Table of Contents - Central Michigan University Athletics

Table of Contents
Table of Contents ............................................................................... 1
Tradition ............................................................................................ 2
Theunissen Stadium ........................................................................... 4
CMU in the Pros ................................................................................. 6
CMU Baseball Family.......................................................................... 8
2008 Season Outlook ......................................................................... 9
Quick Facts ..................................................................................... 10
Roster ............................................................................................. 11
Season Outlook ................................................................................ 12
Schedule ........................................................................................ 14
Meet the Coaching Staff ................................................................... 15
Head Coach Steve Jaksa .................................................................. 16
Assistant Coaches............................................................................ 18
Coaching Staff ................................................................................. 19
Support Staff ................................................................................... 20
Meet the Chippewas ........................................................................ 21
Returner Bios ................................................................................... 22
Newcomer Bios ................................................................................ 33
2008 Opponents .............................................................................. 37
2008 Opponent Information .............................................................. 38
MAC Composite Schedule ................................................................ 40
All-Time vs. Opponents .................................................................... 42
2007 Season Recap ......................................................................... 43
2007 Statistics ................................................................................ 44
2007 Results ................................................................................... 45
2007 Recap .................................................................................... 46
2007 MAC Recap ............................................................................ 48
CMU Record Book ............................................................................ 49
Honors ............................................................................................ 50
All-Time Results ............................................................................... 52
Year-by-Year Results (since 1980) ..................................................... 53
Season and Career Records/All-Time Captains .................................. 59
Most Valuable Players ...................................................................... 60
CMU Hall of Fame Inductees ............................................................. 61
All-Time Lettermen .......................................................................... 62
About CMU Athletics ........................................................................ 65
Table of Contents
2008 Season Outlook
Page 9
Meet the Coaching Staff
Page 15
Meet the Chippewas
Page 21
2008 Opponents
Page 37
2007 Season Recap
Page 43
CMU Record Book
Page 49
CMU’s Seniors (left to right): Back: Jason Brown, Eric Lawrence, Sean
Hoorelbeke, Tyler Stovall. Front: Jeff Helps, Noah Lankford, Jeff Nowaczyk.
Central Michigan University Baseball
1
11-time Mid-American Conference Champions

Tradition
Dave Keilitz was CMU’s fi rst All-American (1964) and
then went on to a successful 14-year run as head coach
(456-203 for a winning percentage of .692) for the
Chippewas. He then served CMU for 10 years as its athletics
director from 1984-1994.
Billy Anderson
2007 Freshman All-American
When a Central Michigan University baseball player wears the Maroon and
Gold, he is wearing more than 100 years of tradition.
He is representing and carrying on the legacy of the great players and
legendary coaches that came before him, as well as writing his own piece of history
within the Chippewa baseball program. CMU is synonymous with baseball success
on the conference, regional, and national level, and that tradition of excellence is
refl ected in the trophy case and the history books.
The Chippewas have won 11 Mid-American Conference championships, two
MAC Tournament titles, and have qualifi ed for the NCAA Tournament 13 times.
CMU won the MAC championship in 2004 with an 18-6 conference record,
then matched that mark and advanced
to the championship round of the MAC
Tournament in 2005. In 2006, the
Chippewas were 17-9 in conference play
and won their third MAC West Division
crown.
Since 1970, CMU boasts the highest
winning percentage of any program in
the Midwest. The Chippewas have won
1,305 games during that span, more
than any baseball program in the MAC
or Big Ten.
