Wright State University CORE Scholar Athletics Publications Athletics 3-1-1991 Wright State Baseball Media Guide 1991 Wright State University Athletics Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/athletics_publications Part of the Public Relations and Advertising Commons Repository Citation Wright State University Athletics (1991). Wright State Baseball Media Guide 1991. : Wright State University. This Media Guide is brought to you for free and open access by the Athletics at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Athletics Publications by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY 1991 .BASEBALL I - JI MEDIA GUIDE 1991 SCHEDULE March 14 Thursday at Xavier (2) 1 pm 15 Friday Ohio Dominican 3pm 16-26 Spring Trip to Orlando 28 Thursday at Dayton 3pm 29 Friday Miami (2) 1 pm 30 Saturday Oakland (2) 1 pm April 2 Tuesday at Bowling Green (2) 1 pm 6 Saturday Austin Peay (2) 1 pm 7 Sunday Austin Peay 1 pm 9 Tuesday at Ohio (2) 1 pm 10 Wednesday at Ohio State 2pm 11 Thursday Eastern Kentucky TBA 13 Saturday at Cincinnati (2) 1 pm 16 Tuesday at Kentucky 6pm 17 Wednesday Dayton 4pm 20 Saturday at Kent State (2) 1 pm 21 Sunday at Youngstown State (2) 1 pm ' 23 Tuesday at Cleveland State (2) 1 pm 26-28 WSU International Invitational TBA (WSU; Windsor, Canada; Detroit; Bowling Green) May 1 Wednesday Cincinnati (2) 1 pm 2 Thursday at Illinois-Chicago (2) 2pm 3 Friday at Chicago State Noon 4-5 Wright State Classic TBA (Morehead State, Southern Illinois, Eastern Michigan) 8 Wednesday Kentucky 4pm 9 Thursday at Eastern Kentucky (2) 2pm 10 Friday Xavier (2) 2pm 12 _Sunday Youngstown State (2) 1 pm 13 Monday Purdue · 2pm Home games are in bold type. All starting times are local (Eastern) time. OUTLOOK Fruhwirth in the Raider outfield, returning to the center field spot he held last year after transferring f~om junior college. A late-season hitting surge improved his average to .304. Meanwhile, right-hander Todd Pittman is the front­ runner for the top spot in Wright State's starting rotation. He has posted winning records in each of the last three seasons. Beyond those four veterans, the Rai~ers ' ro~ter ~s filled with question marks. Perhaps the biggest lift will come from a pair of already seasoned sophomores. Jon Sbrocco filled a lineup void in right field last season but will return to his more natural second base position in 1991 . The fiery leadoff hitter batted .254 in his rookie campaign and tied a school record with 43 walks. When · Sbrocco wasn't in right field, another first-year player held down the position. Brian Buck should reclaim that job on a full-time basis this season. Senior Brent Bernard and sophomore Gabe Canary are holdovers who will also bid for playing time in the outfield. Counting Sbrocco, Wright State's infield will have entirely new faces around the horn. First base will be a battle between versatile Dan Bassler, a junior, and For head coach Ron Nischwitz, it's time to step back, powerful but seldom used Klint Rose. Bassler has sp~nt gather his senses and reassess the situation. most of his collegiate career as a backup shortstop, while To count heads and take stock. Rose was a redshirt asa freshman and got just 14 at-bats And if he's fortunate, his Wright State University last year. baseball team will again have the type of success they've Junior Pat Garrigan, a transfer from Miami of Ohio, enjoyed the last two seasons. offers experience and a proven bat to the infield mix. He'll But the 17th-year head coach will be working with likely begin the season at shortstop. many new faces in 1991. Gone are many of the players Any number of players could emerge at third base. who helped put together a combined two-year record of Sophomore Jeff Ashton, who batted .349 in limited ac­ 80-32 (.714). The talented group included five play~rs tion last season, may fill the bill if his defense is sound. who signed professional contracts. In fact, shortstop Keith Bassler or Garrigan could also fit into the picture, as well Gordon and pitcher Mike Mathile became the highest­ as junior-college transfer Scott Wilson. drafted Raiders in school history last spring when they Among the freshman position players, Tyler Iller and were taken in the second and third rounds, respectively, Lee Miller add depth to the outfield, while Aaron of the amateur player draft. Hampton could further cloud a muddled infield picture. "I am concerned that, with so many new faces, the On the mound, junior John Smith is expected to join togetherness we've had on the field won't be there early, Pittman on top of the starting rotation. Other