The 2010 Viterbo University Baseball team will showcase some familiar faces, but will rely on many newcomers as they look to improve on their fifth place finish in the Midwest Collegiate Conference a year ago. Along with the solid core of returning players, Head Coach Chad Miller's squad includes 11 players who have transferred to Viterbo from a previous school and eight freshmen who will be asked to step in and make a difference.

Let's play ball!

The V-Hawks open up the season ranked #5 in the MCC Pre-Season Poll as they officially begin their season on February 26^th in Lebanon, Tennessee with a double header against Missouri Baptist College. On March 8^th the team will travel to West Palm Beach, Florida for some tune up games while on spring break to get ready for the conference season. While in Florida, the V-Hawks will face Northwood University who opened the season ranked as the #25 team in the NAIA Pre-Season Top 25 Poll.

After Viterbo's opening trips to Tennessee and Florida, the team travels to Minneapolis to play in the Metrodome against Indiana University Northwest in a double-header.

Another notable team on the schedule is conference foe Mount Mercy College who received votes in the Top 25 Poll. The V-Hawks will travel to Cedar Rapids to face the Mustangs on April 17.

"The conference is very solid top to bottom and I don't think at a national level our conference garners as much respect as it should. There are no sure wins in our conference and we must play the game well to compete in this conference. Every team in our conference can beat you on any given day and a high level of execution offensively and defensively is a must in order to be successful.It is a wide open race that should be fun. The team that stays healthy and performs consistently will be there in the end."

Trio of seniors expected to lead V-Hawk offense

Returning for his senior season is incumbent shortstop Eli Tupuola (Sr. - San Diego, Calif.). Tupuola started at shortstop in 44 of the teams 48 games last season serving as the designated hitter twice and starting at third base just once. Leading the team with 62 hits and a .369 average last season, Tupuola also contributed 25 RBI's and nine stolen bases. All of these accomplishments helped earn Tupuola MCC All-Conference Honorable Mention last season.

Also earning MCC All-Conference Honorable Mention honors last season was Nick Lenzendorf (Sr. - Eastman, Wis.). Lenzendorf hit .353 last season for the V-Hawks including three home runs and 32 RBI's which is the most of all returning players.

Lenzendorf is also expected to be in the pitching rotation this season after posting a 3-2 record last season with a 5.81 ERA. Lenzendorf recorded 34 strikeouts in his 12 appearances last year which is the most of all returning V-Hawk pitchers.

"Nick has developed into a solid all-around college baseball player," Miller said. "He is a 4 year starter for us at first base and has really developed as a pitcher over the past few seasons. Nick will be a major reason for our success this season and will finish his career filling numerous roles on our team and performing at a high level."

Collecting 56 hits last year and returning for his final season as a V-Hawk is John Pogatchnik (Sr. - Holdingford, Minn.). Pogatchnik hit .346 last season while driving in 20 RBI's and stealing 10 bases. Pogatchnik started in 44 games last season at second base and served as the lead-off hitter in 26 games.

"Defensively, John consistently performs his responsibilities and leads by example through the effort and attention he puts forth in his preparation," Miller said. "Offensively we know John will provide productive at-bats and find a way to get on base. He will be an offensive catalyst for us this season and set the table for some of our run producers."

Quality pitching starts expected to be the key to season's success

The 2010 Viterbo pitching rotation is expected to consist of Lenzendorf, Blake Shepherd (So. - Mindoro, Wis.), Howard Heinrich (Jr. - Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.), and Brent Peotter (So. - Menasha, Wis.). Others expecting to receive early season starts include Brett Moravec (Jr. - Boulder City, Nev.), Steven Mora (Jr. - Soledad, Calif.), and Kyle Dreger (Sr. - Manitowoc, Wis.). If these three players don't end up in the starting rotation, they will be the first guys out of the bull-pen.

Shepherd recorded a 5-2 record last season with a 3.59 ERA. Starting in eight of the 12 games in which he appeared in, Shepherd's 47.2 innings pitched last season are the second most of all returning players.

Howard Heinrich pitched the most innings of all returning players (49.1) while striking out 33 batters. Heinrich started in 10 games last year posting a 3-4 record with a 3.83 ERA.

"What really stands out about Shepherd and Heinrich is how competitive they are," Miller said. "They both have a very strong desire to win and will compete as intensely as anyone on our team. They want the ball in their hands and put in the work necessary to earn that opportunity on the weekends."

Peotter joined the Viterbo Baseball program in January of 2009 and was this past fall's Battle for the Blood Series MVP tossing 10 shutout innings. He has the chance to be one of the team's most consistent starters as the coaching staff is expecting a strong showing from him this season.

Also expecting to see action out of the bull-pen early will be Cole Clements (Fr. - Readstown, Wis.), Greg Koch (Fr. - Portage, Wis.), and Andrew Farrell (Jr. - Middleton, Wis.). If Farrell can remain healthy this season he could be a sleeper and help give the pitching staff a boost.

