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2008 Augsburg College Baseball Season Preview Season outlook story -- click here General Information History Coaching Staff Assistant Coaches Sports Information Player & Team Information Returning Key Players Key Newcomers Key Losses Season Outlook and Notes: MINNEAPOLIS -- Depth will be the key to the fortunes for the Augsburg College baseball team in 2008. But experience, which often is naturally paired with depth, may be the biggest question mark for the Auggies this season. "This is the most athletic group I've had here, and our deepest as well," said Augsburg head coach Keith Bateman, entering his fifth season as the Auggies' mentor. "We can really roll out a bunch of guys. We're deep at every position, but it's also our least experienced group. Out of our 249 innings pitched, we return 209, so that's great. But out of our 1,008 at-bats, we only return 447, which is 44 percent. It shows the inexperience that we will have." Of the nine position players (including the designated hitter), just four starters return from an Auggie squad that went 18-19 overall, 10-10 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play last season. However, nine of the 12 pitchers who saw varsity action last year are back, which gives Bateman and his coaching staff confidence that the Auggies can contend for a spot in the four-team MIAC's postseason playoffs for the first time since 2005. "We have the pitching depth, we have the athletic ability and baseball savvy on the field to make a legitimate run at the MIAC tournament," Bateman said. "Our pitching depth is our key. Whether or not they go out and perform on gameday will be another question. But we definitely have the depth there. My biggest concern for the upcoming season is how we play defensively in tight situations, and how do we swing the bat. Those are big things." Pitching depth Jason Kickhafer (JR, Cottage Grove, Minn./Park HS) led the team in appearances (12), starts (nine) and strikeouts (37), while leading the team with a 3.16 ERA, opponent batting average (.224) and victories (4-4 record), in his first year with the Auggies after transferring from St. John's. He also started 14 games at second base last season. Sam Weber (SO, Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View HS) shined last season with a 3-1 record, 4.60 ERA and 31 strikeouts, allowing opponents a .269 batting average. "Kickhafer is a calculating individual. Nothing really phases him on the mound," Bateman said. "If Sam can get more efficient with his pitches, he'll be deadly. He can be dominant in our conference." Jon-Eric Urseth (JR, Golden Valley, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) moved from catcher to pitcher last season and had a solid season, producing a 4.76 ERA and three victories in six starts, along with three complete games. Alex Glasenapp (SO, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) worked primarily in relief last year, with two starts in nine appearances, but put together a 4.79 ERA with 18 strikeouts.. Chris Purcell (SO, Northfield, Minn.) started six games in nine appearances as a first-year pitcher last year, with a 4.88 ERA and 13 strikeouts. Brian Olson (JR, Cottage Grove, Minn./Park HS) also had an improved campaign last year, with a .411 ERA in six appearances. David Rasmussen (SO, Circle Pines, Minn./Centennial HS) and Alex Gustafson (JR, Anoka, Minn.) saw limited varsity action last year, but will be counted on to produce innings this season, Bateman noted. One of the key players to fill the stopper role will be Shawn Sanders (JR, St. Charles, Minn.), who appeared in nine games last season, eight as a middle reliever, with a 4.67 ERA. "You have to go at least six, if not eight, deep at pitcher to compete in the MIAC," Bateman said. "You have to have at least four starters and two solid relievers to compete in the conference, and I truly believe that we have those guys. Plus, we have guys who can spot-start or come in long-relief." All-MIAC catcher returns Henry suffered a big scare this past fall, when he suffered a severe neck injury in Augsburg's preseason football scrimmage. But he has fully recovered from the injury and has shown no ill effects, Bateman said, giving the team confidence for the performance of one of its key leaders. "He's just solid. In a conference that has a bunch of very good catchers, the fact that he was an all-conference selection speaks volumes, because you don't get a lot of first-year players named all-conference in our league," Bateman said. "He stepped in and played like a senior last year. To have that around for years to come is great. He's a leader. He gets that he doesn't have to hit a home run or a triple. He needs to get on-base, he needs to do the team stuff and that's what makes him good. All the little things he does, he gets it. He gets what winning is all about." Bryan Ludwig (SR, Woodbury, Minn.), who saw action in three varsity games last year, will compete for the backup role at catcher with newcomers Ryan Kaulbars (FY, Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy HS) and Bryant Nordby (FY, Brownton, Minn./McLeod West HS). At first base, Bateman will move Rick Andersen (SR, Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) to the role from the outfield. He hit .367 last season with five doubles, four RBI and a .531 slugging percentage. Behind him will be Shea Sajevic (SO, Hastings, Minn.) and newcomers Tim Garnhardt (SO, Jordan, Minn.) and Cole Oosterhuis (FY, White Bear Lake, Minn.). The middle of the Auggie infield will be filled by a variety of players, Bateman said. Returner Ryan Stockhaus (SR, Columbia Heights, Minn./De La Salle HS) will battle for time at second base with newcomers Donald Blunt (FY, Richfield, Minn.) and Nick Vavra (FY, Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins HS). And at shortstop, Blunt and Kickhafer will also figure into the mix, along with Eric Olson (SO, New Prague, Minn.). Mark Pederson (SR, Lexington, Minn./Centennial HS) started 20 games last season at third base, and is the likely candidate to return. Al Davis (FY, St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall HS) will battle for the position, along with fellow newcomer Mason Holmquist (FY, Prior Lake, Minn.). Top defensive outfielder returns "He's never really gotten his accolades because he doesn't put up the gaudy offensive numbers, but he's a kid that produces on defense. Anything that's hit, he's going to catch it," Bateman said. "He's taken on, as a captain, an incredible leadership role for us. I'm very happy with how he's taken care of things. Nobody outworks him in practice. He flies around. Everything's 100 percent. He's going to be our anchor." James Panning (JR, Gibbon, Minn./Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop HS) transferred to Augsburg last season and appeared in 17 games, primarily as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement. He appears to be the top candidate to fill one of the corner outfield spots, along with Derek Williamson (SO, St. Francis, Minn.) and pitchers Rasmussen and Brian Olson. Newcomers Mitch Kluver (FY, Alexandria, Minn./Jefferson HS) and Taylor Legeros (FY, Minneapolis, Minn./Edina HS) could also fit in the outfield mix. Mike Zaun (SR, Mendota Heights, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) will also appear in the outfield discussion, but will likely fill the designated hitter role for the second straight season. A co-captain with Stomberg, Zaun hit .304 last season with 13 RBI and a .362 slugging percentage. Pitcher Sanders will also contend for the DH role, Bateman noted. To return to Augsburg Baseball, click here To return to Augsburg Athletics, click here Augsburg College, a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. This is the official web
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