key spots on especially on the infield and on the pitching staff," said the staff are up for grabs. Nischwitz. "I'd like to get off to a good start and see what Sophomores Tony Ramsdell and Brian Kingdeski happens." are candidates for the rotation, as is freshman southpaw A pair of career .300-hitting seniors will anchor the Brian Anderson. Two other rookie left-handers, Chiris starting lineup this season. Catcher Scott Thompson Murphy and Steve Styrzo, could earn substantial mound has seen his batting average climb in each of his three time in any number ofdifferent roles. Junior Jayson Smith, collegiate campaigns, building to last year's team-high a transfer from Ohio University, also fits into that category . .349. He'll also provide veteran leadership to a young Junior Kevin Walke is the top returning relief pitcher pitching staff. Left fielder Brent Fruhwirth is o~t.to prove with 1 appearances last season under his belt. Pat his sophomore season was no fluke. After piling up a o Drazga, another junior, will help out. , school-record 66 runs and batting .331 , the speedy vet­ The 1991 schedule features a spring trip to Orlando, eran slumped to .263 in 1990. He begins the year just 15 Florida, on March 16-26. The Raiders return home to stolen bases shy of setting a new school record. entertain traditional foes Eastern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Two other seniors also hope to lead WSU to its ninth Dayton and Xavier. The home schedule also features two consecutive winning record. Bob Jesperson joins invitationals and single dates with Kentucky and Purdue. COACHING STAFF Ron Nischwitz Head Coach 17th Year (467-333-7) ' There ar.en't any surprises with Ron Nischwitz. You prepare. You show up. You work. You win. Now in his 17th season at Wright State, Nischwitz has presided over the baseball program's evolution, first to a Division II national power and then on to a Division I tournament contender. Wright State's stay at the Division II level culminated in a tie for second place at the College World Series in 1987. The team moved to Division I the next season and has posted winning records each of the last three years. He currently stands 66th among Division I coaches in the nation with 467 victories. The Nischwitz regime has sent 16 players on to the professional level, including two draft picks in the first three rounds of the 1990 draft. Nischwitz spent four seasons from 1961 to 1966 as a pitcher with the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and the New York Mets. As a relief pitcher, his finest season was in 1962 with the Tigers when he posted a 3.90 earned run average. Following a forced retirement from professional play due to arm problems, Nischwitz spent one season as a pitching coach in the Mets' farm system. A native of Dayton and a graduate of Fairview High School, Nischwitz pitched for two years at The Ohio State University where his record was 11-1 as a junior, and he received All-America honors. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from Ohio State in 1961 and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Dayton in 1969. While playing professional baseball, Nischwitz worked as a computer designer at NCR during the off season. After several years with NCR, he joined ACB Advantage Financial Services, the professional collection agency he purchased three years later and still manages. Ron and his wife, Sandy, have three children: Jeff, Brad and Lisa. ASSISTANT COACHES Mark "Bo" Bilinski Assistant Coach 17th Year Very few college programs have been blessed with a head coach who has been with the program for 17 seasons, not to mention an assistant coach with the same credentials. But Wright State has been fortunate enough to have the tandem of head coach Ron Nischwitz and assistant coach Bo Bilinski in charge since 1975. Bilinski, a former Wright State baseball standout, is primarily responsible for working with the hitters and outfielders, coaching third base and recruiting. Bilinski was a Raider from 1972 to 1974, recording his finest season as a senior when he led the team in hitting with a .302 average. He also set a school record with six home runs and 33 RBI. In four pitching appearances, he posted a 1.46 ERA. He was inducted into the Wright State Athletic Hall of Fame last February. A graduate of Stebbins High School in Dayton, he also spent a year on the Wright State basketball team in 1969-70. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree, Bilinski joined the Dayton Police Department. He has served the last 14 of his 16 years on the force as a detective.