Northwest Missouri State Bearcats Baseball Report: 2015 Mid-Year Report

#30 - KOLE KLOCKO - RHP - NORWALK, IOWA

2015 MID-YEAR REPORT

Your Northwest Missouri State Bearcats baseball team is nearly mid-way through the 2015 NCAA Division 2 baseball regular season. The 2015 Bearcats have been a mix of veterans and rookies competing through a difficult non-conference and early conference schedule. Northwest has been on the road for nearly every game so far this season and have played well. In fact, of the 20 games played so far in the 2015 season, 15 have been on the road. As of March 18, 2015, the Cats are 9-11, 6-6 MIAA. The Cats played conference opponents Northeastern State (7-5 MIAA), Central Missouri (6-6 MIAA), and Nebraska-Kearney (8-4 MIAA). The Cats are a gritty bunch that plays hard and supports one another. Northwest has taken the best shot of the MIAA so far and continue to fight, scratch, and claw their way for a play-off berth. Here is a breakdown of the team:

Starting 9

#5 - NICK HOWARD - GARDEN GROVE, CALIFORNIA

Nick Howard has earned the starting third base job after an early season platoon with Luke Wilkinson and Nikko Pablo. Nick is batting .290 in 20 games with 18 starts, scored 13 runs, 20 hits, 5 doubles, 3 home runs, 20 doubles, .493 slugging %, 5 walks, 3 hit by pitch, 17 strike-outs, .359 on-base %, and committed 6 errors. Nick is a freshman at Northwest and in his first year in the program. Nick has done a really good job handling the hot corner. Nick has displayed power at an early age with the bat. The kid works hard and plays hard. He has been a terrific member of your Bearcats baseball team.

#4 - NICK GOTTA - SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Nick Gotta has started all but 1 game at short stop for Northwest. In that one game, Nick came in as a mid-game replacement. Gotta is another fine baseball player from the State of California. He is tearing the cover off the baseball. In 2015, Nick is batting .394, scored 16 runs, 26 hits, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 11 RBIs, .561 slugging %, 17 walks, 2 hit by pitch, 11 strike-outs, .529 on-base %, 4 stolen bases in 7 attempts, and a .906 fielding %. He has a lot of energy and can be easily heard from the stands rooting on his teammates. Coach Loe has penciled Nick in the lead-off spot seemingly every ballgame. He is a spark plug igniting the Bearcats offense and exciting to watch. Nick is a Junior this year and transferred from Fullerton Community College in California.

#15 - Paul Johnson - Council Bluffs, Iowa

Paul Johnson is a Senior from Council Bluffs, Iowa. "Pauley" picked-up right where he left 2014 with an offensive power surge for Northwest. Coach Loe has Paul hitting in the three-spot the past series or two and has been rewarded for that decision. So far in 2015, Paul is batting .351 with 9 runs scored, 20 hits, 2 doubles, 11 RBIs, .386 slugging %, 9 walks, 2 hit by pitches, only 4 strike-outs, .449 on-base %, 2 stolen bases, and only 5 errors while playing nearly every game as the starting 2B. Paul is a terrific kid, a hard worker, an exemplary ambassador for Northwest Missouri State University. Paul is a work-out monster and having a healthy year means good things for the Bearcat baseball team.

#36 - Steven Garber - Chino Hills, California

Steven Garber is a Senior on the Northwest Missouri State baseball team and the starting first baseman. "Steve-o" has started every game at 1B for the Cats. So far in 2015, Steven is batting .333, scored 14 runs, 24 hits, 7 doubles, 17 RBIs, .431 slugging %, 10 walks, 2 hit by pitches, 17 strike-outs, .419 on-base %, 1 stolen base in 1 attempt, and fielding .986 %. Steven has been rock-solid at first base seemingly for years. A great kid. His 6'6" frame catches everything thrown at him in the same zip code. He approaches the baseball game with a workman-like professional approach. Steve has been having an exemplary 2015. The Cats will definitely need him to continue to have success.

