Feb. 6, 2002

Two years removed from its last NCAA Tournament appearance, the 2002 Miami baseball team is poised to make a charge at the Mid-American Conference title. Sixth-year head coach Tracy Smith returns a strong pitching staff along with a host of big hitters to get the job done this season.

"I think we have a good chance this season to get back to the NCAA Tournament, but of course luck has a lot to do with it," Smith says. "We have to be playing well at the end of the season when it counts, and traditionally RedHawk baseball teams do just that."

After falling in the 2001 MAC Championship game to Kent State, Miami faces the challenge of replacing several important parts gone from last year's squad. The RedHawks lost six players to graduation and five to the Major League Baseball Draft.

Last season, the Red and White batters left the ballpark 73 times. Lost from that offensive output is a total of 59 home runs, including Jason Knoedler's team-leading 17 round-trippers and Jeremy Ison's 12. Knoedler, Miami's first All-American since Bill Doran in 1979, was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round of the draft, and Ison was picked up by the Chicago White Sox as a free agent.

One of the best players to ever play at Miami, outfielder Clark Mace was drafted in the 28th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mace left the RedHawks with several Miami records, including most career hits (316), RBI (179), runs (230), doubles (54) and total bases (478).

Also lost to the show are pitchers Justin Knoedler and Judd Richardson. Jason's twin brother, Justin began the season as the RedHawks' regular catcher but took over closing duties on the pitching staff after suffering a wrist injury midway through the season. Knoedler was chosen in the fifth round of the draft by the San Francisco Giants as a pitcher. A fifth-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers, Richardson departed after leading the team with a 3.32 earned run average.

"Depth in the pitching staff is something that we are planning to develop over the course of the season," Smith says. "We feel we have three strong pitchers already on this year's staff and just need to fill in a couple of question marks."

With nearly 75 percent of its run production lost from last season, Miami's 17 newcomers can expect to see at bats and plenty of them.

"How do you go about replacing an All-American and some of the best talent that has come through the program?" Smith says. "Do we replace them right off the bat? On paper I would say not, but the theory of athletics says that someone will always step up."

OUTFIELDERS The only returning starter from last year's outfield is junior Michael Carlin. Last season was Carlin's first season as a regular player with the RedHawks, and he took full advantage of the opportunity. In 46 games, most of them roaming the turf in left field, he batted .362 at the plate and hit six round-trippers.

"Carlin plays a very consistent left field," Smith says. "He'll also be counted on as our three-hole hitter in the lineup."

Joining Carlin in the outfield is junior David Cook and sophomore transfer Ryan Edginton. Cook has been patiently waiting his turn to play regularly in the outfield, and Smith hopes this will be Cook's year. Last season Cook batted .183 in 39 games, a slight drop after hitting .240 as a freshman.

"The experiment in the outfield will be with Cook," Smith says. "Right now its his position, but that doesn't mean he won't be feeling pressure from others on the team."

Edginton, a transfer from Arizona State, is equipped with a strong arm and is starting in right field for the RedHawks. Edginton played in three games for the Sun Devils before sitting out the rest of the season as a redshirt.

"(Ryan) has a great arm for right field and is a solid hitter," Smith says. "We lost a bit defensively in the outfield from last year and don't have that burner speed anymore, but these three I'm confident will rise to the challenge."

"We're going to have an outfield that is more offensive than defensive," Smith says. "All of our guys are going to make a legitimate impact with the bat."

Senior Eddie Tillitz, who is coming off a fine season with the RedHawk football team, also has the opportunity to compete for some major playing time in the outfield. Probably Miami's best defensive outfielder, Tillitz' bat will determine how much the RedHawk fans see him in the lineup.

Also competing for playing time in the outfield this season are newcomers Paul Frietch and R.J. Sanfrey.

INFIELDERS The departure of Ison and Brady Nori have left some gaps in the Miami infield, which Smith and his staff are fully equipped to fill. With no senior leadership in the infield, juniors Zach Schmidt, George Stegmiller and Andi Scheidt are poised to step into important roles.

Last season, Scheidt was Miami's regular third basemen and Schmidt roamed at second base. However, due to the return of Stegmiller and the addition of some talented recruits, the RedHawk infield may have a different look.

"I think it's going to take some time for our infield to take form," Smith says. "We have some options, and I wouldn't be surprised to see some changes because of our infield's depth."

Scheidt and Schmidt are battling for rights to the starting nod at second base. In 199 at bats last season Scheidt connected for 57 hits and 37 RBI. His .286 batting average was higher than Schmidt's .237 mark, but Schmidt is more trustworthy with the glove. Last season, Schmidt committed just 13 errors in 298 chances, for a .956 fielding percentage, whereas Scheidt had an .860 fielding percentage.

"Scheidt moves to second base because of his bat," Smith says. "However, Schmidt is our best defensive second basemen, which makes it a tough decision. We could be seeing one start the game and the other enter in the later innings when we no longer need runs."

