Contrary to what you might think by taking a peek out of your window, the collegiate baseball season is indeed right around the corner.
With February 19th being the opening day for Division I baseball, we take a look at the Akron Zips led by Coach Pat Bangtson in his fifth season. The Zips are looking to rebound from an 19-33 2009 campaign which saw them finish Fifth in the Mid-American Conference East Division at 12-15.
With six starters returning and a combined 14 upperclassmen, Akron is a dangerous team that can sneak up on preseason MAC-East favorites Bowling Green and Kent State.
Quick Facts:
Head Coach: Pat Bangtson, 82-117 career record, same at Akron
2009 Record: 19-33, 12-15 MAC-East
Starters Returning: 6 position, 3 pitchers
Starters Lost: 4 position, 2 pitchers
Newcomers: 9
2009 All-MAC selections: none
Pitching
On the mound Akron returns two of its top four pitchers in jr. RHP Ben Danzinger and soph. RHP Andrew Brown. Danzinger led Akron with a 5.81 ERA, as well as topping the Zips in innings pitched at 74.1, going 3-4 on the season, appearing in 15 games making 11 starts. Also appearing in 15 games was Brown. With a 2-5 record including a complete game in eight starts, Brown logged 61.0 innings pitched.
With 58 and 52 strikeouts respectively, the duo finished first and third amongst Akron pitchers in K’s. For Danzinger the 58 strikeouts were matched with 16 walks. Brown allowed 21 free passes against his 52 sitdowns.
As the two appeared to be set for the Zips weekend rotation, providing depth as starters will be sophomore righty Alex Loftin (2-2, 6.05, 38.2, 41K’s) in 2009, and Drew Turocy who missed 2009 due to injury.
Making the jobs easier for the starters will be sophomore RHP Chris Bassitt who enters 2010 as one of forty named to the preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List by the National College Baseball Writers Association.
As a freshman Bassitt finished with seven saves, third most in Akron history. Bassitt appeared in 23 games overall, posting a 3.52 with a 1-2 record in 30.2 innings. The closer struck out 34 against 14 walks, with 19 hits, Bassitt boasted an impressive WHIP of 1.07.
Sophomore Scott Foster (2-2, 5.85, 40.0, 20) will be an arm depended on to provide depth in the bullpen as well as a midweek starter. With transfer Sam Watkins, and freshman Jared Turocy each having opportunities to throw their name in the ring as viable arms.
As a staff in 2009 Akron finished with a 6.55 ERA in 455 innings pitched. The team struck out 355 while yielding 188 walks. Opponents batted .311 off Akron, while stealing 90 bases in 113 tries.
In the offense heavy MAC, team ERA’s in the 3.00s and low 4.00s isn’t expected. However if the Zips can lower their ERA into the low 5.00s, with an experienced lineup returning they will find theirselves in a position to approach 30 wins.
The Infield
Where improvement on the mound would be paramount to Akron success in 2010, the returning infielders have proven success on the Division I level. If two holes can be filled, around the diamond Akron can compete with any MAC-foe.
At first base the duo of Kyle Hallett and Brian Kordal return. Both seniors, Kordal will be the primary first baseman, with Hallett serving as the number one designated hitter who can also fill in behind the plate, and spill Kordal if needed.
For Bangtson having two inter-changeable players with the talent they possess is a luxury. Kordal finishing second on the team with a .346 average, picking up 65 hits as a junior. With 12 doubles, a team-high four triples, and five home runs a year ago, power potential is there.
Hallett finished 2009 with a .336 average in spot duty. Of his 41 hits, five were doubles, two were triples, with another pair being home runs. Hallett finished with 22 RBI, half of Kordal’s 44 which led the team. The two combined to score 56 runs, a number surely to increase in 2010.
When Hallett would take his spot behind the plate he would do so in relief of John Turk. Turk another senior finished with a respectable .275 average, that included two home runs, while driving in 23.
However the Zips would love to see Turk return to his 2008 fashion when he finished with a .313 average, hitting three home runs, and drove in 28 runs. Turk is a steady receiver behind the plate, committing just three errors, while showing a serviceable arm, gunning out 18 of 82 stolen base attempts.
The most productive returning infield bat belongs to senior short-stop Kevin Haas. With a .324 average in ’09, Haas ripped nine home runs, a mark that leads returning Zips. With 16 doubles, and three triples, Haas slugged .542, a figure that also leads returning players.
Haas finished with 28 walks against 27 strikeouts, producing an even .400 on-base percentage. Haas would successfully steal all three attempts as Akron as a team posed little threat to steal, attempting just 27 stolen bases in all of 2009.
2010 will bring a new twin-killing partner for Haas as Phil Bednar is loss to graduation. Nick Solitario returns with experience at second-base, starting 10 games last year as a junior. In those outings Solitario stepped to the plate 46 times, picking up 10 hits for a .217 average that included a home run.
The other infield hole needing to be filled comes at the hot corner. Ryan Frazee departs after graduation, and with him so does a big bat. Frazee led Akron with 11 home runs last year, however Coach Bangtson would not mind a more consistent bat as Frazee struggled to a .245 average.
True freshman Samuel Trecaso from in-town St. Vincent-St. Mary will have a chance to show he can handle the duties of the hot corner. Tyler Begun, James Sheltrown, and Brady Stewart, will be freshman providing depth in the infield. Sophomore Jason Corzine returns after making one start at third as a freshman. Corzine collected a hit in nine at-bats last year.
The Outfield
2010 will have a pair of familiar faces at the corner outfield spots for the Zips. Junior Brandon White returns after picking up 40 starts in left field, and senior Jake Plata will provide an experienced right-fielder after he made 13 of his 42 starts there last season. Plata split time at DH with Hallett, collecting his remaining 29 starts without the glove.
White returns as yet another .300 hitter for the Zips. With a .309 average the Wheelersburg, Ohio native collected 10 doubles and six home runs. White drove in 32 runs while crossing home 33 times himself.
Though White is capable of covering a lot of ground, Akron opponents might be in store for a case of double-vision. Brother, and incoming freshman Bryan White will get a shot to patrol the outfield for the Blue & Gold.
Plata providing a veteran bat returns after leading Akron in batting last year. Hitting at a .357 clip. In Plata’s 60 hits, 13 were doubles, with three going over the fences. The senior tallied 28 RBI while scoring 30 runs. As an outfielder Plata played a perfect right-field, recording 47 outs with no errors.
Providing outfield depth with be Lawrence Penn who made four starts in center a year ago. A move to the outfield is not out of the possibilities for Kordal with Hallett providing a solid option at first.
Overview
For Akron to compete with Bowling Green and Kent State atop the MAC-East, the pitching must improve. With two of their top four pitchers returning and a clear idea of the weekend rotation on hand, Coach Bangtson hopes the experience combined with potential produces production.
Akron is pretty solid up and down the line-up as a nice veteran core returns. Though a few holes to fill in the power category power bats aren’t necessarily needed for the Zips. If Akron bats can hit consistently and improve their efforts on the bases, enough strong bats return to bring them in.
Though 2009 was definitely a step back from their 25-24 2008 season, enough seniors and talent return to keep Akron from falling more behind the upcoming MAC programs. Another .500 record is reasonable, but it will not be enough to keep up with Bowling Green and Kent State. A fourth place finish, a slot above where the coaches predicted the Zips to finish is how we see them ending with 27 wins.
Filed under: Division I
