2013 Season is here!!

Go Cats!!
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B2R CHOWLINE 2013

B2R CHOWLINE 2013

Once again the B2R is coordinating with fans, families, and supporters of Bearcat Baseball to provide the B2R Chowline in 2013.  The Chowline provides a light lunch for the Bearcat Baseball team for every double-header this season.  The Chowline was able to provide food for the team at every doubleheader last season.  The light lunch often times consists of sub sandwiches, chips, and a drink.  As far as the B2R knows, no other team does this for their players.  While some parents might bring a snack for their player, this ensures everybody on the team gets something to eat. 

In general, the Bearcats Baseball team is on the field approximately 8 hours during the course of a double-header from initial warm-ups, prepping the field between games, and final instructions following the second game. 

The guys really appreciate the food. The B2R can stretch a dollar and usually feed each player for approximately $2.00.

Please consider sponsoring a doubleheader for $80.00, or donate $40.00, $20.00, or whatever you can afford to this important endeavor.  Right now, there are 18 scheduled doubleheaders.  Weather will most likely create more.  The first doubleheader is February 16th at Northeastern State.

If you are willing to help, please message the B2R or contact one of the Baseball Coaches to give them the money.  They will forward it to the B2R Chowline.

Thank you for supporting Bearcat Baseball.

Go Cats!!
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North by Northwest - Washburn University

This concludes the B2R's look at the MIAA members' baseball programs.  Finally, Washburn University

NxNW - Washburn University
Location - Topeka, Kansas 66621
Founded - 1865
Enrollment - 7,002
Colors - Yale Blue & White
Nickname - Ichabods/Lady Blues

Field - Falley Field has been the home of the Ichabod baseball team since the 1990 season. In the spring of 2008 the University finished upgrades include new bullpens, hitting cages and a FieldTurf artificial playing surface that covers the entire infield except the pitcher's mound. The press box has space for up to 10 media outlets. Capacity for Falley Field is listed at 800.

2012 Re-cap - Washburn ended its 2012 campaign with a 27-24 overall record, 14-5 at home, 12-17 on the road, 1-2 at neutral sites, and 22-18 in the MIAA.  Washburn advanced to the MIAA Post-Season baseball tournament in 2012 and beat Emporia State in the first round 4-1.  Steve Anson is the head coach and completed his 33rd season as the Ichabods skipper (780-717-3 through 2011 record).  

Notable alumni - 

Jared Head - Outfield for the Cleveland Indians, 2011, 10 appearances, .125 batting average;
Davey Lopes - 2nd Baseman and outfielder for the Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Cubs, and Astros, 1972-1987, selected to 4 All-Star Games, career .264 batting average, .349 on-base percentage, .388 slugging percentage;
Rick DeHart - pitcher for the Expos and Royals, 1997-2003, career 2-3 record, 6.14 ERA, 56 appearances, 1 save, 32 BBs, 45 Ks;
Jerry Robertson - pitcher for the Expos & Tigers, 1969-1970, career 5-16 record, 49 appearances, 27 starts, 3.94 ERA, 86 BBs, 144 Ks;
Steve Simpson - pitcher for the Padres, 1972, career 0-2 record, 4.76 ERA, 9 appearances, 0 starts, 2 saves, 8 BBs, 9 Ks;
George Darrow - pitcher for the Phillies, 1934, career 2-6 record, 5.51 ERA, 17 appearances, 8 starts, 1 save, 28 BBs, 14 Ks;

Go Cats!!
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North by Northwest (NxNW) - Truman State University

NxNW - Truman State University
Location - Kirksville, Missouri 63501
Founded - 1867
Enrollment - 6,000
Colors - Purple & White
Nickname - Bulldogs

2012 Re-cap - Truman State had a tough 2012 season.  The Bulldogs finished the year with an overall record of 16-32, a conference record of 13-25, a home record of 11-17, and a road record of 5-15.  I'm not sure if this is telling how Truman approaches its baseball program but the school's athletics' website does not refer to the baseball field in its facilities hyperlink (football, basketball/volleyball/wrestling, soccer, softball field, weight room, and parking lots are all referred to in the hyperlink).  When you click on the coaching staff hyperlink, head baseball coach Dan Davis finished his 6th season as the Bulldogs head coach but the top of the page refers to the "2010 Baseball Coaching Staff."

