Kurt Kapferer had 49 career
moments like this one at Wooster. Read on to find out more. Wooster athletics photo |
Readers said they liked last year's "Where are they now?" column. Around the Nation listens well, so here is another edition. Last year the focus was on the D3baseball.com All-Decade first team. This year is the second team's turn.
A public thank-you to the former players, current and former head coaches, sports information directors and athletic directors for taking part. Many programs prefer not to exalt individual players, so it was heartening to see 100 percent participation from the coaches of players on the All-Decade second team.
Unfortunately, it's not easy to track some people down. Around the Nation began this year's "Where are they now?" column in December, but that was not enough time to find all of the players on the All-Decade second team. It wasn't for a lack of trying, and the upshot is that there is only one player without a full entry.
This is fun column. But it's also long, so let's get cracking and answer this question: Where are some of the best Division III baseball players from the 2000s now?
P Jimmy Dougher, Cortland State
Career (2004-07): 24-5, 1.43 ERA, 252.1 IP, 213 K
Highlights: Drafted by Blue Jays in 24th round in
2007; 2007 D3baseball.com Pitcher of the Year; 2006-07 All-America;
2005-07 SUNYAC Pitcher of the Year; 2007 D-III ERA title (0.63);
D-III seventh all-time career ERA; went 8-2 in 2007 with 74 K and
.160 OBA in 86 innings; Cortland career innings leader; Cortland
top three in career wins and season wins (9)
Residence: Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Age: 27
College major: Criminology
Occupation: Loss Prevention Manager, Macy's
Herald Square NYC
Personal: Engaged to former Cortland All-America
field hockey player Brittany Wilson, wedding July 2013
Hobbies: Fishing, softball, darts, hanging at the
beach
Favorite D-III baseball memory: “The 2005
World Series: Cortland vs. Chapman. This was an epic back-and-forth
game from the first inning, with a few rain delays sprinkled in. We
were down by one run in the top of the seventh, 12-11. Jim
Basnight, our leadoff hitter, led off the inning coming out of the
final rain delay. Basnight hits a ball down the left field line
that just clears the only 6-foot section of fence. This ties the
game and starts the rally that led us to a runner-up finish at the
2005 World Series. This was the most exciting baseball game I
was ever a part of in my college career and I didn't step foot on
the field one time. Classic.”
Cortland State coach Joe Brown: “Jimmy
Dougher was arguably one of the best pitchers to pitch at SUNY
Cortland. His work ethic, competitiveness, and his mental toughness
were off the charts, obviously resulting in a great four-year
career and a 24th-round draftee of the Blue Jays his senior year.
He returns to Cortland every year since graduation and attends our
annual alumni reunion. He would probably be the career-win record
holder if not for eight no-decisions in his career. I can’t
say enough about Jimmy's loyalty and commitment to our program. We
are not a program that touts one individual over another, but Jimmy
is deserving of all accolades. He would be the first to tell you he
played with some great players and people while at
Cortland for many years, many of which he visits frequently
throughout the year. His parents are very supportive of our program
and attend games regularly.”
P Scott Hyde, George Fox
Career (2002-04): 32-5, 2.72 ERA, 304.1
IP, 395 K
Highlights: Drafted in 7th round and signed by
Mets after junior season in 2004; 2004 D-III Co-Pitcher of the
Year; 2004 national championship member; 2004 Most Outstanding
Player at finals; 2004 NWC Player of the Year; 2002-04 All-NWC;
D-III third all-time career strikeouts; 2004 D-III wins title (14);
2004 D-III strikeout title (191); D-III second all-time 191 K
season; threw no-hitter in 2004
Residence: Grants Pass, Ore.
Age: 29
College major: Health and Human Performance
Occupation: Parole officer
Personal: Wife, Anna Hyde; no children
Hobbies: Golfing, hunting, fishing
Favorite D-III baseball memory: “Winning
the World Series – without a doubt.”
Former George Fox coach Pat Bailey (now an assistant at
Oregon State): “"Scott Hyde came to George Fox
University as a 6-foot-4, 175-pound shortstop/right-handed pitcher.
