2014 YOUNGSTOWN STATE BASEBALL QUICK FACTS & TABLE OF CONTENTS 2014 QUICK FACTS Location: _______________ Youngstown, Ohio Founded: _________________________1908 Enrollment: ______________________ 13,381 President: ________________ Dr. Randy Dunn Executive Director of Athletics: ___Ron Strollo NCAA Faculty Representative: ___ Dr. Chet Cooper Senior Woman Administrator: ___Elaine Jacobs Nickname: ____________________ Penguins Colors: ___________________Red and White Affiliation: ________________NCAA Division I Conference: ______________ Horizon League Home Field (Capacity): ___Eastwood Field (6,000) Surface: _______________________ Grass Dimensions: ______ 335-380-405-380-335 Press Box Phone: ___ (330) 505-0000 ext. 229 COACHING STAFF Head Coach: __ Steve Gillispie (Second Year) Alma Mater: _______ Fort Hays State, 1989 Email: [email protected] Twitter: ________________ @YSUBasesball Associate Head Coach:_____Kevin Smallcomb Assistant Coach/Recruiting: ______Jason Neal Assistant Coach/Pitching: ______ Craig Antush Student Assistant: ____________ Erik Okleson TABLE OF CONTENTS 2014 Preview Quinlan, Rohan, Ross, Saluga ______ Page 16 TEAM INFORMATION Quick Facts ______________________ Page 1 Shirley, Shoemake _______________ Page 17 2013 Overall Record:________________ 14-43 Season Preview _______________ Pages 2-3 Brad Smith, Ryan Smith, Sullivan ____ Page 18 Horizon League Record _________ 8-16 (Fifth) Schedule ________________________ Page 3 Switka, Wellan ___________________ Page 19 Horizon League Tournament____________ 0-2 Roster __________________________ Page 4 White, Wight ____________________Page 20 Letterwinners Returning/Lost: ________ 18/16 Willoughby, Yarabinec _____________ Page 21 Position Starters Returning/Lost ________ 5/4 Meet the Penguins Eastwood Field __________________Page 22 Starting Pitchers Returning/Lost _________ 4/1 Head Coach Steve Gillispie _________ Page 5 Watson and Tressel Training Site ____Page 23 Newcomers: _________________________16 Associate HC Kevin Smallcomb ______ Page 6 Assistant Coach Jason Neal _________ Page 6 History SPORTS INFORMATION Volunteer Assistant Craig Antush _____ Page 7 2013 Stats ______________________ Page 24 Sports Information Director: _____Trevor Parks Support Staff _____________________ Page 7 2013 Results/All-League Teams _____ Page 25 Assistant Director: _____________ Jamie Hall Accardi, Arcuri, Cordova ____________ Page 8 Year-By-Year Batting ______________Page 26 Assistant SID/Baseball Contact: ___John Vogel DiNello, Frey _____________________ Page 9 Year-By-Year Pitching _____________ Page 27 Vogel’s Office: ____________(330) 941-1480 Fryan, Gillespie, Harless ___________ Page 10 Yearly Statistical Leaders ______ Pages 28-32 Vogel’s Cell: _____________ (330) 647-1150 Hix, King, Konders _______________ Page 11 MLB Draft Picks/All-League Honors __Page 33 Vogel’s Email: __________ [email protected] Krokos, Larivee, Laver ____________ Page 12 Team Records ________________ Page 34-35 Student Interns: ____ Kyle Kroynovich, Jordan Lipari, Lujano ____________________ Page 13 Individual Batting Records ______ Page 36-38 Stipanovich, Lauren Minenok Manuppelli, Moules _______________ Page 14 Individual Pitching Records ______ Page 39-40 Sports Information Fax: ______(330) 941-3191 North, O’Brien ___________________ Page 15 All-Time Roster/Coaches ____________ 41-43 Mailing Address: _______One University Plaza Youngstown, OH 44555 YSU Athletics Website: _____ YSUsports.com Twitter ___________________ @YSUsports Facebook ________ facebook.com/ysusports YSUsports.com/social YouTube __________ youtube.com/ysusports #GoGuins Horizon League Contact: _____ Craig Hammel Email: ________ [email protected] Horizon League Phone: ______(317) 237-5622 HL Website: ________ www.horizonleague.com The 2014 Youngstown State University baseball media guide is a publication of the YSU Sports YSU Athletics Mission Statement Information Office. It was written and designed by The mission of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Youngstown State is to offer broad-based Assistant SID John Vogel. Assistance provided programs which accommodate the needs and interests of the students. The Intercollegiate Athletic by Trevor Parks and Jamie Hall. Photography Department is committed to: Welfare of student-athletes, Academic integrity, Sportsmanship and by Ron Stevens, Carl Leet, Ron Garchar and ethical integrity, Fiscal Integrity, Ethnic Integrity, Gender Equity and outreach. Bruce Palmer. Twitter: @YSUsports, @YSUBaseball 1 2014 YOUNGSTOWN STATE BASEBALL SEASON OUTLOOK Season Preview: Seniors, Talented Newcomers Bring Optimism for 2014 The Youngstown State baseball team and head coach Steve Gillispie are count- ing on senior leadership, player develop- ment and an overall increase in talent resulting in a substantial improvement in the win column in 2014. The Penguins were undeniably more competitive last season, the first under Gillispie, than it was in 2012. Against a tougher schedule, the team improved statistically across the board. The offense had a higher batting average and scored more than a half-a-run more per game on average. The pitching staff also lowered its ERA by more than a run. YSU beat West Virginia for the program’s first win over a Big 12 team, and it led Wake Forest in the ninth inning before losing. It won a series against Wright State for the first time in Phil Lipari is one of 10 seniors on the roster. He’ll be a starting infielder for the fourth straight year. seven years and won at Kent State for the first time since 2005. The gap was even and eight are junior college transfers. Of hitter, coming off a season in which he closed in losses as the Penguins dropped those 17 newcomers, nine have the ability batted .311 and slugged .386. 