BASEBALL 2006 BASEBALL 2006 - Aurora University

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Meet the Assistant Coaches ZACH FOX Assistant Coach (Fourth Season) Zach Fox is in his fourth season as Assistant Coach in the Aurora University baseball program. Fox will serve as the infield/outfield coach, work with the hitters, coach first base and work with AU’s junior varsity program. Fox entered the AU baseball program as a freshman in 1996 and played four years with the Spartans. In his four years, he was part of a team that won four NIIC championships and made four trips to the NCAA regional, winning it twice. He also made two trips to the Division III World Series in Salem, VA. Fox was a two-time All-NIIC player and a two-time All-Central Region selection. Fox was captain in 2000 as well as the team’s MVP. He also is in the Aurora University baseball record book in several individual and team categories. Fox double majored at AU, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology. Fox is a native of Silvis, IL, and a graduate of United Township High School in East Moline, IL, where he played baseball and basketball. Fox currently is the Conference and Rentals Coordinator at Aurora University. BRIAN KIPLEY Assistant Coach (Fourth Season) Brian Kipley is in his fourth season as Assistant Coach in the Aurora University baseball program. He will work with the pitching staff and AU’s junior varsity program. Kipley entered the AU baseball program as a freshman in 1998 and played four years with the Spartans. In those four years, he was part of four NIIC championship teams and made three trips to the NCAA regional. Kipley earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2002 from AU. Kipley took over in the winter of 2003 as the Sports Information Director at AU. He is a native of Thornton, IL and a graduate of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago. JASON SMITH Assistant Coach (First Season) Jason Smith returns to the Aurora University baseball program after coaching one season at Manchester College. Smith will serve as the outfield coach, work with the hitters and work with AU’s junior varsity program. Smith entered the AU baseball program as a freshman in 2001 and played four years with the Spartans. In those four years, he was part of two NIIC championship teams, and made two trips to the NCAA regional and one trip to the Division III World Series (2004). Smith was a three-time All-NIIC Player and a two-time All-Central Region selection, and a two-time captain. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Aurora University. He is a native of Chicago Ridge, IL, and a graduate of Richards High School. Smith currently is the Athletics Event/Equipment Manager at the university. 2 AU Men’s Baseball
2006 Baseball Prospectus The 2006 Aurora University baseball team looks to improve from a very strong 2005 campaign. The 2005 Spartans finished the regular season with a 34-7 (14-4 NIIC) mark. This included a Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference Championship and a number one seed in the 2005 Central Regional. The Spartans went 0-2 in the Central Regional. The quick exit to the post season was a shock to the same Spartans that finished third at the College World Series in 2004. Although the Spartans failed to reach the World Series for back-to-back years, a 34-9 finish to the 2005 season leaves AU with some promise leading into the 2006 season. The 2006 Spartans look to continue their long tradition of being a national baseball powerhouse. AU has had 21 consecutive winning seasons, 19 20+ win seasons, has won the NIIC 19 out of the past 22 seasons and has appeared in the NCAA Regional in 16 out of the past 19 seasons. The 2006 season will be led by a veteran-filled staff. With the depth of the pitchers returning, the AU pitching staff hopes to improve on a solid 2005 season. The anchor of the staff looks to be senior captain Brady Salter (7-2, 3.84 ERA, 49 strikeouts). Salter, who was drafted in the 43rd round of the MLB draft in 2005 by the New York Yankees, returned to AU to be the ace of the Spartans. Salter also was named to the 2005 All-NIIC team. Also returning