He left his junior year being drafted by the Mets in the seventh
round at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds. He developed from an incoming
freshman at 80-84 mph to a junior at 89-92 mph with a plus breaking
ball. More important, Scott Hyde was a wonderful teammate, leader
and competitor. He had a huge influence on our team and our
program! His spiritual and personal influence on our team as an
example-setter and a leader was one of the key reasons we won the
national championship in 2004. Scott today is a great husband and
community leader down in Grants Pass, Ore. He also helps coach high
school baseball in the area. He is in the business of changing
people's lives for the betterment of society!”
Current George Fox coach Marty Hunter (an assistant during
Hyde’s career): “Scott is a great example of a
person who made the most of his god given talents. He came out of
high school as an athlete who was not physically mature. He worked
extremely hard at becoming more fit and strong. During our national
championship run it was amazing to watch him become more assertive
and stronger as the season moved on. During the final game, while
being on short rest, he became calmer and more dominant as the game
progressed. It was one of the most inspiring events I have had the
privilege to be a part of. I couldn't have been happier for him
because he is a fantastic person as well as a great
athlete.”
P Buddy Klovstad, Chapman
Career (2003-06): 28-3, 2.18 ERA, 272.1 IP, 211 K
Highlights: 2006 All-America; 2005 D-III
Independents Pitcher of the Year; 2003 national championship
member; 2006 D-III wins title (13); D-III 11th all-time 125.1 IP
season; Chapman fourth all-time career wins and innings
Residence: Orange, Calif.
Age: 28
College major: Business Administration
Occupation: CEO and founder of Modern Day
Marketing, pitching coach at El Modena High School (Orange,
Calif.)
Personal: Married to Allison; two sons, Grady and
Gavin
Hobbies: Golf, coaching baseball
Favorite D-III baseball memory: “The whole
experience of the D-III World Series in Appleton with my teammates
and competing at a high level of baseball.”
Chapman coach Tom Tereschuk: “Buddy
Klovstad is a legendary pitcher in Chapman University baseball
history. A two-time All American and a West Region Pitcher of the
Year, Buddy was about as consistent as a guy could possibly be.
Every time he took the mound you knew what you were going to get .
. . an execution machine. Throwing in the mid-80s, he did not have
the overpowering fastball that some guys may have had, but he had
excellent stuff, amazing command, and most of all he was an
incredible competitor. Buddy was also an outstanding all-around
athlete. He competed as the goalie on the soccer team and was also
a placekicker on the football team (though he didn't play three
sports all four years of his years at Chapman). Buddy was also
truly an outstanding catcher and hitter, but he was so valuable on
the mound that we kept him focused on that. When Buddy was
pitching, guys on the other team would ask us incredulously,
‘Does this guy ever miss a spot?’ My favorite memory of
Buddy was from a regional game vs. George Fox University. We have
had many great battles against George Fox and this game was no
exception. A George Fox player hit a ball in the right-center field
gap and there was a play at third base. Our relay man threw the
ball over the third baseman's head and the ball was going over the
dugout and out of play, which would have been the go-ahead run and
potentially a big inning for George Fox. Buddy being Buddy had
busted his tail to back up third and was right up against the
railing of the dugout. He leaped up what seemed to be high enough
to dunk a basketball and was somehow able to catch the ball and
save the run from scoring. It was an incredible play from a guy who
did all the little things right. Buddy retired the next batter to
get us out of the inning and we went on to win the game. We often
use that play as an example of how a player should take pride in
the little things and how a player should take pride in how he
plays the game.”
P Kenny Moreland, Christopher Newport
Career (2005-08): 35-9, 2.26 ERA, 359.1 IP, 378
K
Highlights: Signed by Orioles as free agent in
2008; 2008 D3baseball.com Pitcher of the Year; 2008 All-Virginia
D-II/III Player of the Year; 2005-08 All-USAC; D-III fifth all-time
career wins; 2008 D-III wins title (13); went 13-0 in 2008 with 116
K in 109.2 IP; CNU career leader in appearances (59), wins, ERA,
innings and strikeouts
Residence: Centreville, Va.
