Season Preview: Baseball looks to challenge for OAC Title in 2017
By Caleb Scott
ADA — The Ohio Northern baseball team will look to compete for an Ohio Athletic Conference title in 2017 under 6th-year head coach Gene Stechschulte.
The Polar Bears posted their third consecutive winning season as they went 21-16 in 2016 and went 9-9 in the OAC.
Over the last three seasons, Northern has recorded a school-record 79 victories in that time span.
"We really want to compete this season," said head coach Gene Stechschulte. "These guys have been working hard this offseason and we think we can compete at a very high level this season."
Here is a breakdown of the 2017 squad, by position:
Pitching
The pitching staff will look to be a strong point for ONU again in 2017.
Seniors and returning letterwinners Zach Maier (Huntsville/Indian Lake) and Devin Carr (Newark/Licking Valley) will look to lead the group of starting pitchers on the mound.
Maier returns after seeing significant time in the rotation in 2016 and will look to see an expanded role in 2017.
Maier waived 25 batters in 31.0 innings of action a season ago, while posting a 2.03 ERA.
Carr makes his return in 2017 after making eight appearances on the bump last season, including six starts.
The senior made the most of his 31.1 innings of work in 2016 as he posted 10 K's.
Seniors Casey Mulcahy (Lima/Shawnee) and Zach Foster (Wayne/Elmwood) will look to lead the relief group in 2017.
Mulcahy returned to the team late last season after making his way back from an injury, while Foster makes his return after making nine appearances last season.
Also looking to see time on the mound and returning with experience in 2017 are sophomores Jake Szendrey (North Canton/Hoover), Austin Frey (Peoria, Az./Sunrise Mountain), and Jackson Buda (Norton).
Preseason First Team All-American and junior T.J. Storer (Loveland/Moeller) will lead the closers in 2017 after posting a historic sophomore season.
The junior owns the school record for career saves (13) and currently has the best career ERA (1.23) in school history.
Storer led the Polar Bears last season with a 0.49 ERA and only allowed 18 hits in 37.0 innings of work.
Storer made 12 appearances on the mound last season and had a team-best eight saves.
"Pitching is going to be one of our strong points again this season," said Stechschulte. "Although we are relatively young at the position, we have plenty of experience. We lost a few guys from last season and will have to see some guys step up and have success there. The freshman class has a lot of promise, so we are excited to see how this group does.
Infield
Senior Kyle Schlade (Hamilton/Talawanda) will look to anchor the catcher position for Northern in 2017.
Schlade brings back a wealth of experience as a catcher, while sophomore Michael Veatch (Indianapolis, Ind./Herron) will provide depth and experience for the Polar Bears.
Junior Jordan Bostater (Bryan) and sophomore Caleb Thomas (Strongsville) will both see time at first base and as designated hitters for the Polar Bears.
Bostater returns in 2017 after ranking third on the team and leading all returners with 31 hits.
The junior also led the team and all returners with 29 RBI a season ago.
Thomas had a strong freshman campaign as he made appearances in 21 games last season and recorded 13 hits and ranked third on the team with six doubles.
Juniors Brandon Kasberg (Mentor) and Hayden Shenefield (Powell/Worthington Kilbourne) will anchor the middle infield for the Polar Bears.
Kasberg and Shenefield combined for 64 appearances last season and will look to lead Northern in the field defensively.
Sophomore Luke Klinehoffer (Zanesville/John Glenn) will make the move to third base for Northern.
Klinehoffer recorded 16 hits in in 49 at bats last season while hitting .327.
Senior Jacob Lochard (Sidney) will also see time in the infield as a utility player.
Freshmen newcomers Phil Buckingham (Wayne/Elmwood), Scott Beaton (Novi, Mich.) and Jake Gherardi (Youngstown/Austintown-Fitch) will also look to see time in the infield for Northern.
"The infield group is an experienced group," said Stechschulte. "Brandon and Hayden have got a lot of experience in their first two seasons here. Jordan is another one of those guys that has seen a lot of time in the infield. Caleb and Luke both came on strong last season and should see their fair share of time in the infield."
Outfield
The outfield will be led by 2-time letterwinner and junior Dan Barna (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley).
The junior made appearances in 30 games last season for Northern.
Carr, junior Jason Burkett (Maumee), and sophomore Adam Wilson (Maineville/Archbishop Moeller) will all look to compete for minutes in the outfield.
"The four guys coming back this season will be fighting for time in the outfield," said Stechschulte. "They all have a lot of experience and will need to step it up this year. We also have a good group of underclassmen that will need to be ready to be called on."
Schedule
The Polar Bears will open the season on Mar. 4 as they compete in the RussMatt Invitational in Auburndale, Fla. from Mar. 4-11.
Northern will return to and open the home portion of the schedule at Wander Field on Mar. 14 as they host area-rival Bluffton.
ONU will then play a 3-game series at Thomas More (Ky.) on Mar. 17-18 before traveling to Trine (Ind.) on Mar. 21.
Other non-conference action will feature home contests with Anderson (Ind.) on Mar. 22 and Denison on Mar. 28, Wittenberg on Apr. 5, a double-header with Kalamazoo (Mich.) on Apr. 25, and Ohio Wesleyan on May 3.
Northern will also travel to non-conference foe Defiance on Mar. 29.
Ohio Athletic Conference play will start on Mar. 25 as Northern welcomes Otterbein to Wander Field for a double-header.
The Polar Bears will host double-headers with Mount Union on Apr. 8, Muskingum on Apr. 14, and Capital on Apr. 29.
The schedule will feature double-header action at John Carroll on Apr. 1, Wilmington on Apr. 11, Baldwin Wallace on Apr. 19, Heidelberg on Apr. 22, and Marietta on May 6.
"We have plenty of depth and experience on this team," said Stechschulte. "Our hitting has been better so far this preseason which is a good sign. We need our upperclassmen to play well this year. If those guys can play well we will have a good shot at competing at a high level. We are excited about getting started and seeing where we are at."