Maryville, Mo. - Bearcat great Scott Kurtz came down to Maryville from Clarinda, Iowa, to congratulate Anthony Caenepeel on breaking his 48-year single season strike-out record. Caenepeel set the new benchmark in his start on Friday against Fort Hays State. The single season strike-out record was the second record of Mr. Kurtz that Caenepeel broke this season. Earlier this season, Caenepeel set the new benchmark for career strike-outs. Mr. Kurtz and Caenepeel are arguably the two most dominant pitchers in the history of Northwest Missouri State University varsity baseball program.
Mr. Kurtz approached Head Coach Darin Loe after his meeting with the team following Game 3's victory on Sunday. The two baseball elders smiled at each other and spoke as the team dispersed to collect their belongings. Coach Loe called for Caenepeel to come over and introduced him to Mr. Kurtz. Caenepeel smiled, shook Mr. Kurtz's hand, and the two visited in the foul territory of left field. The B2R was allowed to take a few photographs of this historic and class exchange between the two pitchers.
Mr. Kurtz's two records (single season strike-outs and career strike-outs) lasted for 48 years. That feat will never be broken. The B2R looked through available statistical records to put into words how dominant of a pitcher Mr. Kurtz was during his playing days between 1966 and 1969. During the record setting 1969 season, Northwest played 24 total games. Northwest played 49 games this season and will start the MIAA post-season tournament on Thursday. Of the 24 games Northwest played in 1969, four games were against now NCAA Division 1 teams in Creighton University and Missouri State. Northwest lost both games to Creighton by the scores of 2-5 and 1-10. Northwest lost both games to Missouri State by the scores 3-4 and 2-5. Obviously by the scores, the 1969 Northwest Bearcats were a hard fighting and scrappy bunch of ball players.
Baseball statistical record keeping has improved tremendously since the 1960s. The B2R could only find pitching statistics going back to 1969 from available records. In 1969, your Bearcat baseball team finished with a 11-13 record (remember those 4 games against now D1 teams). Mr. Kurtz led that 1969 team in his senior season with 4 wins and 97 strike-outs in 58 innings pitched. The only statistic that Mr. Kurtz did not lead Northwest that season was earned run average with Mr. Tim Milner's 2.55 tops on the team. During Mr. Kurtz's playing days at Northwest, the Bearcats played in 27 games in 1966, 18 games in 1967, 21 games in 1968, and 24 games in 1969.
Anthony Caenepeel transferred to Northwest Missouri State from North Central Missouri College in Trenton, Missouri. Caenepeel played three seasons for Northwest, 2015, 2016, and 2017. In the 2017 season where Caenepeel set the new benchmark for single season strike-outs, he pitched a team leading 94.2 innings, a team leading 103 strike-outs, and a team leading 8 wins. Caenepeel averages 1.09 strike-outs per inning pitched this season. For comparison, Mr. Kurtz averaged 1.67 strike-outs per inning pitched in 1969.
Caenepeel and Mr. Kurtz seemed genuinely happy visiting that sunny Sunday afternoon. Mr. Kurtz was gracious to personally congratulate Caenepeel. The class and brotherhood shared by Bearcats was very moving to the B2R. Both pitchers had mutual respect for each others' accomplishments. Following a few photographs, Coach Loe and the B2R walked away from the two men. They continued to talk with warm smiles on their faces. The B2R took one last photograph which ended up being my favorite. Its my favorite because I feel it captures a common slogan here at Northwest Missouri State University, "Once a Bearcat, Always a Bearcat."
Go Cats!!
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