Raiders Looking to Bounce Back After Disappointing 2009

Last season the Raiders lost 11 one-run games last season, including eight in GPAC play and they also lost four GPAC games in extra innings. 2009 was the first time the Raiders had missed the conference tournament under head coach Brian Wede and the first time they had finished under .500 in either league play or overall. Northwestern returns five position player starters and three starting pitchers from 2009 and added a 2008 two way starter who missed the 2009 season.

Returning position players from last season include; first team All-GPAC Shortstop Brad Payne, honorable mention third baseman Curt Bomgaars, three time starter and 2007 All-GPAC honorable mention outfielder Matt Gray, utility player Clint Gingerich, catchers Ty Bouchard and Chuck Stith, second baseman Matt Negaard, and returning to the OF in 2010 is sophomore Mike Zoellner. Payne hit .374 last season and scored a team best 49 runs from the lead-off position. Bomgaars and Gray both hit above .330, while Gingerich, Negaard, and Zoellner each hit .271, .291, and .272 (2008) respectively. Also figuring into the mix offensively are sophomore first basemen Ben Aguilera and Mike Shields, junior college transfer Steve Englund will contribute in the outfield, last season he was an All-Region outfielder at Southeastern CC.

On the mound, Northwestern's rotation will feature a couple of All-GPAC Second Team pitchers. Drew Nonnemacher is back after a stellar campaign in 2009. Nonnemacher posted a 3.12 ERA in 60.1 innings and had a 4-2 record. Joining Nonnemacher will be Mike Zoellner. Zoellner returns for 2010 after taking 2009 off. In 2008, Zoellner was a second team All-GPAC performer, going 5-2 with a 4.22 ERA. Zoellner held opponents to a .206 batting average in 59.2 innings. Other returners from the 2009 staff include Bret Larson, Brad Payne, Jared Kirkeby, Andrew Engesser, Jesus Santoyo, and Eddie Pantzlaff. In all, Northwestern returns over 200 innings from last season's pitching staff that ranked third in the GPAC with a 5.56 team ERA.