The 1970s were highlighted by a
36-4 record in 1970 and a runner-up
fi nish at the 1971 College Division
World Series. Only the 1974 Division
Tyler Stovall
2007 All-American
2007 Academic All-American
2004 Mid-American Conference Champions
Central Michigan University Baseball
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11-time Mid-American Conference Champions

Tradition
Midwest Baseball (Since 1970)
School Record Pct
1. Central Michigan ........................ 1305-701 ........... .650
2. Notre Dame ................................ 1263-713 ........... .639
3. Minnesota .................................. 1282-726 ........... .638
4. Michigan .................................... 1233-775 ........... .614
5. Ohio State .................................. 1219-781 ........... .610
6. Miami ........................................ 1153-870 ........... .570
7. Kent State .................................. 1021-796 ........... .562
8. Illinois ........................................ 1113-881 ........... .558
9. Indiana ....................................... 1092-891 ........... .551
10. Iowa .......................................... 1027-884 ........... .537
11. Ohio ............................................. 995-866 ........... .535
12. Wright State ................................. 998-894 ........... .527
13. Western Michigan ......................... 965-886 ........... .521
14. Ball State ..................................... 965-889 ........... .520
15. Eastern Michigan ...................... 1078-1001 ........... .519
16. Michigan State ........................... 1017-953 ........... .516
17. Akron ........................................... 938-904 ........... .510
18. Bowling Green .............................. 897-873 ........... .507
19. Northwestern ................................ 943-925 ........... .505
20. Toledo .......................................... 900-942 ........... .489
21. Youngstown State ......................... 796-834 ........... .488
22. Purdue ......................................... 948-999 ........... .487
23. Wisconsin-Milwaukee ................... 624-680 ........... .479
24. Oakland ....................................... 643-762 ........... .458
25. Cincinnati ................................... 837-1015 ........... .452
26. Northern Illinois ............................ 612-744 ........... .451
27. Butler ........................................... 748-921 ........... .448
28. Xavier .......................................... 789-984 ........... .445
29. Valparaiso .................................... 706-940 ........... .429
30. Cleveland State .......................... 660-1018 ........... .394
II national champion football
team has placed higher
in a national tournament.
The Chippewas won seven
MAC titles in the 1980s
and qualifi ed for the NCAA
Regionals twice in the 1990s.
Five Chippewas have been
named MAC Player of the
Year, two pitchers have been
named MAC Pitcher of the
Year and three CMU mentors
have collected MAC Coach of
the Year honors a total of 11
times. Current head coach
Steve Jaksa was tabbed MAC
Coach of the Year after leading
the Chippewas to the 2004
conference championship.
CMU boasts 21 All-Americans, three Freshman All-Americans, 42
all-region honorees, and 76 fi rst team All-MAC selections. At least one
Chippewa has been named to the All-MAC fi rst team in nine of the past 10
years, including outfi elder Tyler Stovall, pitcher Josh Collmenter and fi rst
baseman Ben Humphrey in 2007.
Winning is the expectation at CMU. Since 1970, 29 teams have won at
least 30 games in a season, including nine clubs that posted 40 wins in a
single campaign. In 100 seasons of baseball, CMU has fi nished below .500
only 22 times. Since Bill Theunissen took over as head coach in 1952,
all but four Chippewa teams have fi nished above .500. CMU posted 34
straight winning records from 1965-1998.
MAC Coach of the Year
Dave Keilitz
Dean Kreiner
1977, ’80, ’81, ’84
1985, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’90, ’93
Steve Jaksa
2004
MAC Player of the Year
Clark Huntey
Denny McNamara
Kevin Young
1989
1990
1994
Toby Kominek
1995
Tyler Stovall
2007
MAC Pitcher of the Year
The 1971 Central Michigan University baseball squad, pictured above, posted a phenomenal record of
35-7-1 in Dave Keilitz’s fi rst year as head coach. The Chippewas lost in the NCAA College Division World
Series to Florida Southern, 4-0. That team’s accomplishment was the highest fi nish for a CMU team at the
time and still ranks second best behind the Chippewas’ 1974 NCAA Division II football championship.
Tim McDonald
1988
Josh Collmenter
2007
Central Michigan University Baseball
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11-time Mid-American Conference Champions

Theunissen Stadium
CMU’s Theunissen Stadium is among the finest
collegiate baseball facilities in the country.
Opened in 2002, the 2,046-seat facility welcomes
spectators and players alike with an impressive brick
exterior. From there, players enjoy an expansive locker
room and clubhouse area and a plush playing surface.
The clubhouse features a lounge with several
televisions and photographs depicting former CMU All-
Americans and Chippewas who have gone on to play in
the major leagues.
Fans soak in the Chippewa game-day atmosphere from
seating that hugs the field and provides excellent sight
lines of the action. Located behind the backstop are 400
chairback seats, while bleacher-style seating follows the
first-base and third-base lines.