Age: 26
College major: Political Science
Occupation: Released by the Baltimore Orioles in
June 2012, currently a special education teacher in Prince
George’s County in Maryland.
Personal: Married to Brittany Collins Moreland
(two-time All-American volleyball player at CNU); expecting a
daughter, Riley Paige Moreland, in April.
Hobbies: “Coaching baseball in either
private lessons or camps. One day I would love the opportunity to
coach at the high school or college level. I love to hunt in the
fall/winter and I am excited and blessed to be a father.”
Favorite D-III baseball memory: “My
favorite college baseball moment was in the 2008 USA South
conference tournament, when we came out of the loser’s
bracket to beat North Carolina Wesleyan twice to win the
tournament. I’ll never forget when we recorded that last out
and storming the field for the dog pile. It was such a great
experience to be shared with my teammates, especially knowing all
our team’s hard work and determination that we put in
throughout the year.”
Christopher Newport coach John Harvell:
“Kenny was one of the hardest workers I have ever had. He was
a bulldog on the mound, and I knew what I was going to get every
time he took the mound! He deserved every accolade he received
during his college career. He’s one of only three Captains to
ever have his number retired.”
C Gerard Haran, The College of New Jersey
Career (2004-07): .369 AVG, 184 R, 226 H, 58 2B, 1 3B, 49
HR, 215 RBI, .708 SLG
Highlights: Signed by Cardinals as free agent in
2007; 2006 D-III Player of the Year; 2005-07 All-America; 2007 NJAC
Player of the Year; 2004 NJAC Rookie of the Year; D-III 15th
all-time career HR and RBI; batted .415 in 2006 with 64 R, 14 HR,
64 RBI, .807 SLG and .541 on-base; TCNJ career leader in runs, HR,
RBI and HBP (49); TCNJ season leader in 2B (21), HR (15), RBI (74)
and HBP (17)
Former College of New Jersey coach Rick Dell (now
MLB’s director of baseball operations in Asia):
“During his four years at The College of New Jersey, Gerard
Haran broke every offensive record in the school's history, many of
them by the end of his junior year. My most memorable moment
without question was in 2006 – his walk-off grand slam with
two outs in the bottom of the ninth to win the conference
championship. A few weeks later he would be named National Player
of The Year. During Gerard's time at TCNJ we won three consecutive
conference titles. I was blessed with scores of talented and
competitive players at TCNJ and I don't think it is fair to put any
one player at the top of that list, but I don't know if I had a
better "player of the moment." Gerard was at his best against the
best competition. Sometimes your teams win because of you and
sometimes you win because it was their time. I was fortunate to
have Gerard when it was his time.”
Current College of New Jersey coach Dean Glus (assistant
during Haran’s career): "One of the best players to
ever come through TCNJ."
1B Drew Hedman, Pomona-Pitzer
Career (2006-09): .422 AVG, 155 R, 206 H, 36 2B, 3 3B, 64
HR, 232 RBI, .852 SLG
Highlights: Drafted by Red Sox in 50th round in
2009; 2009 D3baseball.com Player of the Year; 2008-09 All-America;
2009 D-III HR title (0.55 per game, 8th all-time); 2009 D-III RBI
title (1.98 per game, 8th all-time); 2009 SLG title (0.994); 2009
total bases title (175, 8th all-time); D-III third all-time career
HR; D-III fourth all-time 502 career total bases; D-III fifth
all-time 24 season HR; D-III eighth all-time career RBI; D-III
eighth all-time 87 season RBI; batted .500 in 2009 with 60 R, 23
HR, 79 RBI and .578 on-base
Residence: Los Angeles and Redding, Calif.,
during offseason; splits time between Portland, Maine, and Salem,
Va., during season
Age: 26
College major: Politics, Philosophy, Economics
(PPE)
Occupation: Baseball player in Boston Red Sox
organization [Update: released in late March]
Personal: Not married
Hobbies: Continuing professional baseball career,
working out, cooking, hiking, traveling, spending time with family
and girlfriend
Favorite D-III baseball memory: “Sophomore
year (2007), winning our last SCIAC series and then watching from
the stands with 10 teammates as two other SCIAC teams played an
extra-inning game. The one team's loss certified us as league
champions and gave us our first regional berth in years. Also 2009
and going on a 20-plus game win streak and being ranked the No. 1
team in D-III for much of the year and going to another regional
tournament.”
