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Pittsburg State Baseball
2007 Season Outlook

gorilla logo    The Pittsburg State University baseball team returns solid group of veteran players for a 2007 campaign in which the Gorillas will bid for the program’s fifth all-time appearance in NCAA Division II postseason play.
   The Gorillas, who have made four trips to NCAA-II play in the past 10 seasons, have narrowly missed the post-season field each of the past four years.
Pitt State head coach Steve Bever welcomes back three position starters, a pair of part-time starters, along with six pitchers who appeared in five or more games.     Additionally, Bever has bolstered the Gorillas’ lineup with a talented recruiting class.
    The combination bodes well for another postseason run for the Gorillas, according to Bever.
    “This squad certainly has all the potential to contend for postseason play,” said Bever, who has fashioned a 449-346 (.565) record in 16 seasons leading his alma mater.
    “Offensively, this should be a team that can both hit for average and for power. We have very good team speed, and we’ll try to be situationally aggressive on the base paths.
    “We have a good deal of veteran experience in our pitching staff, and we expect to have a good deal of competition for our frontline pitching roles. Our pitching staff should be very deep.”

PITCHING STAFF
    Bever expects a large group of players to contend for starting spots in PSU’s pitching rotation in 2007.
    Senior lefthanders Bryson Clark and Eric Peterson lead PSU’s veteran players. Both players are returning to the squad after exercising medical redshirt seasons in 2006.
    Clark (5-11, 190) posted a 3-3 record in 11 appearances for Pitt State in 2005, logging 45 strikeouts in 48.3 innings. Peterson (5-10, 215) pitched in just five games in 2005, posting a 1-0 mark with a 3.10 ERA and one save.
    Junior lefthander Garrett Forsythe and junior transfers Brad Bartling (RHP) and Durk Wecker (RHP) also are expected to contend for spots in PSU’s rotation.
Forsythe (6-0, 200) posted a 4-5 record with a 4.06 ERA in 14 games in 2006. He registered 52 strikeouts in 57.7 innings of work.
    Bartling (6-1, 205) comes to PSU from Garden City Community College where he posted a 2-2 record for the Broncbusters last spring. Wecker (6-2, 195) joins the Gorillas from Neosho County Community College, where he posted an 8-1 record with a 3.85 ERA and two saves as a sophomore in 2006.
    Seniors Mike Eckel (RHP), Andy Smith (RHP) and Ryan Ulrich (LHP) also will compete for mound time for the Gorillas, along with junior Anthony Martinez (RHP) and sophomores Chris Dunlap (RHP) and Jason Porta (RHP).
    Junior transfer Brandon Boyer should vie for the team’s closer role. Boyer (5-11, 170) rejoins the PSU roster for 2006 after initially transferring from Neosho County Community College two seasons ago. He posted a 4-1 record with a 1.74 ERA that year.
    Freshman transfer Kyle Bates (RHP) and true freshmen Ben Gifford (RHP) and Ryan Sorell (RHP) also figure to see mound time for the Gorillas.

INFIELDERS
    The Gorillas will rely on several new faces to step into frontline infield roles in 2007.
    Senior Drew Schulte is the most experienced infielder. A three-time All-MIAA performer, Schulte (5-11, 219) has primarily served as the team’s designated hitter but he figures to contend for time at first base as well.
    Senior Michael Campbell (5-10, 180) figures to serve as a utility infielder. He’s seen action at second, third and shortstop over the past three years.
    Junior transfers Brock Hampton, Brett Hothan and Luke Naccarato all joins the Pitt State cast after solid junior college careers. Hampton (6-4, 190) batted .361 with 12 doubles and 34 RBIs at Independence Community College last year. Hothan (6-1, 190) hit .287 with five HRs and 26 RBIs at Cloud County Community College, earning honorable mention All-Jayhawk Conference honors. Naccarato (5-9, 190) hit .324 with 25 runs scored and 26 RBIs at Neosho County Community College.
    All three figure to see significant action for the Gorillas this spring.
    Redshirt freshman Corbin Terlip (6-0, 170) rounds out the Gorillas’ infield cast.

OUTFIELDERS
    Seniors Jeff Deao and Kevin Deao lead the Pitt State outfield cast.
    Jeff Deao (6-2, 200) hit .333 with six HRs, 37 runs scored and 28 stolen bases in 2006, earning honorable mention All-MIAA honors. Kevin Deao (5-10, 170) batted .330 with four HRs and 24 RBIs in 38 games for the Gorillas in 2006.
    Junior Jacob Boan also returns for his fourth year in the Pitt State program. Boan (6-0, 195) batted .250 with two HRs and 10 RBIs in 41 games last year.
    Junior transfers Patrick Martin and Jeremy Oehlert also join the Gorillas outfield cast for 2006. Martin (5-9, 150) spent two seasons at Labette Community College, while Oehlert (5-11, 160) hit .308 with 15 doubles and 34 RBIs as a sophomore at Neosho County Community College in 2006.

CATCHERS
    The Gorillas enjoy a solid stable of players to handle their catching duties.
    Senior T.J. Franklin returns for his second year in the Pitt State program. Franklin (6-1, 215) hit .267 with two HRs and 10 RBIs in 2006. He figures to spend time at designated hitter and first base when not catching.
    Junior Nathan Maxwell (6-1, 200) also is back for his fourth year in the program, while junior transfer Troy VanHorn (6-2, 195) joins the Gorillas from Ottawa University.
    Junior transfer Jess Bogle (5-9, 185) comes to Pitt State from Neosho County Community College, and freshman Justin Northern (6-0, 195) joins the Gorillas after a highly successful prep career at Broken Arrow (Okla.) High School.