#10 - Derek Meyer - Lincoln, Nebraska

Derek Meyer is a Junior from Lincoln, Nebraska, and has been Northwest's starting catcher for the past few series after a platoon battle with Senior Blake Hardegree. Derek's hard work and determination are a treat to see. The kid works hard for everything he receives in life and that is a testament to his upbringing. A blue-collar kid. Matter of fact approach to the game. So far in 2015, Derek is batting .256 with 5 runs scored, 10 hits, 3 doubles, 6 RBIs, .333 slugging %, 4 walks, 2 hit by pitches, 5 strike-outs, .356 on-base %, 1 stolen base in 1 attempt, 1.000 fielding percentage,

In addition, Senior Blake Hardegree is from Amarillo, Texas. He has appeared in 13 games and started 7 at Catcher. Blake is batting .172, scored 4 runs, 5 hits, 1 double, 1 RBI, .207 slugging %, 2 walks, 6 strike-outs, .219 on-base %, and 1.000 fielding percentage and has not allowed a pass ball. Blake is a high-energy leader on the team. He has been described by his teammates as a "ridiculously nice human being." Never complains. Hard worker. Team-first guy.

#3 - Kolby Greenslade - Norwalk, Iowa

Kolby Greenslade is a Sophomore from Norwalk, Iowa, who transferred from Fort Scott Community College and is in his first year at Northwest. Kolby earned the starting left field job and was batting third in the line-up before an injury knocked him out of play for a few weeks. Kolby is healthy again and picked-up right where he left off. So far in 2015, Kolby is batting .313 with 12 runs scored, 20 hits, 1 double, 2 triples, 1 home run, 9 RBIs, .438 slugging %, 3 walks, 7 strike-outs, .338 on-base %, 4 stolen bases in 6 attempts, and only 1 error. Kolby has a tremendous amount of poise for his young age. Mature kid. He made several diving plays in left field. Great hands. High baseball IQ. Great kid.

#2 - Garrett Fort - Ankeny, Iowa

Garrett Fort is a Sophomore from Ankeny, Iowa, who earned the starting center field job this spring. "Gary" is very popular on the team with several nick names. So far in 2015, Garrett is batting .250 with 17 runs scored, 11 hits, 1 double, 2 RBIs, .273 slugging %, 16 walks, 1 hit by pitch, 15 strike-outs, .459 on-base %, 3 stolen bases in 5 attempts, and only 1 error. Quite frankly, Garrett is a cheetah in center field with the way he attacks a fly ball. He takes the shortest route to the ball and cuts many line drives in the gap to singles because of how quick he gets to the ball and throws it back to the infield. He always has a smile on the face - whether its because of a prank or his love for life is to be determined. Great kid.

#21 - Austin Wulff - Omaha, Nebraska

Austin Wulff is a Sophomore from Omaha, Nebraska. In 2014, Austin battled his way to be the starting left fielder as a freshman. In 2015, Austin converted over to be the starting right fielder. Big. Strong. Kid. Tough competitor. Doesn't back down to anybody. The guy is a must see when he bats. He crushes baseballs with one of the sweetest swings I have seen. Austin quickly developed into a B2R favorite with his personality and play on the baseball field. Austin is the kind of player that when he is coming up to bat, you wait until the next inning to leave the stands. Just a terrific talent. So far in 2015, Austin is batting .211 with 14 runs scored, 12 hits, 3 doubles, 3 home runs, 10 RBIs, .421 slugging %, 15 walks, 10 hit by pitches, 13 strike-outs, .451 on-base %, 2 stolen bases in 3 attempts, and 2 errors.

Pitchers

Weekend Starters

#19 - Anthony Caenepeel - Willard, Missouri

Anthony Caenepeel is a Sophomore from Willard, Missouri, who transferred from North Central Community College. In his first year at Northwest, "AC" earned the Friday starter position. AC has been battled tested early in his MIAA experience and has shown remarkable poise, talent, and moxy. So far in 2015, Anthony has a 4.85 ERA, 2-0 record in 5 appearances (all 5 starts), 29.2 innings pitched, allowed 31 hits, 19 runs (only 16 earned), 16 walks, 21 strike-outs, allowed 2 doubles and 6 home runs, and opponents are only batting .284 off of him.