Pomona-Pitzer coach Frank Pericolosi: “Drew
Hedman is the type of person every coach would want on his team. He
was an extremely hard worker, a team player, a leader and a person
of great character. On the baseball field he could do it all
– a great glove at first base, ran very well and hit for
average and power. His 2009 season was the best individual
performance I have witnessed in 17 years of watching D-III
baseball.”
2B Ricky Angel, Illinois Wesleyan
Career (2005-08): .382 AVG, 157 R, 260 H, 56 2B, 2 3B, 30
HR, 189 RBI, .603 SLG
Highlights: 2007 All-America; 2007 CCIW and
Central Region Player of the Year; 2005-08 All-Central Region; IWU
career leader in runs, hits, RBI, total bases (410), IBB (10) and
HBP (36); IWU season record 67 RBI; led CCIW in batting and hits
twice; led CCIW in HR and RBI once
Residence: Chicago, Ill.
Age: 26
College major: Business Management
Occupation: National Sales Rep for Aon
Corporation
Personal: Single, no children
Hobbies: Golfing, working out, playing guitar,
enjoying Chicago's nightlife, helplessly watching the Cubs lose
Favorite D-III baseball memory: “CCIW
conference champs three out of four years.”
Illinois Wesleyan coach Dennis Martel: “Not
only was he a great talent, he was also a fierce competitor and one
of the hardest working kids we have ever had. All the records he
has here are due to his work ethic; he deserves every one of them.
He earned everything he got. He was also a teammate that everyone
liked playing with. A joy to coach for sure."
3B Zach Lutz, Alvernia
Career (2005-07): .445 AVG, 159 R, 212 H, 51 2B, 6 3B, 32
HR, 197 RBI, .779 SLG
Highlights: Drafted in 5th round and signed by Mets after junior
season; made MLB debut with Mets in 2012; 2007 D3baseball.com
Player of the Year; 2006-07 All-America; 2006-07 PAC Player of the
Year; 2005 D-III RBI title (80); 2006 D-III 2B title (24); batted
.454 in 2007 with 49 R, 12 HR, 58 RBI, 10 SB, .858 SLG, .541
on-base and .965 FLD; Alvernia career leader in AVG and 2B;
Alvernia season leader in 2B; had six hits in one game
Residence: Pottstown, Pa.
Age: 26
College major: Business Management
Occupation: Professional baseball player with the
New York Mets
Personal: Engaged to Lindsey Gehris
Hobbies: Conditioning, fishing
Favorite D-III baseball memory: “Pitching
Alvernia to an NCAA Mid-Atlantic win vs. Messiah College and
current Cincinnati Red Chris Heisey.”
Alvernia coach Yogi Lutz: “Zach was not a
vocal leader but simply led by his example on the field and his
tireless work ethic off the field. Coaching my son in college was
certainly my most memorable experience, and being with him on draft
night was ‘the icing on the cake.’”
SS Luke Ullman, Wooster
Career (2001-05): .372 AVG, 217 R, 226 H, 63 2B, 6 3B, 37
HR, 175 RBI, .679 SLG
Highlights: 2005 D-III Player of the Year;
2003-05 All-NCAC; D-III eighth all-time career sacrifice flies
(16); D-III 12th all-time career runs; batted .426 in 2005 with 69
R, 23 2B, 15 HR, 63 RBI, .852 SLG and .523 on-base; led NCAC in
hits, runs, 2B and SLG in 2005; Wooster second all-time career
assists (420); Wooster all-time top five in career runs and 2B
Residence: Charlotte, N.C.