A spacious press box, which includes two radio
booths, overlooks home plate and assists the local and
regional media in their coverage of the Chippewas.
Bullpens are located adjacent to the dugouts and
removed from the actual playing surface, while batting
cages have been constructed behind the first-base
grandstand.
CMU has posted an 88-30 record (.746 winning
percentage) in six seasons at Theunissen Stadium,
including a 15-3 home mark in 2007. Over the past
three seasons, CMU is 51-9 at home and has won 14
consecutive MAC series at home. The facility played
Central Michigan University Baseball
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11-time Mid-American Conference Champions

Theunissen Stadium
host to the 2004 MAC Tournament following the Chippewas’
regular season championship run.
The facility is named for Bill Theunissen, former head
coach and Dean of the School of Health, Physical Education
and Recreation. Theunissen posted a record of 151-114-1
from 1953-62. He concluded his career as CMU’s winningest
baseball coach and currently ranks fourth on that list.
The baseball program moved into its new home after playing
home games at Alumni Field, located in the heart of campus,
for 53 years. Alumni Field, renamed Theunissen Stadium in
1986, played host to the 1984 NCAA Mideast Regional in which
CMU finished runner-up. The Theunissen Stadium name was
retained when CMU constructed the new facility following the
2001 season.
Theunissen Stadium Facts
Opened: 2002
Named After: Bill Theunissen, former CMU head coach
Seats: 2,046 (400 chairbacks)
First Game: March 29, 2002
First Game Result: CMU 9, Ohio 6
First Hit: CMU’s Tommy Grubb (1st inning single)
First Home Run: CMU’s David Latour Jr. (3-run shot in 4th
inning of 9-6 win over Ohio)
First Strikeout: By CMU’s Dan Horvath
Dimensions:
Left Field Line: 330
Left Center: 375
Center: 400
Right Center: 375
Right Field Line: 330
Central Michigan University Baseball
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11-time Mid-American Conference Champions

CMU In The Pros
CMU’s rich baseball history is illustrated in its tradition of preparing players for the
professional level. In 36 of the past 38 years, CMU has had at least one player move
on to the professional ranks.
Thirteen former Chippewas have reached the major league level, including pitcher
Kevin Tapani, who was 16-9 with a 2.99 ERA for the 1991 world
champion Minnesota Twins. Tapani, a
four-year letterman at CMU and 1999
CMU Hall of Fame inductee, spent 13
years in the majors with four different
clubs.
Relief pitcher Lee Gardner, an All-MAC
fi rst team selection in 1998, posted a 3-4
record with two saves and a 1.94 ERA
with the Florida Marlins in 2007. His ERA
was the second-lowest among relievers
who threw at least 70 innings and was
the lowest single-season ERA by a reliever
in Marlins history. In 46.1 innings over
the season’s fi nal few months he posted
a 0.78 ERA, the best mark in the majors
after June 29 among relievers with at least
30 innings of work. He was invited to spring
training with the eventual American League
champion Detroit Tigers in 2006 after
spending parts of the previous four seasons with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and
San Francisco Giants.
Four members of the 2007 squad were drafted. Junior pitcher Josh Collmenter
(15th round, Arizona Diamondbacks) along with senior fi rst baseman Ben Humphrey
(28th round, Tampa Bay Devil Rays) joined the professional ranks, while Chris Kupillas
(38th round, Seattle Mariners) and Jeff Richard (31st round, Philadelphia Phillies)
elected to return to school. Junior Cody Allen (Cincinnati Reds, 2005) enrolled at CMU
despite being drafted out of high school, while junior college transfers Eric Lawrence
(25th round in 2005) Arizona Diamondbacks) and Steve Teno (39th in 2005, Kansas
City) have also been previously selected.
A total of seven former Chippewas are currently active in professional baseball,
Central Michigan University Baseball
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11-time Mid-American Conference Champions

CMU In the Pros
including Scott Pickens, who served as the bullpen catcher for the 2006
American League champion Detroit Tigers. In all, 107 different players have
represented CMU in the professional ranks.
John “Lefty” Dobb was the fi rst CMU player to make the major leagues.
