Southern Indiana
Screaming Eagles |
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Second year coach Tracy Archuletta looks
to build off of Southern Indiana's successful 2007 season
which saw them post a 43-23 record (25 wins better than in
2006) and their first-ever showing in the NCAA II National
Championship Series. The Screaming Eagles made it all the
way to the final four before being eliminated from the series
by number-one ranked and defending national champion University
of Tampa Spartans.
In hopes of duplicating last year’s
success Archuletta will once again look to a rock solid pitching
staff led by senior southpaw Cory Julian (8-3 2.10 ERA).  The
lefty was nearly perfect in last year's post season, going
3-0 with a 0.32 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 28 innings of work.
Right handers Jeremy Kehrt (6-0 3.42 ERA),Casey Geiger (3-1
2.20 ERA), and Matt Nichols (redshirted) look to fill out
one of the tougher pitching staffs in the Midwest. Archuletta
has also brought in projected closer Shaun Larsen from John
A. Logan College who compiled a 2-2 record with a 2.10 ERA
and 27 Ks in 25 innings for the Volunteers.
Defensively the Screaming Eagles return three
of four infielders Kevin O'Hair (.248 18 RBI), Matt Pleiss
(.291 32 RBI) and Alex Thereof (.290 32 RBI), but lose All-American
second baseman Darin Mastroianni. Senior Josh Malone (.272
18 RBI) will fill the fourth spot in the infield. In the outfield
seniors Michael Beaven (.249 18 RBI) and Bryan Rudden (.273
17 RBI) return. Rudden provided a serious threat on the base
paths, stealing 31 bases while Beaven made it nearly impossible
to drop a ball anywhere in centerfield. Garrett Oros (.255
29 RBI) and Josh Jarboe (.172 6 RBI) are just part of a very
deep catcher's position.
Southern Indiana's weakness may be their
lack of explosiveness on offense. As a team, the Screaming
Eagles hit for a .283 average and only 9 home runs as a team.
With the loss of Mastroianni to the draft (Toronto Blue Jays)
and Hunter Slade to graduation, the team will need to find
dependable hitters to provide RBIs. The two provided one-third
of the Eagles' RBIs and were the only two hitters to hit over
.300 in 2007. Coach Archuletta apparently saw the weakness
and addressed it promptly with multiple juco transfers. New
to the program will be infielders Wes Fink (.297 35 RBI) and
Josh Huebner (.358 32 RBI), catchers Kyle Rowley (.337 22
RBI) and Nate Noland (.373), and outfielders Caleb Ehmke (.244
8 RBI) and Royle Beach (.324 18 RBI).
The Southern Indiana Screaming open the year
as the seventh ranked team in the inaugural Ping! Baseball!
DII preseason poll.
PREVIOUS DII SPOTLIGHTS
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