Feb. 10, 2006

DETROIT - The Wayne State University baseball team has every intention to go back to the table for seconds this season. The 2005 season had many firsts. First national ranking (#24 on April 26); first NCAA Tournament appearance; first time hosting the GLIAC Tournament; first player drafted (pitcher Steve Squires, 49th round--1462 overall pick--by the World Champion Chicago White Sox); first season sweep of traditional powerhouse Ashland. The Warriors, who received votes with 22 points in the 2006 Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's preseason poll, are already stepping up to home plate with their dish in hand, ready to build upon what Jay Alexander has assembled in his three short seasons as head coach.

Gone are two of the most successful players in WSU baseball history in 2005 GLIAC Player of the Year Frank Jeney and three-time all-conference player Bobby Marten. But Alexander isn't dwelling on what's not there, he knows what he does have--six other all-league picks and the experience of the post-season-- can get the job done.

WSU returns a pair of all-conference pitchers who ranked second and third, respectively, in the GLIAC for innings pitched last year in junior Kyle Hill and sophomore Ryan Mosher. "Our pitching should be as good as last year's staff. Although we have good freshmen, they still have to prove themselves," said Alexander. "Returning Hill and Mosher definitely helps and once Barnes and Kirkpatrick are healthy we will be even better."

Hill, who was named to the 2005 ABCA/Rawlings All-North Central Region First Team, had a 9-4 record and team-high 57 strikeouts, including getting 23 batters looking, as the No. 1 starter. Mosher, a finalist for GLIAC Freshman of the Year, showed his durability with six complete games last season, the second most in the league, while sporting an eight-best 3.25 ERA.

The pitching staff will have Second Team All-GLIAC selection Matt Cunningham catching for them. The redshirt sophomore recorded a .980 fielding percentage, committing only five errors in 252 chances, and threw out 11 runners attempting steals.

Returning on the right side of the infield is a solid foundation of second baseman Jason Chapieski and first baseman Jon Weisman, who helped WSU turn a GLIAC-high 48 double plays.

Weisman hit a team-high nine home runs last year and is the top returning batter with a .315 average from last season. Chapieski led the league with 32 stolen bases last year, and was second in walks, fourth in runs scored, fifth in assists and 10th in hits. Both Chapieski and Weisman collected Second Team All-GLIAC honors.

The Warriors have a pair of highly-talented seniors patrolling the outfield. Center fielder Kurt Kieleszewski, who was error-free in 78 chances, had seven multi-hit games on the season. Co-captain Adwin Springer is back in right field where he started all 51 games last season. Springer was second on the team with eight home runs, including a two-homer game at Northwood that helped Wayne State clinch the regular-season title.

"Replacing Jeney and Marten will be a difficult task for our program. Any time you lose two leaders who are coaches on the field and responsible for 40 percent of our offense, it's hard," said Alexander. "However, we have players who are working very hard to replace them. Chapieski will lead the infielders as Chris Baroli, Kevin Kadrofske and Kyle Miller will hold down the left side of the infield, replacing Jeney and Marten."

With 10 true freshman and six transfers, there is a large pool of candidates to battle for playing time. "I am excited about all our new players and I feel that they all will step in and contribute to the success of our program. Chuck Pate, Tim George, Anthony Bass, Dane Little, Daniel Baird, Scott Martin will make immediate contributions."

The 2005 GLIAC Coach of the Year is also aware the only way to be the best, is to beat the best. "Anytime you win it helps the future of your program. We were able to have a good recruiting class and that was reflected in our schedule as top programs want to play us. Since I've been head coach, our schedule has always been tough, but this year it's even more challenging," said Alexander. "I believe playing a strong non-league schedule will prepare us to compete at the top of our conference as we did last season." This season's schedule is loaded with ranked squads, including four of the first five opponents. The Warriors also have seven games against Division I talent that will help prepare them to return to the biggest feast of all--the NCAA Tournament.