Anchoring the infield at shortstop is Stegmiller, who did not play last season after playing his freshman year. Stegmiller batted .270 in 37 games in 2000 and also recorded a .978 fielding percentage with just four errors. If the bat fails to keep Stegmiller in as the RedHawks' regular shortstop, freshman David Franco has the tools and athleticism to shine as an everyday player.

"Right now Stegmiller is our starting shortstop," Smith says. "However, Franco will definitely contend for the position."

The most pleasant surprise in the RedHawks' infield is the arrival of junior transfer Mike Galloway. A freshman all-American at Central Michigan, Galloway arrives at Miami after compiling some gaudy numbers with the Chippewas. Last season at CMU, Galloway led his team in at bats (234), hits (81) and RBI (62), while hitting .346 from the plate. His first season in collegiate baseball was even more impressive as he batted .376 with 11 homers and a team-high 47 RBI.

"Galloway is our first basemen," Smith says. "His power and presence in the lineup provides an instant advantage for our team."

Rounding out the infield at third base is freshman Brian Canada. A standout player at Hamilton Southeastern High School, Canada set the school record for double plays turned by a shortstop (20) as a junior.

"Canada comes in as our best defensive third basemen," Smith says. "But he realizes that he's going to have to hit to stay there."

No position is safe in the RedHawk infield this season. Returning after a solid fall season is sophomore Josh Widlansky, while junior Adam Moos can swing the lumber with the best of them. Also vying for at bats is freshman Tyler Tabler, son of major leaguer Pat Tabler. Others competing for playing time are freshmen Sam Sellery and Joe Napoli.

CATCHERS Miami enters the 2002 season with three solid catchers in its lineup. However, all three are first-year players. Freshmen John Slone, Nolan McCue and Kurt Weigle all have an equal opportunity of being the RedHawks' starting backstop.

"We have three freshmen this season that are all strong in different qualities of the position," Smith says. "We feel good about all three of these guys and how they are progressing."

Slone is the natural leader of the three, while Weigle wields a big stick at the plate. The best defensively of the bunch is McCue. Regardless of who becomes the RedHawks' regular catcher, all three will see time behind the plate.

PITCHERS Leading the pitching staff is junior southpaw Chris Leonard, who, after an outstanding freshman season, was named to the first-team all-MAC as a sophomore. Leonard led the RedHawks in 2001 with 11 wins and eight complete games. He also paced Miami in innings pitched (112.2), strikeouts (86), and games started (15) and his ERA of 3.36 was second on the team behind Judd Richardson. He also made some noise over the summer by being named the Cape Cod League's Pitcher of the Year after leading his Wareham Gatemen to the league crown.

"Leonard is the best pitcher on our team and probably one of the best lefties in the nation," Smith says. "We pretty much know what we're going to get every time he sets foot on the mound."

Also figuring into the weekend rotation are seniors Russ Bayer and Billy Kieninger. For the second straight season Bayer was clutch on the mound for Miami, winning a 10-9 contest against Kent State to put the RedHawks in the MAC Championship round. The lefthander was consistent for the RedHawks with a 5.01 ERA and a 5-3 record in 11 starts. His classmate, righty Kieninger, posted three wins in 12 starts and was fifth on the team with a 5.58 ERA despite his seven losses.

"Russ has been a very consistent performer for us over the years," Smith says. "Kieninger has the potential to be a very dominant pitcher in the MAC and I wouldn't be surprised if he takes over the closer role at some point this season."

The rest of Miami's starting rotation has a different look as juniors Adam Keel and Korey Kirkpatrick are poised to take a more active role in the rotation. Keel sat out last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Used primarily as a reliever, Kirkpatrick took the mound nine times last season and recorded one save, tying for the team lead with three others.

"If Keel comes back and is healthy, he has the ability to battle for the No. 2 spot in our rotation," Smith says. "Hopefully, Kirkpatrick will develop into the type of pitcher that we feel he can be."

Also with a good chance of receiving some starts is sophomore Justin Farina. After just six appearances his first year with the RedHawks, Farina returned to campus in the fall with an improved fastball and better overall stuff.

"We weren't sure what to expect from Justin when he came back to school, but he ended up having a really good fall," Smith says.

The bullpen this season is anchored by senior Shawn Landis. Last season, he was third on the team with a 4.30 ERA and was tied with Kieninger for most appearances (18). In 29.1 innings of relief, Landis was consistent for the RedHawks, striking out 24 batters and giving up only 10 free passes.

"If the season were to start tomorrow, Landis is our guy out of the bullpen," Smith says. "However, the coaching staff and I have considered using him as a starter if need be."

Returning for bullpen duties this season are junior Michael Gardner and sophomores Aaron Johnson and Chad Reineke. The threesome combined for a total of 33 appearances last season and are joined in the pen by freshmen Brad Bachman, Jim Knytych and Michael Moljewski.

SCHEDULE "We didn't schedule as tough a non-conference schedule as we have in the past simply because our team is very young," Smith says. "That doesn't mean to say that we aren't playing good schools. We'll be tested early, but the level of the spring trip has been toned down a bit because of our youth. I figured I'd let the team get its feet wet before the MAC schedule began."