For the second time in the last three years, the Malone College baseball team set a new record for wins in a season. The Pioneers won 42 of their 58 games in 2008 to surpass the 2006 squad’s previous record of 40 victories (Malone tallied a 40-20 mark during the 2006 campaign). As they did in 2006, the Pioneers also competed at the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Tournament at the end of the year and collected multiple awards at the conference, regional, and national levels. Although Malone was unable to duplicate its 2006 national title, the squad played well over the four days of NCCAA Tournament action at Bob Cene Park in Struthers, Ohio, finishing third among a strong ten-team field.

 

After capturing the American Mideast Conference regular-season title with an impressive 21-5 mark in conference play, Malone, ranked 22nd in the final NAIA national poll, opened the postseason by hosting the four-team, double-elimination NAIA Region IX Tournament at Thurman Munson Stadium May 7-10. Unfortunately, though, the squad was eliminated from NAIA playoff contention after it dropped consecutive single, nine-inning contests to Urbana University and Mt. Vernon Nazarene University. The Pioneers’ season was not over, however, as the squad then hosted the three-team NCCAA East Region Tournament May 15-16 and came away with the regional crown after posting a 3-1 record over the two days of competition. 

 

Malone then moved on to the double-elimination NCCAA National Tournament as the event’s top seed and won its first two contests with victories over eighth-seeded Oakland City (IN) University and fifth-seeded Indiana Wesleyan University. The squad then split a pair of games on day three of the tournament, losing 9-0 to second-seeded Mount Vernon Nazarene before avoiding elimination with a 5-2 victory over third-seeded Chowan (NC) University. 

 

Entering the final day of tourney competition, Malone, Indiana Wesleyan and Mt. Vernon Nazarene each remained in contention with one loss apiece, but since MVNU was the last of the three remaining teams to lose a game, the Cougars received a bye into the championship contest. Malone’s season then came to a close as Indiana Wesleyan, which had moved up through the loser’s bracket, advanced to the NCCAA title game with a 6-3 victory over the Pioneers (Mt. Vernon Nazarene later defeated IWU to capture its sixth NCCAA national championship).

 

Malone began its impressive season by posting a 10-2 record during its annual spring break trip to Arizona. The Pioneers’ strong play then continued throughout the year as the squad wrapped up its regular-season schedule by notching victories in 16 of its last 18 games which included a 13-game winning streak in mid-April. In addition to its 42 wins, Malone also set four other new single-season team records during the 2008 campaign including highest batting average (.345), most base hits (576), most doubles (90), and most hit by pitcher (54). 

 

Leading the way for the Pioneers offensively this year was the senior outfield trio of centerfielder Troy Richeson (Minerva H.S.), leftfielder Chris Mandeville (Tuslaw H.S.), and rightfielder John Stallings (Louisville H.S.). Richeson wrapped up his outstanding four-year Malone career with another strong season as he was voted to the All-AMC Second Team and the NCCAA All-East Region Team after starting all 58 games in centerfield. Richeson batted .390 on the season and led the team in multiple statistical categories including at-bats (213), hits (83), runs (55), RBI’s (48) and fielding percentage (.992). The 5’10 leadoff hitter also had an impact on the record book, wrapping up his Malone career with 210 hits to surpass Rob Roberts’ (1993-1996) previous career record of 206 base hits.

 

Mandeville collected All-AMC First Team, NCCAA All-East Region, and NCCAA All-America accolades after a breakout season in which he tallied team and career highs for batting average (.420) and slugging percentage (.558). Mandeville also set a new Pioneer single-season record with 20 doubles, breaking former teammate Bob Dubovec’s 2006 mark of 19 doubles.

 

Stallings, an All-AMC Second Team and NCCAA All-East Region selection, batted .393 on the season and led the team with 28 steals and a .503 on-base percentage.

 

Junior first baseman Ryan Baechel (GlenOak H.S.) and senior designated hitter Zach Winkhart (Canton Central Catholic H.S.) also made significant offensive contributions throughout the year. Baechel played in all 58 games and was tabbed All-AMC First Team and NCCAA All-East Region after compiling a .297 batting average with a team-best 10 home runs and 48 RBI’s. Winkhart garnered All-AMC Second Team, NCCAA All-East Region, and NCCAA All-America recognition after tallying a .377 batting average with 12 doubles and 34 runs batted in.

 

Pacing the pitching staff throughout the season were junior right-handed starters Adam Boudler (Louisville H.S.) and Sam Campitella (Jackson H.S.). Boudler received All-AMC First Team, NCCAA All-East Region, and NCCAA East Region Pitcher of the Year honors after compiling an 8-4 record with a 2.69 earned run average over a team-leading 70.1 innings of work. Campitella, an All-AMC Second Team and NCCAA All-East Region selection, started 10 games on the mound and posted a 5-1 record with a 3.99 earned run average.

 

Other postseason award winners included junior shortstop Scott McIlvain (Marlington H.S.), junior third baseman Zac Barson (Canton South H.S.), sophomore left-handed starting pitcher Todd Liberatore (Tusc. Central Catholic H.S.), and freshman relief pitcher Bryan Bayer (Fairless H.S.). McIlvain, Barson, and Liberatore were each named All-AMC Honorable Mention while Bayer was voted NCCAA All-East Region Honorable Mention.

 

In addition, Richeson, Barson, McIlvain, and junior catcher Jon Lutton (Louisville H.S.) were each named to the All-AMC Rawlings Gold Glove Team in recognition of their excellent defensive play throughout the season. Fifth-year head coach Tom Crank was also honored following the Pioneers’ impressive 2008 campaign as he was voted the AMC Coach of the Year.