Morehead State University Baseball 1975
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"q' I (\ &. ~ Morehead ~ State University Baseball 1975 EAGLE SCHEDULE Day Date Opponent EDT Sat. March 22 TAYLOR (3) 10:00 Tues. March 25 Louisville (2) 1:00 Thurs. March 27 CINCINNATI (2) 1 :30 Sat. March 29 * East Tennessee (2) 12:00 Mon. March 31 Ohio University 3:00 Wed. April 2 BROWN (2) 1:30 Thurs. April 3 Xavier 3:00 Sat. April 5 *Tennessee Tech (2) 12; 00 Mon. April 7 XAVIER 3:00 Wed. April 9 LOU ISVILLE (2) 1: 30 Sat. April 12 * EASTERN KENTUCKY (2) 12:00 Mon. April 14 Marshall (2) 1 :00 Wed . April 16 HANOVER (2) 1:30 Thurs. April 17 HANOVER 3:00 Mon. April 21 Cincinnati 3 :00 Tues. April 22 Morris Harvey (2) 1:00 Thurs. April 24 KENTUCKY (2) 1 :30 Mon. April 28 Kentucky (2) 1 :00 Tues. April 29 MARSHA LL (2) 1 :30 Fri.-Sat. May 2-3 OVC Championships Series ( Eastern Div is ion Site) *Ohio Valley Conf erence Eastern Division Games All Home Games Listed in Capitals Sonny Allen John (Sonny) Allen is entering his 14th season at the helm of Morehead State University's baseball program. Allen's teams have posted a combined 208-121 mark in 13 years and have captured four Ohio Vall ey Conference Eastern Division titles and three OVC crowns. He has recorded more than 400 baseball victories on the MSU campus. His University Breckinridge School teams compiled an enviable 225-25 mark in 10 seasons. A former basketball and baseball star at MSU, Allen is second on the list of Eagle al l-time basketball scorers. He was selected to t he AII -OVC basketball team in 1949 and 1950, received All-American honors in 1950 and has been inducted into the Eagle Hall of Honor. Allen was selected captain of the Kentucky High School Al I-State basketball team in 1946, t he year he helped lead Breck to the Kentucky state t it le. He received the "Star of Stars" Award in the Kentucky- 1ndiana All- Star Game in 1946 and is a member of the Kent ucky Basketball Hall of Fame. His MSU baseballers posted a 23-17 record in capturing the OVC's Eastern Division title last season. He has been named the OVC's "Coach of the Year" three times. MSU's ultra-modern baseball complex was named for the successful coach. Allen Field, which has 1,200 permanent seats, will again be the site of t he Kentucky State High School Basebal I Tournament this spring. JIMMY BARON Graduate Assistant Baron joined the MSU coaching staff as a graduate assistant following a produc tive career as the Eagle second baseman. He was a starter for three seasons and compiled a .284 career batting average. He enjoyed his best season as a senior when he hit .310. A graduate of Findlay High School, Baron was selected to the AII-OVC team as a junior. He tied the MSU record for doubles in a season, 10, last year. He is married to the former Jenny Slough of Findlay and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Baron of Findlay. JOHN KURTZ Graduate Assistant Kurtz posted a 12-4 career mark as a starting pitcher for the Eagles and wi ll coach the mound corps this season. He used a sharp-breaking curve bal I to lead the team in strikeouts during his junior and senior seasons. He was named to the AII -OVC team as a senior. Kurtz joined the MSU team as a shortstop and was trans ferred to the mound. He also lettered in soccer. He is married to the former Kathy Leininger of Lexington and is the son of Mrs. Dorothy Kurtz of Narvon, Pa. 1975 OUTLOOK After losing the Ohio Valley Conference's Eastern Division title last fall by a half game, Morehead State University's baseball Eagles have their sights set on the spring championship. Coach Sonny Allen's squad posted an 11 -8 mark last fall, including a 4·2 slate in the OVC. MSU dropped the title by virtue of Eastern Kentucky's tie game with Tennessee Tech. MSU returns two All·OVC performers from last season, shortstop Jim Brockman and outfielder Greg Tucker. The Eagles have seven starters from the team which dropped the OVC championship series at Murray last year. Brockman, a sophomore from Findlay, Ohio, hit .342 last fall and slu gged three home runs. Tucker, a junior from Hillsboro, Ohio, hit .419 and drove in 17 runs during the fall. "We hit the ball very well during the fall season," said Allen. "Our team batting average was about as good as you can hope for in college baseball." The Eagles must find replacements for three graduated all-conference players - first baseman Homer Cablish, second baseman J immy Baron and pitcher John Kurtz. First base will go to Jim Schlemmer, a .333 hitter during the fall campaign. Ken Nooe is expected to inherit the second base spot after hitting .390 and belting