He played with the Chicago White Sox in 1924. Nine Chippewas have been
selected in the top fi ve rounds of the draft, most recently pitcher Chad
Pleiness in the fi fth round in 2002. Chris Knapp was a fi rst-round selection of
the Chicago White Sox in 1975.
Each fall, CMU hosts a pro day that allows players to showcase their skills
in front of professional scouts. One day is set aside during fall practice to
allow members of the upcoming spring’s team to gain exposure in front of the
group of scouts that annually descends on CMU for the event.
All-Time List of CMU’s Pro Baseball Players
1921 Russ LeCronier
1924 John Dobb
1926 Larry Hutchinson
1933 Don French
1949 Cecil Morgan
1951 Leo Rozyla
1954 Chuck Pruitt
1955 Louis Dulac
1957 Tom Tresh
1958 Tom Brown, Marv Schultz, Spencer Scott
1963 Carmen Fanzone
1965 Harold Roberson, Gary Taylor
1967 Kim Hillstrom, Pat O’Keefe, Tom Krawczyk
1968 Jim Bourdeau
1970 Dale Dunham, Dick Lange
1971 Andy Kanoza, Alex Kanoza
1972 Jim Cooper, Dave Machemer
1973 Jeff Sovern
1974 Cap Pohlman
1975 Chris Knapp, Terry F. Lynch
1976 John Northrup, Bob Stadnika
1977 Doug Harrison, Dave Mayes, Dan Rohn
1978 Ben Bonk, Chris Czarka, Bob Grandas,
Mike Schervish
1979 Mick Cochran, Kevin Flannery,
Ray Soff, Larry Williams
1980 Mark Fellows, Dave Pagel, Doug Wabeke
1981 Mike Brecht, Randy Meier, Curt Young
1982 Randy Morse
1983 Carey Ross, Mike Ward
1984 Dave Minnema, Jay Phillion
1985 Dan Cronkright, Greg Lotzar, Eric Wilson
1986 Bob Cavanaugh, Doug Fisher, Mike
Hansen, Dave Nash, Kevin Tapani
1987 Doug Noch, Andy Rohn, Kip Southland,
Joe Wojda
1988 Shawn Hare, Larry Lamphere
1989 Clark Huntey, Dan Rambo, Rick Sellers
1990 Denny McNamara, Bob Riker
1991 Matt Bauer, Pat Bojcun, Tom Paskievitch
1992 Steve Nowak
1993 Aaron Knieper
1994 Scott Cook, Andy Kruger, Mark Scheurer,
Jeff Siler, Kevin Young
1995 Toby Kominek, Troy Novak, Rick Smith
1996 Dave Malenfant
1997 Brett Haring, Brent Miller
1998 Lee Gardner
1999 Phil Roberts
2000 Mike Fawcett, Shaun Gragg, Pete Nemeth,
Mike Steele
2001 Jason Helps, J. D. Wheeler
2002 Danny Gibbons, Scott Pickens, Chad
Pleiness, Lee Naplin
2004 Ryan Cremeans, Jeff Garner, David LeMieux,
T.J. Johnson
2005 Jason Cairns, Jayson Ruhlman, Kurtis Wells
2007 Josh Collmenter, Chris Kupillas, Ben
Humphrey, Jeff Richard
MAJOR LEAGUERS
John “Lefty” Dobb — Chicago White Sox
Carmen Fanzone — Chicago Cubs
Lee Gardner — Tampa Bay, Florida
Shawn Hare — Detroit, NY Yankees, Texas
Chris Knapp — Chicago White Sox, California
Dick Lange — California
Dave Machemer — Detroit
Dan Rohn — Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Texas
Ray Soff — St. Louis, Minnesota
Kevin Tapani — Oakland, NY Mets, Minnesota, Los Angeles,
Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs
Gary Taylor — Detroit Tigers
Tom Tresh — NY Yankees, Detroit
Curt Young — Oakland, Kansas City, NY Yankees
TOP DRAFT CHOICES
1st Round — Chris Knapp, Chicago White Sox (1975)
2nd Round — Kevin Tapani, Oakland A’s (1986)
3rd Round — Bob Grandas, Oakland A’s (1976)
3rd Round — Doug Harrison, Los Angeles (1977)
3rd Round — Dave Pagel, Chicago Cubs (1977)
4th Round — Dave Machemer, California Angels (1972)
4th Round — Dan Rohn, Chicago Cubs (1977)
4th Round — Curt Young, Oakland A’s (1981)
5th Round — Chad Pleiness, Toronto (2002)
CHIPPEWAS ACTIVE IN PRO BASEBALL
Jason Cairns, rhp, St. Louis Cardinals