Of the 6 head coaches in the history of Truman State baseball, none have had over a .500 winning percentage, and each successive head coach had a worse winning percentage than the one before him, to wit:

Sam Nugent - .413 winning percentage
Kevin Fink - .355 winning percentage
Kirby Cannon - .302 winning percentage
BJ Pumroy - .286 winning percentage
Lawrence Scully - .273 winning percentage
Dan Davis - .241 winning percentage

Notable alumni -

Bruce Berenyi - pitcher with the Reds, Blue Jays, Mets, 1980-1986, career record of 44-55, 4.03 ERA, 425 BB, 607 Ks;

Guy Cutright - outfielder with the Chicago White Sox, 1943-1946, career .276 batting average, .364 on-base percentage, .374 slugging percentage, 142 BB, 124 K, 20 stolen bases;

Al Nipper - pitcher with the Red Sox, Cubs, and Indians, 1983-1990, career 46-50 record, 4.52 ERA, 303 BB, and 381 Ks;

Dave Wehrmeister - pitcher with the Padres, Yankees, Phillies, and White Sox, 1976-1985, career 4-9 record, 5.65 ERA, 76 appearances, 84 walks, 96 Ks;

Lee Wheat - pitcher with the Philadelphia Athletics and KC Athletics, 1954-1955, career record 0-2, 6.82 ERA, 11 appearances, 1 start, 12 BBs, 8 Ks;

Go Cats!!
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North by Northwest (NxNW) - Southwest Baptist University

NxNW - Southwest Baptist University
Location - Bolivar, Missouri 65613
Enrollment - 3,400
Colors - Purple and White
Nickname - Bearcats

2012 Re-Cap - The Bearcats concluded a disappointing season in 2012 with an overall record of 21-28-1, 14-24 MIAA.  The Bearcats were 16-15-1 in Bolivar and 5-13 on the road.  In May 2012, Chris Martin was appointed the Head Coach of SBU Baseball program.  Chris is a young coach, having graduated from SBU in 2007.  Martin was the interim head coach for SBU in 2012.  Of SBU's 21 wins in 2012, it was three times the number of wins from 2011.

Southwest Baptist plays its home games at Dodson Field. This field received a face lift in 2005 as new dugouts were built, a concrete wall was set between the dugouts and new netting was placed behind home plate. In summer 2009, a new wooden outfield fence was constructed.

Go Cats!!
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The Man

There are several Bearcats that come from St. Louis, or root for St. Louis professional sports teams, so the B2R wanted to take a moment to remember Stan Musial.

Stanley Frank Musial
Positions - Outfielder and First Base
Bat - Left; Throws - Left
Height - 6'00"; Weight - 175 lbs.
Born - November 21, 1920, in Donora, Pennsylvania
Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent in 1938;
Made his major league debut on September 17, 1941, at the age of 20 years old;
Played for the Cardinals from 1941 to 1963;
Final game was September 29, 1963, at the age of 42 years old;
Inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969 as a player (made 317 of 340 ballots);

Career statistics -
BA - .331
OBP - .417
SLG - .559
BB - 1,599
K - 696
RBI - 1,951
SB - 78
HR - 475
3B - 177
2B - 725
H - 3,630
R - 1,949

12x NL MVP
20x All Star

1941 salary - $1,800.00 ($400.00 per month);
1944 salary - $10,000.00;
1951-1953 salary - $75,000.00 (highest of career);
1963 salary - $50,000.00;
Total professional earnings from the St. Louis Cardinals based on publicly available information - $980,050.00.

Local response from St. Louis native Bearcat Ryan Abernathy, #6, plays outfield, from his twitter account:

"There's a reason I wear #6...RIP Stan."

1920-2013

Go Cats!!
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North by Northwest (NxNW) - Pittsburgh State University

NxNW - Pittsburgh State University
Location - Pittsburgh, Kansas 66762
Founded - 1903
Enrollment - 7,127
Colors - Crimson & Gold
Nickname - Gorillas

2012 Re-cap - Pitt State had a disappointing season in 2012 as they finished 20-28 overall, 16-22 MIAA, in Head Coach Steve Bever's final game of his coaching career.  Bever announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2012 season.  Bever has been the Pitt State Head Coach for 22 years.  In June 2012, Pitt State announced the hiring of Matt Murray as the new baseball coach for the 2013 season.  Based on Pitt State's 2012 Conference Record, the Gorillas did not advance to the MIAA Post-Season Tournament.

Notable Alumni -

Don Gutteridge - 12 years major league baseball players with the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Browns (starting 2nd baseman for the 1944 World Series); played 2 years with the Boston Red Sox and his final year with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1948.  He managed the Chicago White Sox in 1969-1970;
Sherm Lollar - Major league baseball player.  Catcher.  Played 12 years with the Chicago White Sox and Yankees.  7-time All-Star.  2, 20-home run seasons.  Won the 1947 World Series with the New York Yankees.  Also managed minor league teams;
 Steve Mingori - Major League Pitcher.  Played for the KC Royals, Cleveland Indians, and Toronto Blue Jays from 1970 - 1979.

Go Cats!!
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