23 games by three runs or fewer. to pitch, and eight are capable of playing There are four other returning players Losing close games is far from the plan on the infield. who appeared in at least 40 games last in year two of Gillispie’s regime and for “The new guys have a notable skill level season, outfielders Mike Accardi, Jason the group of 10 seniors. Gillispie believes and baseball savvy,” Gillispie said. “We Shirley and David Saluga and infielder the talent has significantly improved, and have multi-tool guys who do exciting things Kevin Hix. The Penguins are also hoping the team will be noticeably better in run naturally. We’ve been able to spend more to get a full healthy year out of outfielder prevention with upgrades in pitching depth time teaching how to play the game at a Kris Moules, who batted .284 and started and infield defense. Plus, he expects that higher level instead of the basics.” the first 26 games before he missed 28 this past fall that was dedicated to player Gillispie’s optimism heading into 2014 contests with a hand injury. Jonas Wellan development instead of the necessary isn’t resting solely on the newcomers. He’s also returns after playing in 20 games as player evaluation period for a first-year got a trio of returning all-conference play- a freshman. coach will pay dividends early. ers and a weekend pitching rotation that Freshman Anthony Rohan, a gradu- “We had deficiencies last year, and he thinks can match up with most teams ate of Youngstown Ursuline, is the only recruiting was a huge part of filling the in the region. newcomer listed as an outfielder on the holes that we had,” Gillispie said. “Our two All three Penguins who earned second- roster. The new infielders are freshmen biggest needs were infield defense and team All-Horizon League honors last Lorenzo Arcuri, Ryan Cordova, Joe King, the depth and skill of our pitching staff. I season return as seniors in 2014. Catcher Alex Larivee and Shane Willoughby, and think we now are above-average with our Josh White batted .303 and drove in 30 juniors Brent Gillespie, Kurt Laver, Matt middle-infield defense. We have better runs in the middle of the order last season, Sullivan and Shane Willoughby. Juniors front-end guys, and that allows our middle and he’ll look to lead the pitching staff and Jake Fryman and Jake Ross will both add depth to be better. If you pitch better and infield once again as a senior. Phil Lipari, depth behind the plate behind White. play better defense, you’re going to be who set career highs in batting average, The top three candidates to hold spots much more competitive than you were.” on-base percentage and RBIs last season in the weekend rotation are all upperclass- There are 17 newcomers – out of 35 at shortstop, will move to second base – a men right-handers. At the top is senior players on the roster – on the 2014 squad, position he played primarily as a fresh- Patrick O’Brien, who will be in the starting and many are expected to contribute. man - for his final campaign. Outfielder rotation for the third straight year and led Nine of those newcomers are freshmen, Nick DiNello is arguably the top returning the ball club in wins, strikeouts and innings 2 YSUsports.com | facebook.com/ysusports 2014 YOUNGSTOWN STATE BASEBALL SEASON OUTLOOK Season Preview Continued SCHEDULE Fri. Feb. 21 at UAB Birmingham, Ala. 5 p.m. Sat. Feb. 22 at UAB Birmingham, Ala. 2 p.m. Sun. Feb. 23 at UAB Birmingham, Ala. 2 p.m. Tue. Feb. 25 at Alabama State Montgomery, Ala. 7 p.m. Wed. Feb. 26 at Alabama State Montgomery, Ala. 7 p.m. Fri. Feb. 28 vs. Appalachian State Cary, N.C. 2 p.m. Sat. March 1 vs. Notre Dame Cary, N.C. 11:30 a.m. Sun. March 2 vs. N.C. State Cary, N.C. 1 p.m. Fri. March 7 at Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 4 p.m. Sat. March 8 at Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 4 p.m. Sun. March 9 at Cincinnatti Cincinnati, Ohio 1 p.m. Tue. March 11 at Eastern Kentucky Richmond, Ky. 3 p.m. Wed. March 12 at Eastern Kentucky Richmond, Ky. 3 p.m. Fri. March 14 at Oakland * Rochester, Mich. 3 p.m. Sat. March 15 at Oakland * Rochester, Mich. 1 p.m. Sun. March 16 at Oakland * Rochester, Mich. 1 p.m. Tue. March 18 at Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pa. 3 p.m. Fri. March 21 Milwaukee * Eastwood Field 3 p.m.