Age: 30
College major: Political Science
Occupation: Commercial construction business
owner
Personal: Married to April; daughter Kenzie,
daughter Harper (was due March 5)
Hobbies: Golfing, spending time with family
Favorite D-III baseball memory: “Game 3
(best of 3 series) of the NCAC Championship game, standing on third
base with two outs, down by two in the top of the ninth. Pat
Christenson hit a grand slam to take the lead by two. That game
jump-started our run to the College World Series.”
Wooster coach Tim Pettorini: “We recruited
Luke out of high school, but he went to Coastal Carolina. That
didn't work out for him and, when he contacted us about
transferring, I jumped at the chance to get him. He went on to
become one of our all-time great players. He was physically
very talented and had a great feel for the game. His senior
year, when he was named national Player of the Year, he really
carried us and performed at a tremendously high level, especially
in the biggest games and when we needed him most. His
postseason was remarkable and, as a coach, it was just so much fun
to watch him compete and excel against the very best competition in
the country.”
OF Bobby Doyon, Keene State
Career (2008-11): .401 AVG, 191 R, 280 H, 62 2B, 7 3B, 39
HR, 215 RBI, .678 SLG
Highlights: 2009-10 All-America; 2010 LEC Player
of the Year; 2008 LEC Co-Rookie of the Year; 2008-11 All-LEC; D-III
eighth all-time career hits; D-III 11th all-time career total bases
(472); D-III 15th all-time career RBI; KSC leader in career hits,
runs, HR, RBI, 2B and SB (62); KSC leader in season HR (13), RBI
(72), runs (57) and 2B (22)
Residence: Keene, N.H. (spent last year and a
half in Wrightsville Beach, N.C.)
Age: 24
College major: Occupational Health and Safety
Occupation: Sales and leasing consultant for
Nissan of Keene
Hobbies: Working out, continuing to playing
sports and being competitive whenever possible, being outdoors and
active, making money
Favorite D-III baseball memory: “Way too
many awesome memories to really land on just one,
but beating Southern Maine twice to win the conference
tournament in Keene my freshman year was a big highlight ...
always loved to watch the much-respected [Southern Maine head
coach] Ed Flaherty slam his clipboard throughout my career against
USM!”
Keene State coach Ken Howe: "It was great to have
that local kid come to KSC and have such a major impact as we made
our way into national exposure for the program. He was an animal in
the weight room and always worked very hard on his game. His
offensive numbers over his career were staggering, considering the
All-Decade team came out after his junior year, and he still had
one more year with us. He made himself, through hard work, into a
very good defensive player as well."
OF Hunter Owen, Millsaps
Career (2005-09): .382 AVG, 174 R, 201 H, 55 2B, 3 3B, 41
HR, 186 RBI, .738 SLG
Highlights: 2007-09 All-America; 2007-08 SCAC
Player of the Year; 2007 D-III RBI title (70); SCAC second all-time
career HR; SCAC top 10 in career runs, RBI, 2B, and walks (123);
led SCAC in HR three times; led SCAC in runs and walks twice;
Millsaps leader in career 2B, HR, RBI and total bases; Millsaps
leader in season HR (16) and 2B (23)
Residence: Jackson, Miss.
Age: 27
College major: Business Administration
Occupation: “I recently quit my job as a
Freight Manager for Advanced Drainage Systems in Jackson and am
currently opening up a CrossFit gym, Coyote CrossFit, in Madison,
Miss.”
Personal: Single
Hobbies: “CrossFit takes up most of my time
these days.”
Favorite D-III baseball memory: “There are
so many memories that stick out, but the things that I miss most
are probably the bus rides and the downtime spent just hanging out
with my teammates. On the field, my best memory would probably
be the time my senior year when we were ranked No. 1 in the nation
for the first time in the history of the school.”