Josh Collmenter, rhp, Arizona Diamondbacks
Lee Gardner, rhp, Florida Marlins
Ben Humphrey, 1b, Tampa Bay Rays
T.J. Johnson, lhp, Cincinnati Reds
Scott Pickens, bullpen catcher, Detroit Tigers
Jayson Ruhlman, lhp, Chicago Cubs
Central Michigan University Baseball
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11-time Mid-American Conference Champions

1974 Dr. Gerald Poor, CMU Education
1975 Dr. Dick Allen, CMU Speech & Dramatic Arts
1976 Junior Servoss, Mount Pleasant Recreational
Leagues
1977 Dr. Arnold Hammel, CMU Mathematics
1978 Dr. William Theunissen, Dean, CMU HPER
1979 Dr. Frank Myers, CMU Health Education
1980 Woodrow Eber, CMU Accounting
1981 Dick Enberg, CMU Alumnus
Jack Weisenburger, Mount Pleasant
businessman
1982 Rollie Denison, Mount Pleasant businessman
1983 Dick Page, Midland educator
1984 Dr. Bill Hawkins, CMU Psychology
1985 Bob Kuck, Midland tool & die maker
1986 Wilbur Kawaski, Mount Pleasant businessman
1987 Betsy Banta, Mount Pleasant
1988 Kaye & Don Bouck, Mount Pleasant
1989 Sandy Croll, Mount Pleasant
1990 Bill Odykirk, Mount Pleasant businessman
CMU Baseball Family
The CMU baseball family is a tight-knit community of
current members of the program, their family members,
alumni, former coaches, and friends of the program.
Former players and coaches are known for remaining
connected and involved with the program. In fact,
including current head coach Steve Jaksa, each of the
previous six head baseball coaches at CMU reside in the
Mount Pleasant area and remain active in the program.
Each year, events are held to promote and enrich the
relationships within the CMU baseball family. Among
these events are the Meet the Chippewas program in
February, Alumni Reunion Day during the season, and the
Alumni Golf Outing in August.
Every year since 1974, the baseball program has
selected an Honorary Fan of the Year. The honor is
bestowed upon an individual who has displayed great
loyalty and dedication to the Chippewa baseball
program.
Mark and Marva Jackson are the 2008 Fans of the
Year. The northern Ontario natives had a son, Sage,
who played for CMU from 1995-99 and moved to Mount
Pleasant during his playing days and remained there
until 2006, when the two retired and moved back to
Ontario. The two still plan their vacations and trips
around CMU baseball and hope to attend as many home
and away games as possible despite relocating back to
Ontario.
CMU Baseball Fans of the Year
1991 Ron Browning, Lansing
1992 Chuck MacGregor, Mount Pleasant
businessman
1993 Jim “Boog” Powell, Mount Pleasant
1994 Bob Lippert, Mount Pleasant educator
1995 Sonny Helber, Mount Pleasant businessman
1996 Walt Schneider, CMU Physical Education & Sport
1997 Tom Kleinhardt, Clare car dealer
1998 Emil Sacco, Mount Pleasant businessman
1999 Dean Kreiner, Tom Tresh, Jim Fuller, CMU
coaches
2000 Larry Doyle, Bay City businessman
2001 Marv Dutmers, CMU groundskeeper
2002 Dave Keilitz, former CMU player, coach,
athletics director
2003 Bob Banta, Mount Pleasant corrections offi cer
2004 Robert Ullom, Midland banker
2005 Gary Arbogast, CMU Physical Education &
Sport
2006 Ed Clauss, former CMU player
2007 Fred Stabley Jr., former SID, and wife Barb
2008 Mark and Marva Jackson, parents
Mark and Marva Jackson
2008 Fans of the Yearr
Central Michigan University Baseball
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11-time Mid-American Conference Champions