Greenfield, Ohio, is a former baseball and junior high basketball coach at University Breckinridge School on the MSU campus. According to Hamilton, Daugherty's pres ence will be of great value to the program. " Sam will be able to help in nearly all areas of the game, and with our young team, it is important that we give players individual instruc tion." He continued: " Sam brings an energy and enthusiasm to the job that is con tagious. His attitude could help make us a good team this year." A four-year baseball letterman, Daugherty played on MSU's 1969 championship squad. COACHING RECORDS SINCE 1946 Year Head Coach Won Lost Championships Year Head Coach Won Lost Championships 1946 Stan RadJunas 7 7 1964 22 8 OVC East 1947 . 10 4 KIAC 1965 . 24 9 OVC East 1948 . 9 3 1966 Sonny Allen 14 5 1949 . 8 8 1967 Rex Chaney 22 11 (Chaney To tal, 6 1950 . 5 8 yrs., 111 -56) 1951 . 10 9 1968 Les Stewart 13 14 OVC East (Stewart 1952 .

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