Millsaps coach Jim Page: “Hunter was an
outstanding player and an even better person. While his abilities
and the tenacity in his approach to the game was evident to his
teammates and our staff, Hunter was well known and respected by
opposing teams and coaches alike. Always a force at the plate,
Hunter's presence in the lineup grew each year as his approach to
hitting matured, making him one of the most successful players in
the league. I admired his ability to lead without speaking a word.
He was such a good teammate that, coupled with his competitiveness,
Hunter made those around him better. In the weight room, the extra
time put in the cage, and the focus he had on the little details
all played a part in the mark he made on Millsaps baseball. His
continued success off the field proves that Hunter, and those like
him, were true student-athletes.”
OF Dwight Wildman, Eastern Connecticut State
Career (2000-04): .370 AVG, 194 R, 266 H, 54 2B, 8 3B, 37
HR, 195 RBI, .622 SLG
Highlights: 2004 D-III Player of the Year;
2003-04 All-New England Region; 2002-04 All-LEC; 2002 national
championship team member; batted .419 and had 27 SB and 67 R in
2004 with ECSU season records in hits (93), HR (20), RBI (79) and
total bases (147); ECSU leader career SB (96); in ECSU top five in
career games (194), at-bats (719), hits, runs, RBI, 2B, HR, total
bases and HBP (35); had ECSU record-tying 31-game hitting streak;
stole ECSU record 30 consecutive bases
Residence: Seymour, Conn.
Age: 31
College major: Business Management, minor in
Psychology
Occupation: Financial advisor, coaches AAU and
does player development for baseball
Personal: Soon to be engaged, no children
Hobbies: Coaching, giving lessons to players,
taking weekend vacations around New England and the northeast,
cooking
Favorite D-III baseball memory: “Down 1-0
in bottom of the ninth, I hit a walk-off, two-run home run against
Wisconsin-Whitewater in the 2004 NCAA World Series semifinals,
putting us into the national championship; winning the 2002
national championship.”
Eastern Connecticut State coach Bill Holowaty:
“Dwight Wildman in May 2004 had one of our top 10 great
clutch hits in our program’s history versus UW-Whitewater.
Dwight hits a walk-off bomb to center field to give us a 2-1
victory and put us in the finals against George Fox. Whitewater
replaces their starting pitcher – after pitching eight
shutout innings – after giving up a leadoff single in the
bottom of the ninth. Dwight hits the first pitch off of the
reliever over the center field fence, the deepest part of the park.
It was vintage Wildman that we got used to that spring.”
DH Kurt Kapferer, Wooster
Career (2003-06): .379 AVG, 158 R, 197 H, 44 2B, 4 3B, 49
HR, 189 RBI, .726 SLG
Highlights: 2006 All-America; 2006 NCAC Player of
the Year; 2003-06 All-NCAC; 2006 D-III HR title (18); led NCAC in
HR twice; led NCAC in RBI and SLG once; Wooster career HR leader;
Wooster top five in career RBI, SLG and on-base percentage (.491);
had 29-game hitting streak
Residence: Stow, Ohio
Age: 28
College major: Computer Science
Occupation: SAP Basis Administrator
Personal: Married, no children
Hobbies: Golf, watching movies and sports,
reading
Favorite D-III baseball memory: "My favorite
memory would have to be Wooster's postseason run in my junior year
(2005), all the way to a College World Series berth. In the end we
didn't have enough to win it, but it was a great experience with
some of the best guys I know to this day."
Wooster coach Tim Pettorini: “I
recruited Kurt as a 6-foot-7 left-handed pitcher, but during his
senior year in high school he hurt his arm and really
couldn't pitch in college. I convinced him to still come to
Wooster because it was the right school for him and that we wanted
him on our team even if he couldn't pitch any more. Good move.
Kurt turned out to be probably the finest power-hitting first
baseman we have ever had here. Tremendous power, he hit
in the middle of our order for four years and was a force that
every opponent we played had to be aware of and
pitch carefully to. A true game-changer.”