#20 - Joseph Hietpas - Fairfield, Iowa

Joseph Hietpas is a Freshman from Fairfield, Iowa. "Big Joe" has demonstrated tremendous poise in his first year of collegiate baseball and the MIAA. Joe used hard work, talent, and confidence to earned a weekend starting job in his true freshman year. Like Anthony Caenepeel, Joe has already faced some of the best college baseball teams in the MIAA and has performed very well. Big Joe arguably has the best stuff on the team. I can't wait to see this kid use the experiences he is gaining now through the end of this season. So far in 2015, Joe has a 4.22 ERA with a 0-3 record in 6 appearances (4 starts), credited with 1 save, 21.1 innings pitched, allowed 23 hits, 16 runs (only 10 earned), 12 walks, 24 strike-outs, 7 doubles, 1 triple, and opponents are batting a mere .271 off of him.

#32 - Brad Roberts - Cairo, Missouri

Brad Roberts is a Freshman from Cairo, Missouri. The 6'3" right hander earned a weekend starting job this season. While he is young, he has the demeanor and the wickedly filthy stuff to be one of the best pitchers on the team. Brad is an easy-going kid off the field and a fiery competitor on it. I can't wait to see how this kid develops through 2015 and beyond. So far in 2015, Brad has a 7.54 ERA with a 1-3 record in 5 appearances (5 starts), 22.2 innings pitched, allowed 25 hits, 21 runs (19 allowed), 13 walks, 17 strike-outs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, and opponents are batting .291 off of him.

#8 - Nikko Pablo - Stockton, California

Nikko Pablo is a Sophomore from Stockton, California. Nikko's athletic prowess on the baseball field translates to several options for Coach Darin Loe. In addition to being an exemplary defensive infielder, Nikko earned a starting weekend job and has performed very well. It is probably a very safe assumption there is no better fielding pitcher in the NCAA Division 2 than Nikko Pablo. Opposing coaches are wise to reconsider the sacrifice bunt if they manage to get a runner on base against the "Great 8." Great kid. Hard worker. Great teammate and clubhouse guy. A fan favorite due to his big heart and not-as-tall stature standing at 5'7". So far in 2015, Nikko has a 5.64 ERA with a 2-2 record in 6 appearances (3 starts), 22.1 innings pitched, allowed 25 hits, 17 runs (14 earned), 3 walks, 9 strike-outs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, and opponents are batting a mere .281 off of him.

In summary, the weekend four are exemplary young and talented pitchers that have performed extremely well. The Bearcats can go as far as these right arms can carry them. The exciting fact is these guys are holding their own against the MIAA's best teams. Stay tuned to an exciting second half of the baseball season.

Closer

#28 - Carson Smith - Kimballton, Iowa

Carson Smith is a Senior from Kimballton, Iowa, who has locked down the closer role for your Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats. The 6'1" right hander is a presence on the mound. So far in 2015, Carson has a 0.00 ERA with a 1-0 record in 8 appearances, 5 saves, 12.1 innings pitched, 3 hits, 0 runs, 3 walks, 13 strike-outs, 1 double, and opponents are batting .077 against him. Carson throws hard and his pitches move all over creation within the strike zone. Great kid. Hard worker. Mature. He does his talking on the mound. You might as well trade out his baseball hat with a fireman's helmet because he has put out several fires so far in 2015. Stud.

Next for the Bearcats

Northwest gets to stay home this weekend to face Fort Hays State University in a 4-game series. Game 1 is on Friday with first pitch at 2pm. Games 2 and 3 will be on Saturday with a double-header starting at 1pm. Game 4 will conclude the series on Sunday with first pitch at Noon. As of March 18, 2015, the forecast in Maryville this weekend is in the 60s.