Winter in northeast Ohio can sometimes seem like it will drag on forever.  The gradual hints of spring’s arrival -- warming temperatures, greening lawns, and frequent sunshine -- are often met with much anticipation.  The opportunity that spring brings for a new beginning or a fresh start following a long, harsh winter is also a welcome relief for many.  After an early exit from last year’s AMC/NAIA Region IX Tournament, few have looked forward to winter’s conclusion and the start of a new baseball season more than the players, coaches, and fans of the Malone College baseball team.

 

Following their remarkable 2006 season and NCCAA National Championship, the Pioneers had high expectations for their 2007 campaign.  Although the squad struggled at the start of last year, Malone persevered down the stretch to win its final six American Mideast Conference North Division games, finish second in the divisional standings, and qualify for the postseason.  Unfortunately, though, the Pioneers’ up-and-down year then quickly came to a close after the squad suffered successive playoff losses.

 

A final 23-26 overall record and 11-5 AMC North mark in 2007 were by no means a failure.  However, after its 2006 success and impressive run at the end of the regular season last year, Malone is excited and eager to get its 2008 campaign under way.  “Our players have worked very hard during the off-season,” commented fifth-year head coach Tom Crank. “They are very determined to be very successful this season.”

 

Although first baseman Bob Dubovec and left fielder Josh Spencer, two key members from last year’s team, were both lost to graduation, several promising recruits will join a sizable group of returning players on the Pioneers’ roster this spring as the squad aims for big things again this season.

 

Senior outfielder/second baseman Troy Richeson (Minerva H.S.) is one of several experienced players that will return to Coach Crank’s lineup.  Richeson received All-AMC North and NCCAA All-East Region First Team accolades after an excellent 2007 season in which he stole 14 bases and posted team highs for batting average (.379), on-base percentage (.487), sacrifice bunts (seven), and triples (four).  Juniors Jon Lutton (Louisville H.S.) and Zac Barson (Canton South H.S.) are also back this year and will once again share catching responsibilities, with Barson also seeing a substantial amount of time at third base.  Lutton and Barson each made strong offensive and defensive contributions throughout the ’07 campaign as both were named to the All-AMC North First Team, as well as, the All-AMC/NAIA Region IX Rawlings Gold Glove Team, recognizing their excellent defensive play.  Lutton also garnered NCCAA All-East Region First Team accolades after batting .298 with four home runs and 32 runs batted in.  Barson, a 2007 NCCAA All-East Region Honorable Mention selection, batted .313 a year ago while clubbing three homers and delivering 23 RBI.

 

Another defensive anchor from last season, junior Scott McIlvain (Marlington H.S.), is back at shortstop.  McIlvain collected All-AMC North Second Team and NCCAA All-East Region Honorable Mention accolades last year after he swiped 10 bags, scored 29 runs and led the team with 11 doubles.  Two transfers will take on the duty of filling Bob Dubovec’s shoes at first base.  Sophomore Karl Ferber (New London H.S.), who transferred from Myers University, and junior Ryan Baechel (GlenOak H.S.), who came to Malone from Cleveland State University, hope to settle in and become valuable assets to the team.

 

Senior catcher Scott Taylor (Lake H.S.) and junior second baseman Mike Tozzi (Sandy Valley H.S.) also return this spring and will be joined in the infield mix by freshmen newcomers Justin Shiflett (Wayne Trace H.S.) and catcher David Greene (East Canton H.S.).

 

Joining Richeson in the outfield will be seniors John Stallings (Louisville H.S.) and Chris Mandeville (Tuslaw H.S.) along with freshman Andrew Adams (Louisville H.S.).  Stallings was voted All-AMC North Honorable Mention last year after batting .301 and pacing the squad with 18 steals. Mandeville, meanwhile, crushed three homers and drove in 19 runs in just 97 at-bats.

 

In addition to a potent batting order and strong defense, the Pioneers will also boast a deep and talented pitching staff this season.  Leading the way on the mound in 2008 will be junior right-handed starting pitchers Sam Campitella (Jackson H.S.) and Ryan Hartong (Dalton H.S.), who were each tabbed All-AMC North First Team and NCCAA All-East Region Honorable Mention after their strong 2007 efforts.  Campitella registered a 5-1 record with a 4.41 earned run average while Hartong compiled a 6-4 record with a 3.82 earned run average over 61 and one-third innings of work.  Senior left-hander Jimmy Dowling (Tuslaw H.S.) and junior right-hander Adam Boudler (Louisville H.S.), who were both voted All-AMC North Honorable Mention a year ago, also return to the starting rotation.  Dowling and Boudler each notched 40 strikeouts last season as Dowling compiled a 4-4 record with a 3.75 ERA and Boudler posted a 4-6 mark with a 5.33 earned run average.  Other returning pitchers include seniors Josh McKeivier (Strasburg Franklin H.S.) and Zach Winkhart (Canton Central Catholic H.S.), juniors Mike Yost (Marlington H.S.) and Jake Booth (Toronto H.S.), and sophomores Justin Corbett (Cuyahoga Falls H.S.) and Todd Liberatore (Tusc. Central Catholic H.S.).  Four promising freshmen also join the staff this year including lefty Jeff Shenker (Twinsburg H.S.) and right-handers Bryan Bayer (Fairless H.S.), Camden Carter (Lake H.S.), and Corey Hartong (Dalton H.S.).  In addition to their duties on the mound, several members of the pitching staff will also provide depth in the playing field with Winkhart and Shenker contributing in the infield and Corey Hartong likely seeing time in the outfield.

 

Malone will be challenged by a tough schedule once again this season that features match-ups with NCAA Division I opponents Kent State University, Cleveland State University and the University of Akron in addition to its always challenging American Mideast Conference slate.  “Our goal is to play a tough schedule to prepare us for the postseason,” Crank noted.

 

The AMC will operate in one 10-team division this spring as opposed to previous years when the conference was divided into North and South Divisions.  Malone was picked to finish fourth in the AMC preseason coaches’ poll behind Ohio Dominican University, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and Walsh University. 

 

Due to construction of new residence halls on Malone’s campus, the Pioneers will be playing all of their home games during the 2008 season at Canton’s Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium.  The program is planning to construct a new state-of-the-art facility on campus in time for the start of the 2009 season.