U Brady Endl, UW-Whitewater
Career (2001-04): .369 AVG, 127 R, 170 H, 27 2B, 4 3B, 40
HR, 138 RBI, .705 SLG
Career (2001-04): 27-7, 2.99 ERA, 261.2 IP, 251
K
Highlights: Drafted by Braves in 10th round in
2004; 2004 D-III Player of the Year; 2002-04 All-America; 2001-04
All-Midwest Region; member of WIAC All-Time Baseball Team;
UW-Whitewater leader in career innings and K’s; UW-Whitewater
second all-time in career HR and wins; batted .411 in 2004 with 58
R, 18 HR, 63 RBI and went 10-2 with 2.34 ERA and 103 K
Residence: Milwaukee, Wis.
Age: 30 (will be 31 this weekend)
College major: BBA Finance, Financial Planning
(UW-Whitewater); MBA Finance (Marquette)
Occupation: Business Development Associate in
Institutional Advisory division at Cleary Gull Advisors Inc.
Personal: Single, no children
Hobbies: “I recently started competing in
dualthlons. A duathlon is like a triathlon minus the swimming.
Typical races consist of three legs – two-mile run, 22 mile
bike, two- mile run. I find these races to be a great way to
channel my competitiveness while staying active. I also enjoy
getting a few gym workouts in per week. I just signed up for a
half-marathon in May 2013 – this will be my first –
hope I finish! I play slow-pitch softball during the spring and
summer. My team plays once per week in a league and we play a few
weekend tournaments per year. In my spare time, I enjoy watching
movies and reading. I recently saw Lincoln in the theater –
great movie about my favorite president.”
Favorite D-III baseball memory: “My entire
senior season at UW-Whitewater (2004)! We made it to the D-III
World Series in Appleton – UW-Whitewater’s first
appearance in the World Series since 1989. Many of my teammates
have become my best lifelong friends. Proudest individual
accomplishment: being named the 2004 NCAA D-III National Player of
the Year and the 2004 CoSIDA Verizon Academic All-American of the
Year-College Division during the same season.”
Former UW-Whitewater coach Jim Miller (now special
assistant to Whitewater’s athletic director):
“1.) Maybe the best Warhawk baseball player to date, and we
have had a lot of great ones. 2.) May be the only six-time All-WIAC
player – four as a pitcher and two as a first baseman. Might
have been eight, but I didn't let him hit for a year and a half.
Great coaching. 3.) Very athletic. Our football and basketball
programs are top 10 every year and he could have played for either
if that's where he put his efforts. 4.) Gifted in the classroom
– magna cum laude. 5.) Super nice, well-mannered young man.
6.) If he didn't hurt his arm, he was on his way to the bigs. 7.)
Just completed his MBA at Marquette.”
Current UW-Whitewater coach John Vodenlich (HC during
Endl’s senior season): “Brady is one of the
most successful baseball players in the history of our program. He
excelled both on and off the field. While obtaining All-American
status and breaking many university records, he achieved all A's in
his university academic career. Actually, he did receive one B in
his final semester. He was our top pitcher and a cleanup hitter on
some of the most successful teams in our history. After being
considered a top prospect in the Braves organization, he sustained
a career-ending injury. Brady is a quality young man who always has
a knack for being successful in everything he does.”
U Todd Meyer, Alvernia
Career (1999-2002): .418 AVG, 203 R, 249 H, 37 2B, 13 3B,
63 HR, 245 RBI, .842 SLG
Career (1999-2002): 21-7, 3.61 ERA, 202 IP, 260
K
Highlights: Signed by the Expos as a free agent
in 2002; 2002 D-III Player of the Year; 2001-02 PAC Player of the
Year; 2002 PAC Pitcher of the Year; D-III second all-time season
RBI (107); D-III third all-time season HR (25); D-III third
all-time season total bases (191); D-III fourth all-time career HR;
D-III fifth all-time career RBI; D-III fifth all-time career total
bases (500); D-III eighth all-time hits allowed (5.79/9); D-III
tenth all-time career SLG; led nation in 2002 with .511 AVG, 76 R,
25 HR, 107 RBI and 1.072 SLG and went 9-0 with 2.85 ERA and 96 K on
the mound; Alvernia career leader in HR, RBI and SLG on offense and
K’s on the mound; hit home run cycle in one game; hit two
grand slams in another game
Residence: York, Pa.
