Northwestern's baseball team will be taking part in the Clearwater College Invitational hosted by The Winning Inning and the City of Clearwater, Fla. Northwestern will be one of 12 teams participating in this year's tournament. Four of the 12 teams are coming off 30+ win seasons: Southeastern University (48-17, back-to-back-to-back NCCAA Division II National Champions) from Lakeland, Florida, Northwestern College (37-18, NAIA Region III Champions), Urbana University (32-21), and Trinity International University (32-22). Also participating will be Cedarville (4-36), Grace (3-35), Evangel (10-34), Siena-Heights (13-33), Hannibal-LaGrange (21-27), Robert Morris College (26-28), Indiana Wesleyan (17-24), and Bluefield (27-23).
Northwestern is scheduled to face Grace and Urbana on Monday; Trinity International and Robert Morris College on Tuesday; Urbana on Wednesday; Cedarville and Indiana Wesleyan on Thursday; and Trinity International on Friday before a championship round on Saturday. The championship round will match up the two teams with the best records at noon at Jack Russell Stadium. The third and fourth best records will face off at 9:00 am at Jack Russell; there will also be a 5th/6th game and 7th/8th game.
SCOUTING GRACE
Grace returns their top four hitters from last season in Kory Vanderford (.293), Joel Zakahi (.288), Kyle Jansma (.279), and Luke Harbaugh (.277). They also return their top home run threat in Ryan Combs (2) as well as five pitchers who started the most games for them. Hans Griepentrog (2-5, 8.41) led Grace with two wins last season and started seven games. Chay Bailey (0-6, 9.50) also started seven games on the mound for Grace. Zakahi, Adam Metzger, and Nathan Dick also figure to be top arms for Grace in 2008.
SCOUTING URBANA
Urbana lost several key senior position players to graduation but returns a solid core of players who saw significant time last season. Leading the way for Urbana will be All-American Jeff Hartwig. Last season Hartwig hit .331, scored 41 runs, drove in 38 runs, and stole 22 bases. Mike Bezak and Matt Netherly also return after platoon duties in 2007. Bezak hit .273 while Netherly hit .277. Jaeson Hudnall headlines the 2008 Urbana staff after going 5-3 in 2007 with a 4.09 era. Mike Blanton also returns after a 5-2 season in 36 innings.
SCOUTING TRINITY INTERNATIONAL
TIU also was hit hard by graduation but returns five players that started over 20 games last season. Dave Hardt hit .466 in 43 games and scored 27 runs. Senior Troy Anderson, brother to current Red Raider freshman Ian Anderson, hit .379 last season in 31 games, while Bryan Dovichi hit .328 in 34 starts. Sophomore Kyle Keller started in 42 games and hit .254 as a freshman with 21 runs and 25 RBI. Alfred Lavire, Shawn Gorsline, and Andrew Wicklund all pitched 30 innings or more last season for TIU.
SCOUTING ROBERT MORRIS COLLEGE
Robert Morris returns their most potent hitter in Gary Bjorkland. Bjorkland hit a team high .406 last season with 11 doubles, eight home-runs, and 59 RBI. He was named a CCAC Honorable Mention last season. Bill Storrs (.346), Bob Stumpe (.337), Mike Klimson(.315), Dominic Knight (.302), Michael Warner (.297), and Joseph Albano (.255) also return after starting a majority of the RMC games. Ryan Rowe (3.35), Chris Muchek (4.21), and Garret Prenovostt (4.32) all pitched 30+ innings with solid ERAs.
SCOUTING CEDARVILLE
Cedarville, under former Trinity International head coach Mike Manes, returns nearly 75% of their offense from 2007. Paul Wilson (.393) leads the way; he posted team highs in average, runs (24), hits (44), doubles (9), triples (3), RBI (18), SLG%% (.554), and stolen bases (21). Brandon Young Brady Workman Pete Kraus, and Matt Totten also had over 100 at bats for Cedarville. Rob Wasem leads the Cedarville pitchers after going 2-3 last season with a 4.76 ERA. Andrew Lockridge logged the most innings in 2007 with 51.0 had an ERA of 8.12, and a team high 31 strike outs.
SCOUTING INDIANA WESLEYAN
Indiana Wesleyan is poised for a strong season, losing only two of the regulars from 2007. Ryan Moore (.366), Brandon Beachy (.326), Shay Harden (.290), Ben Zachary (.290), Jeff Pierce (.261), and Matt Burthay (.240) all return after starting 36 or more games. Beachy led the team with 33 RBI and 29 runs while Moore led the team with 11 doubles and four home-runs. Of the roughly 299 innings IWU played last season 251.33 of those innings return for 2008. Brandon Moore went 7-3 last year with a 2.73 ERA and had 78 strikeouts in 66 innings. Tim Pauley also returns after starting nine games in 2007. Josh Worrell and Burthay were also used in starting roles last season starting six and seven games respectively. Beachy led the team with three saves and had a 3.86 ERA.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern lost Michael Janssen and Justin Lane following the 2007 season but return over 1200 at bats from last year's team to this year's team. Jake Jansen (.452), Grant Wall (.411), Joe Heitritter (.336), Matt Gray (.333), Austin Malone (.328), Codie Zeutenhorst (.299), Curt Bomgaars (.273) all return after starting roles in 2007. Jansen led the team in avg (.452) and RBI (52); Wall led the team in doubles (19), triples (4) stolen bases (14), and tied Malone with 46 runs scored; Zeutenhorst led the team with 11 home-runs and needs ten to become the all-time leader at Northwestern. Seniors Mihai Burlea and Joe Grady will lead the pitching staff. Burlea (12-1, 3.06) was named All-American last season and posted a school record 12 wins, 97 innings, and 113 strike outs. Grady went 5-6 last season but had a 3.84 ERA in 70.1 innings.
Northwestern Schedule
March 3 versus Grace, 3:00 @ Jack Russell Stadium
March 3 versus Urbana, 6:00 @ Jack Russell Stadium
March 4 versus Robert Morris, 9:30 am @ Jack Russell Stadium
March 4 versus Trinity International, 12:15 @ Jack Russell Stadium
March 5 versus Urbana, 12:15 @ Tack North
**March 5 versus St. Pete College, 3:30 @ Joe DiMaggio Field**
March 6 versus Indiana Wesleyan, 4:00 @ Tack North
March 6 versus Cedarville, 7:00 @ Jack Russell Stadium
March 7 versus Trinity International, 1:15 @ Tack South
** JV Game
Championship Saturday Schedule
9:00 am, 3 versus 4 @ Jack Russell Stadium
9:00 am, 7 versus 8 @ Countryside H.S.
12:00 pm, 1 versus 2 @ Jack Russell Stadium
12:00 pm, 5 versus 6 @ Countryside H.S.
2008 Media Guide