With some continued development, Jordan Murray (Fr. - Wilton, Wis.), Mike Stoughtenger (Jr. - Mauston, Wis.), Patrick Tschida (Fr. - Watertown, Minn.), and Josh Knoll (Fr. - Sparta, Wis.) could also see some action on the mound this season. Murray is a consistent strike thrower who could eat up innings and Tschida and Knoll are LHP's who must continue to develop consistency to become factors.

Talented freshman class catches coach's eye

Catcher Andrew Helland (Fr. - La Crescent, Minn.) comes to Viterbo after recovering from shoulder surgery following his senior season in high school.

"Andrew has the potential to be very offensive and could swing his way into the line-up at some point this season," said Miller."If he can get his arm back to 100% he also could see innings behind the plate as well.He possesses good size and athleticism and we feel will only get better as his health continues to improve."

Having the opportunity to see some innings early in the season is freshman Cole Clements. Clements possesses a strong arm and exceptional athleticism which could lead him into a spot within the pitching staff this season.

"Cole is working to execute a repeatable delivery daily and display command of his fastball and secondary pitches," Miller said. "If he continues to develop as we feel he will, he has a chance to be a very good college pitcher."

Another young man who possesses ideal size and athleticism is Greg Koch. Koch will receive bull-pen work early in the year which will provide the opportunity to gain a quality experience.

"Greg must become more consistent in his delivery and execution of quality pitches, and when he does, he will also be a very good college pitcher," Miller said."He is making strides each day and as he progresses will be offered a chance to become a factor on our staff."

Infield looks to be solid and a main strength of V-Hawk squad

First and second base will be occupied by two former Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners in Lenzendorf and Pogatchnik. Lenzendorf won the award last year with the V-Hawks while Pogatchnik won the award while he attended Itasca Community College.

Competition will be held at shortstop as last year's starter Tupuola and transfer Brett Rettenmeir (Jr. - Cedar Rapids, Iowa) will split time early on to determine who starts this year.

At third base the V-Hawks have two year starter Dreger returning along with transfer Moravec who will be competing for the starting spot. Moravec has shown the ability so far to be a very solid player for the V-Hawks when given the opportunity.

Since Lenzendorf, Dreger, and Moravec all pitch as well, the V-Hawks will use their infielders in different positions depending on who is pitching."They all have some versatility which should prove to be an asset," Miller said. "When Lenzendorf is pitching Dreger or Tupuola will most likely play first base and CJ Favre (Fr. - La Crosse, Wis.) could see some action there as well."

Chris Lindemann (Jr. - Rapid City, S.D.) and Justin Sunderland (So. - Hayward, Wis.) will most likely see some time in the middle infield as the season progresses.

New depth should provide a quality outfield

This season's outfield looks to be much improved as the team possesses quality depth which was not available last season. Returning starters include Shane Michiels (Sr. - Green Bay, Wis.), who was a recipient of a MCC Golden Glove Award last season, Chris Laux (So. - Green Bay, Wis.), and Stoughtenger.

Returning to the team this season, after sitting out last season while starting two years ago, is senior Shawn Loch (Suamico, Wis.). Andrew Stoffel (So. - Woodbury, Minn.) is also a returning outfielder for the V-Hawks. Corey Wilson (Westby, Wis.) and Knoll are freshmen who could see playing time at some point during the season as well.

Transfer newcomers Brandon Buelow (Jr. - Milwaukee, Wis.), Andy Behnke (Jr. - Marshall, Minn.), and Joey Bergles (Jr. - Geneseo, Ill.) all have an opportunity to receive considerable playing time.Buelow and Behnke are both coming off fall injuries so they're level of contribution will be dependent upon them fully returning from those injuries.

"We will play musical outfielders early on in the season with the hopes of having a strong core emerge as we begin conference play," Miller said. "We do feel like we have a chance to be strong defensively in the outfield with the ability to cover ground and take away some would be hits."

2010 Outlook

In order to be successful this season the V-Hawks are going to have to replace a lot of talent lost from last season. The V-Hawks lost three of their top five in innings pitched last season, along with one of their team leaders and best hitters. Eric Gruhlke started in all 48 games last season and was second on the team in home runs with four. He also posted a team best 2.25 ERA in seven appearances last season.

Offensively, Coach Miller plans to experiment with the lineup to see where players perform the best. "Early in the season we will twist and turn the line-up in hopes of discovering the line-up that will give us the best chance to compete at a high level come conference play. We do have more options than last season and it should be interesting to see who performs early on and emerges. Many will be given opportunities to excel.It should be fun to see what we become offensively."

So what goals does Coach Miller have that he feels will determine the type of success the V-Hawk hope to have in the MCC?

"Our team goal is to win the conference regular season and/or tournament championship. To achieve these goals we understand that in order to reach them we must put in a high level of attention and effort to performing the little things well. Meaning we must execute at a high level in the areas we can control such as executing quality pitches on the mound, having a plan at the plate and producing productive at-bats, defending well, and ultimately playing fundamentally solid baseball. Our players have the capability of doing these things well and we expect to do so."