a team-high seven doubles. Gary Ferguson and J eff Stamper will battle for the third base spot. Ferguson was a regu lar at the hot corner last season and Stamper has been converted from catcher. The outfield should be strong with Mac Whitaker, Harry Hall , Bobby Well s, Jeff Elwert, and Randy Jones joining Tucker. Whitaker and Wells started much of last season but Wells is recovering from an off-season leg injury. Hall is expected to challenge for a starting slot after having hitting problems in the fall. Elwert hit .428, mostly as a pinch-hitter. The catching corps could be as good as any in college baseball. Kirk Hudson returns from last season and hit .307 during the fall. Gunterman joined the Eagles last fall and hit a sizzling .413, led the team in home runs with six, knocked in 28 runs and had three game-winning hits. Gary• Cicso lends back-up to Hudson and Gunterman and ·can play in the outfield. The pitching staff is young and inexperienced but posted a respectable 3 .01 team ERA in the fall . Lefthanders Tinker Chapman and Jim Duff were mainstays last year. Mel Wolf posted an 0.75 ERA to lead the squad in the fall. Righthanders Harry Arnold, Dan Gadlage, Bill Lucas, Gary Reiter and Steve Brewer will be counted on heavily this spring. Southpaws Doug Fryman and Randy Cordial will add depth. "Our biggest weakness during the fal I season was on defense," said Allen. " We must improve our team defense and get good pitching to be successful." MSU faces the prospect of playing two conference doubleheaders on the road and only one at home. The Eagles journey to East Tennessee and Tennessee Tech. Eastern Kentucky visits Allen Field. "Our pitching staff is young and if we are to be a contender, we must have a total staff performance," said Allen. " Our pitchers needed more work in the fall but they are solid." MSU will attempt to improve on last year's 23-17 mark. HARRY ARNOLD - P 6-3, 190, Jr., Frankfort, Ky. Arnold saw brief actil.m in the fal I ... good arm ... righthander ...l acks experience .. graduate of Franklin County High School ... son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry T. Arnold Sr. of Frankfort. DAVE BENNETT - 2B 5-10, 170, So., Wheelersburg, Ohio Recovering from injuries suffered before la st se·a son ... good hitter . cou ld contribute .. graduate of Whee lersburg High School ... son of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Bennett of Wheelersburg. STEVE BREWER - P 6-1 , 190, So., Owingsville, Ky. Good potential ... arm and control problems hurt during fall season ... righthander ... graduate of Bath County High School ... son of Mrs. Reba Van landingham of Owingsville. JIM BROCKMAN - SS 5-8, 135, So., Findlay, Ohio All-Ohio Va lley Conference pick last spring ... hit .342 during fall season ... led t eam in runs scored last fall .. good range ... graduate of Findlay High School .. son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brockman of Findlay. TINKER CHAPMAN - P 5-9, 170, Jr., Louisville, Ky. Posted a 4-1 mark during fall season and compiled an 0.81 era ... led team in st rikeouts. lefthander . hard t hrower ... backbone of pitching staff ... graduate of Butler High School ... son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. Chapman Sr. of Louisville. GARY CISCO - C 6-0, 185, So., Morehead, Ky. Good prospect . .. can catch or play outfield . good arm ... capable behind plate ... power hitter . graduate of Rowan County High School .. son of Mr. and Mrs. Linkous Cisco of Morehead. RANDY CORDIAL - P 6-1, 190, Sr., Hilliard, Ohio Plagued by injuries since freshman year . .. adds depth to pitching staff ... needs to regain lost control ... lefthander ... graduate of Hilliard High School .. son of Mrs. Dorothy Cordial of Hilliard. JIM DUFF - P 6-3, 190, Jr., Nashville, Ind. Posted a 2-1 mark during fall and respectable 2.96 era ... outstanding performance in OVC playoffs at Murray State last year ... lefthander ... second in strikeouts . .. graduate of Nashville High School son of Mr. and Mrs. James Duff Sr. of Nashville. JEFF ELWERT- OF 5-7, 155, Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio May be used as designated hitter against right handers ... hit .428 during fall . .. clutch hitter . graduate of Northwest High School ... son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Elwert of Cincinnati. GARY FERGUSON - 3B 6-0, 160, Sr., Morehead, Ky. Good glove ... rough fall season .. hit .252 last season .. graduate of Rowan County High School ... son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Ferguson of Morehead. DOUG FRYMAN -P 6-1, 180, Fr., Carlisle, Ky. Short relief specialist , .