School: Mount Vernon Nazarene
Location: Mount Vernon, Ohio
Head Coach: Keith Veale
2009 Record: 35-21, 20-12 AMC
Returning Starters: C Ian Durbin, OF Chaz Gibson, 2B Michael Hendren, 1B/C Travis McInerney, 3B Matt Parks, C Ricardo Rodriguez, OF Kodi Veale, OF Steve Williams, SP Caleb Wright, SP Jerrob Decker
Long time Head Coach Keith Veale and the Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars head into 2010 with the same expectations as always: win 30 games and make a run at the AMC crown. While the pitching staff will need to step up to replace the loss of graduated workhorse Jason Decker, the every day lineup returns almost entirely intact. Not good news for fellow AMC foes as the Cougars hit .344 as a team last season.
If anyone is a fan of offensive firepower I would strongly suggest taking in a Mount Vernon Nazarene game this season. The Cougars are loaded with talented returning starters, including five All-AMC selections. Certainly not a bad situation to be in when it comes time to fill out the lineup card.
The heart of the MVN offense roams the outfield. Coach Veale welcomes back all three of his all-conference starters from 2009. Leading the way is Kodi Veale. The senior hit .347 with five home runs, 51 runs, 42 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 12 attempts. The first team All-AMC pick also had 13 doubles and five triples to bolster his .563 slugging percentage. Veale’s 42 runs batted in make him the Cougars leading returning run producer along with Clint Yoder.
Returning to the MVN order is power hitting outfielder Chaz Gibson. The sophomore had a stand out freshman season leading the Cougars with nine long balls and a .703 slugging percentage. The All-AMC second teamer also hit .364 in his first collegiate season.
The third All-AMC honoree in the outfield is junior Steve Williams (.342, 39 runs). The Honorable Mention honoree was also a key run producer driving in 41 runs in 2009. Williams also showed some pop with 15 extra base hits including 10 doubles.
The All-AMC parade continues on the left side of the infield as Clint Yoder and Matt Parks are back at shortstop and third base, respectively. Yoder, like Gibson, had an outstanding freshman campaign. All the first team all-conference selection did was start 53 games and lead the Cougars with a .396 average. Aside from tying Veale with 42 RBI, Yoder is also led MVN with 15 two baggers. Senior Matt Parks (.301, 42 runs) will once again man the hot corner. The home town product contributed 13 doubles, two triples and three home runs as well.
The right side of the infield will be anchored by second baseman Michael Hendren (.289). The junior played in all 56 games in 2009 scoring 49 times. Hendren also swiped a team best 12 bags last season. Senior Travis McInerney (.342) will likely see time at first base again in 2010. He played both there and behind the plate in 2009, starting 36 games in all.
Also donning the “tools of ignorance” will be juniors Ricardo Rodriguez and Ian Durbin. Few teams can say they have three catchers, let alone three starting quality catchers. But after Rodriguez (.352, .449 OBP) started 31 games and Durbin (.323) started 34 it’s clear that the Cougars have a great system that allows them to rotate their catchers between DH, first base and much needed rest while seeing little to no drop off offensively.
The big question mark for the Cougars will be who steps up to replace Jason Decker in the rotation. Decker was an all-conference selection that led MVN in wins (7), games started (13) and innings pitched (80.2). To put it in perspective, the second most innings pitched in 2009 was 54.1 by Caleb Wright.
Wright, a junior, will be leaned on to lead a young staff in 2010. Aside from throwing the second most innings in 2009, he also made the second most starts (12) and tied for the second most wins (5). Translation: Wright was a key member of the 2009 rotation and will need to be an even bigger part of the 2010 edition.
Coach Veale will also look to sophomore Jerrob Decker (3-2) to play a large part in the rotation. The righty showed great promise in his freshman season leading the team with a 2.83 ERA in 8 appearances (6 starts). Decker fanned 31 batters in 28.2 innings, but will need to cut down on the free passes (25) to grow into his role as a front line starter.
As long as Keith Veale is roaming the dugout in Mount Vernon we can safely assume the Cougars will be dangerous. The 2010 season will be no different. Mount Vernon Nazarene returns the type of lineup that gives opposing pitchers nightmares. With an offense like that the Cougars are never out of a game. That’s a big deal mentally, especially with an inexperienced rotation. In the end MVN will be fine. They always are.
Filed under: NAIA