Age: 33
College major: BA Communications
Occupation: Sales of business automation software
and office equipment
Personal: Married to Brandy; two sons, Chase and
Carson
Hobbies: “My two boys are on the go
nonstop, which keeps my wife and me moving from the time they wake
up until they go to bed. And they love sports. Baseball and golf
are their two favorites, so we play quite a bit of baseball and go
to the driving range with them! I also still hit the gym to lift
weights regularly and play summer league baseball in a local wooden
bat league.”
Favorite D-III baseball memory: “Wow, too
many to list, but my favorite memory would have to be our
preparation and training for the spring seasons. We practiced in
the gym – ran steps, suicides, infield plays, drills,
throwing bullpens (did I mention running more steps if you were a
pitcher?!), etc. That built a lot of character and brought us
together as a team. We were always the most prepared and
conditioned team when we took the field – we prepared as a
team and went to battle as a team. Thanks to all my teammates and
coaches as this recognition is a result of your hard work and
dedication as I could not have achieved this without
you.”
Alvernia coach Yogi Lutz: “My one memory of
Todd was that, for how good he was, he was so humble – a true
team player who put his own accomplishments last. Most clutch
player I have ever coached. Sometimes, if we were down in the last
inning, my assistants and I would count how many players would need
to get on for Todd to have a chance to win the game. The team and
Todd almost always came through.”
My top 5 games of the week (April 10-16):
April 10: No. 13 Keystone vs. Misericordia KC has a 1.79
ERA and a .202 OBA; MU scores 7.9 runs per game and has a .441
OBP; KC leads all-time series 5-1, including a 1-run win in
early March.
April 12: No. 2 Linfield vs. No. 22 Pomona-Pitzer
3-game series; PP gets strong Pool C consideration with
wins; LC is 1-1 against the SCIAC this season; PP is 4-0
against the NWC.
April 13: No. 11 UW-Whitewater vs. No. 23 UW-Stevens
Point Conference games don't get much better than this in
the Midwest; UWW has won 5 of the last 6 meetings, including the
last 4.
April 13: No. 20 Birmingham-Southern vs. Millsaps
3-game series for SAA lead; BSC is 13-1 in its last 14 games; MC is
batting .354 through 30 games; MC beat BSC, 21-5, in a February
nonconference game.
April 14: No. 12 Wheaton (Mass.) vs. No. 24 Southern
Maine 1st of 2 meetings this season; USM has scored
10 or more runs 8 times in 18 games; WC's 5 starting pitchers have
allowed 51 total runs in 23 games.
My 2013 Week 7 ballot (D3baseball.com rank)
Stats, musings and folly valid through April 7
1 (4). St. Thomas – 8-game winning streak; more walks
than strikeouts on offense as a team.
2 (1). Kean – 14-1 in last 15 games; gave up 15 runs in 5-0
week.
3 (2). Linfield – 2-1 series win over PLU; going to
SOS-boosting SoCal this weekend.
4 (5). Johns Hopkins – 15-game winning streak; limiting
opponents to a .223 AVG.
5 (11). UW-Whitewater – Had its only error-free game of the
season during 6-0 week.
6 (15). Webster – WashU snapped its 13-game winning streak;
86 SB through 22 games.
7 (9). Ramapo – 7 of its last 9 games were decided by 1 run;
RC is 6-1 in those games.
8 (6). Marietta – Split with Mount Union once again and lost
to W&J for the 1st time in 118 years.
9 (24). Southern Maine – Swept a doubleheader at Eastern
Connecticut for 1st time ever.
10 (14). Manchester – A .414 OBP helps smooth out a rough
.955 FLD%; all 3 losses were by 1 run.
The rest of my ballot: Cortland State; