Opposition Research - Northwestern Oklahoma State
When - February 8-9, 2014
Where - Alva, Oklahoma
Nickname - Rangers
Series Record - First meeting between the two schools according to the 2013 NWMSU Baseball Media Fact Book;
Head Coach - Ryan Bay - Bay is entering his 6th season as the Skipper of the Rangers baseball program in 2014. Bay has had tremendous early success with NWOSU after his first team in 2009 (8 total wins). In 2009, NWOSU won 26 games. In 2010, NWOSU went 35-22. In 2011, NWOSU won 26 games again. In 2012, NWOSU went 34-24. In 2013, NWOSU slipped to 21-25. According to Coach Bay's biography on the athletics' website, he was a scrappy outfielder for the Missouri Valley College Vikings baseball team where he started 4 seasons and was a two-time all-conference performer before he graduated in 1999. Assuming Coach Bay played his 4th and final season for Missouri Valley College in 1999, his freshman year would have been in 1996. In 1996, the Missouri Valley College head baseball coach was Northwest's own, Darin Loe.
2014 NWOSU Outlook - Northwestern Oklahoma State was picked to finish 9th out of 11 teams in the Great American Conference according to a vote by the Conference's coaches. In 2013, NWOSU finished the year with an overall record of 21-25 and a conference record 10-20. The Rangers return 5 starters offensive starters from the 2013 squad, but the big man on this year's team is starting outfielder Jonathan Freemyer. As a Junior, Freemyer hit .342 in 31 games with 5 home runs and 33 RBIs. Of important note, from what I can tell from available on-line statistics, Daniel Bolanos should return as a senior after he transferred to NWOSU in 2013. Bolanos belted 11 home runs, hit .291, scored 27 runs, earned 41 hits, 9 doubles, slugged .589, and knocked in 42 runs. With regards to pitching, only one weekend starter returns this season, Eddie Cumpston, who had an overall 2013 record of 0-0 and a 4.95 ERA in only 4 starts. The school references "A group of talented newcomers will be counted on to step up" which is code for young and inexperienced starting 9.
NWOSU began the 2014 season on February 1-2, 2014, when they played a 3-game series against Oklahoma Panhandle State in Alva, Oklahoma. The Rangers swept the weekend series with 3 straight victories. The Rangers won game one by a score 3-0, won game two by a score 6-2, and won game three by a score 3-2. The leading offensive players include:
Jonathan Freemyer - .455 avg., 1 run scored, 5 hits in 11 at bats, 1 double, 1 RBI, .545 slugging %, 0 walks or hit by pitches, 1 strike-out, .455 on-base %;
Joshua Caruso - .300 avg., 2 runs scored, 3 hits in 10 at bats, 0 extra-base hits, 1 RBI, .300 slugging %, 2 walks, 4 strike-outs, .417 on-base %;
Of note (offensively) -
Calvin Ellis - 1 start & 2 games played, .667 avg., 2 hits in 3 at bats, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 1.333 slugging %, 1 walk, .750 on-base %;
Alex Marquez - 1 start & 1 game played, .667 avg., 2 hits in 3 at bats, 0 extra-base hits, 1 RBI, .667 slugging %, 0 walks, 0 strike-outs, .667 on-base %, 1 stolen base in 1 attempt; and
Dillon Perkins - 1 start & 3 games played, .500 avg., 1 run scored, 2 hits in 4 at bats, 0 extra-base hits, 0 RBI, 1 walk, 0 strike-outs, .600 on-base %.
As a team, NWOSU has a .247 batting average, 12 runs scored (4 runs average per game), 21 hits (7 hits per game), 6 doubles (2 doubles per game), 11 RBIs, .318 slugging %, 10 walks, 16 strike-outs, .320 on-base %, and 3 stolen bases in 3 attempts.
The Rangers pitching staff had a phenominal weekend which included:
Joe Coto - 0.00 ERA, 1-0 record, 1 start & 1 appearance, 6.0 innings pitched, 3 hits, 0 earned runs, 3 walks, 7 strike-outs, 1 balk.
Michael Morales - 1.29 ERA, 1-0 record, 1 start & 1 appearance, 7.0 innings pitched, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 3 walks, 8 strike-outs, and 2 doubles allowed;
Corey Korenic - 1.80 ERA, 1-0 record, 1 start & 1 appearance, 5.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 7 strike-outs, 1 wild pitch, and 1 balk.
Defensively, the Rangers committed a total of 4 errors in the series and have a team fielding percentage of .965.
Northwest Missouri State Outlook - The Bearcats return 2 of 3 of their 2013 starting outfielders in Ryan Abernathy (.319 BA, started all 49 games, scored 51 runs, 58 base hits, 13 doubles, 3 triples, 6 home runs, 34 runs batted in, slugged .522, 27 walks, 10 hit by pitch, 27 strike-outs, .432 on-base %) and Jon Pomatto (.200 BA, played in 3 games before injury ended his season, 5 at-bats, 2 runs scored, 1 hit, 2 walks, 2 hit by pitch, 1 strike-out, .556 on-base %, 1 stolen base in 1 attempt).
Infield will see the return of Steven Garber at 1st Base (.295, played in 46 games and started 43, 25 runs scored, 41 hits, 10 doubles, 2 home runs, 25 runs batted in, slugged .410, 27 walks, 2 hit by pitches, 18 strike-outs, .412 on-base %, only commited 1 error and had a .998 fielding percentage). Brandon Huske is your returning Short Stop (.280, started all 49 games, 42 runs, 44 hits, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 25 runs batted in, .395 slugging, 45 walks, 11 hit by pitches, 31 strike-outs, .467 on-base %, 10 stolen bases in 13 attempts). Third Baseman/DH Eric McGlauflin had a terrific year despite battling an injury throughout 2013 (.301, played in 46 games & started 43, 35 runs, 49 hits, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs, 33 runs batted in, .454 slugging, 11 walks, 6 hit by pitches, 15 strike-outs, .365 on-base %, 6 stolen bases in 8 attempts). Paul Johnson platooned at Second Base last season (.294, played in 24 games & started 13, 11 runs, 15 hits, 1 double, 9 runs batted in, .314 slugging, 7 walks, hit by a pitch once, 11 strike-outs, .383 on-base %, stolen 4 bases in 5 attempts, only committed one error and fielder .978). Catcher saw Derek Meyer playing part-time with Senior JJ Baccari. In 2013, Derek Meyer did very well offensively (.310, 10 runs, 18 hits, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 10 runs batted in, .397 slugging, 3 walks, 3 strike-outs, .333 on-base %, 1 stolen base in 2 attempts, allowed 5 past balls and 2 errors for a fielding % of .984).
A key reserve returning in 2013 is Alex Singleton (Outfield, .237, appeared in 26 games & started in 17 games, 8 runs, 14 hits, 3 runs batted in, .237 slugging, 6 walks, 8 strike-outs, .308 on-base %, 6 stolen bases in 8 attempts).
Pitching - Northwest returns 3 of 4 weekend starters - Austin Warren (2-6, 6.51 ERA, 11 appearances & 9 starts, 2 complete games, 55.1 innings pitched, allowed 40 earned runs, 11 walks, 34 strike-outs); Ryker Fox (5-5, 3.98 ERA, 12 appearances & 11 starts, 2 complete games, 61 innings pitched, 29 walks, 47 strike-outs); Rob Henrichs (2-1, 3.57 ERA, 9 appearances & 5 starts, 35.1 innings pitched, 14 earned runs, 15 walks, 25 strike-outs). In addition, several key bullpen pitchers return including Blane Reutter (3-3, 7.77 ERA, 18 appearance & 5 starts, 1 complete game, 48.2 innings pitched, 16 walks, 34 strike-outs,), Patrick Brady (8.36 ERA, 11 appearances, 14.0 innings pitched, 4 walks, 13 strike-outs), Brian Schmiedt (5.28 ERA, 8 appearances, 1 save, 15.1 innings pitched, 3 walks, 12 strike-outs), Carson Smith (injured 2013), Daulton Perry (limited playing time in 2013), and Bex Trout (limited playing time in 2013).
Newcomers - It will be interesting to see which guy separated himself from the competition in fall ball and spring practice to earn playing time this opening weekend. Garrett Fort has played at 2nd, 3rd (I think I remember him at 3rd) and in the outfield. The biggest competition I could see in the fall and spring is at the Catcher position with James Holler, Zach Douglas and Blake Hardegree having a terrific fall practice with returners Derek Meyer and Adam Pennington. Zach flashed an impressive arm playing in left field in the fall that will make many 3rd Base coaches look dumb telling their guy to score on a sacrifice. Newbies Carter Gladstone, Rex Raetz, Austin Wulff all battled for playing time in the outfield. Luke Wilkinson, Nikko Pablo, Zack Ferreira, Ben Bruck, battled for playing time in the infield. Pitching has some impressive newbies with Nikko flashing a crafty breaking ball, with Hondo Pearcy, Tony Forcelledo, Alex Cross, Josh Bruck, and Taylor Bruch competing for playing time. Jon Pomatto has wicked stuff and will compete for the back-end of the 'pen or closer. Returners Tanner Ray Smith and Kole Klocko will also compete for innings.
Northwest opens the 2014 NCAA season with 3 games at Northwestern Oklahoma State before traveling to Wichita to play Kansas Newman in a mid-week clash.
Go Cats!!
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