BASEBALL 2006 BASEBALL 2006 - Aurora University

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
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