to bolster the Spartan rotation are seniors Alex Chapple (8-1, 3.27 ERA, 49 strikeouts) and Adam Hutten (3-3, 6.26 ERA, 33 strikeouts). Chapple was a Second Team All-Central Region pick in 2005. Looking to add solid depth to the starting rotation are transfer sophomore Kyle Mueller from Moraine Valley and junior Matt Miller from Lincoln College. The Spartan bullpen looks to be a force in the 2006 season. AU returns several pitchers who threw significant innings in 2005. Leading the way out of the bullpen are senior Mike Martin (2-0, four saves) and juniors Ryan Fair (3-0, 4.50 ERA) and Jon Turek (3-1, 2.77 ERA, 17 appearances). Fair, a starter a year ago, has been moved to the bullpen and into the closer’s role. Sophomore Adam Deckman (1-0, 3.09 ERA) and Casey Friend also look to provide solid innings for the Spartans this year. Look for freshmen Chris Koudelka (Downers Grove North H.S.) and Dennis Vietoris (Oak Lawn H.S.) to get quality innings out of the bullpen as well. The Spartan infield will have a much different look to it in 2006. Leading the infield will be senior captain Aaron Thor (.364, 52 runs scored, 21 doubles, four home runs). Thor, a shortstop, is a four-year starter for the Spartans and should provide leadership for the Spartan infield. He was named to the 2005 All-NIIC team as well as Third Team All-Central Region a year ago. Thor will benefit from having the same double play partner with senior captain Ryan Brooks (.326, nine doubles) playing second base. Backing up Thor and Brooks will be freshman Josh Damore (Grayslake H.S.) and freshman Zach Starkey (Waubonsie Valley H.S.). Junior 3rd baseman Ryan Losacco will be backed up by freshman Kevin Fitzgerald (Joliet Township H.S.). Senior Nick Weber will control first base. Freshman Martin Diaz (West Aurora H.S.) will push Weber at first base as well as fight for some time at DH. With two of three starters returning, the Spartans outfield looks to make the difference for AU in 2006. Once again, four-year starter and captain John Hopkins (.373, 63 runs scored, 15 doubles, 13-14 stolen bases) will roam center field for the Spartans. Hopkins, like Thor, hopes to provide veteran leadership to the rest of the outfield. Also returning is left fielder Jay Zimmerman (.373, 51 runs scored, seven home runs, 36 runs batted in), who is coming off a very impressive sophomore season. Hopkins and Zimmerman were both selected to the 2005 All-NIIC teams. Both were also selected to All-Central Region teams, with Zimmerman named Second Team and Hopkins Third Team. Right field will be fought for between sophomores Peter Oliver and Joe Infantino. Freshman Rob Strale (Oak Forest H.S.) and Dave Warner (Morton West H.S.) look to provide depth in left and center field for the Spartans in 2006. The catching core will look very similar to that of 2005. Doing a majority of the catching will be senior Chris Forbes (.298, 22 runs scored). Splitting time with Forbes will be junior Zach DeGrush. DeGrush spent time behind the plate on the 2004 team before moving to second base last season. Looking to provide depth will be freshmen Ray Kosmicki (Schaumburg H.S.) and Sean Noggle (Oswego H.S.) and sophomore Ryan Stablein. Despite a demanding schedule, the Spartans look to prove to the country that they deserve the pre-season recognition they were given. They open the season ranked 30th in the ABCA poll and will trek to Phoenix, AZ, the first week of March after spending the last several years in Ft. Myers, FL, on the spring trip. AU Men’s Baseball 3
Page 1 and 2: S P A BASEBALL 2006 R T A N S
Page 3: AU Media Outlets Meet the Head Coac
Page 7 and 8: Meet the Spartans #39 LEW BLASZCZYK
Page 9 and 10: Meet the Spartans #10 KEVIN FITZGER
Page 11 and 12: Meet the Spartans #34 MIKE MARTIN 5
Page 13 and 14: Meet the Spartans #45 BRANDON THIEL
Page 15 and 16: 2005 Spartan Statistics The NIIC BA
Page 17 and 18: AU NCAA Post-Season History AU BASE
Page 19 and 20: Year By Year Results Year Record 19
Page 21 and 22: AU Baseball Records TEAM RECORDS BA
Page 23 and 24: This Is Aurora University When you

BASEBALL 2006 BASEBALL 2006 - Aurora University

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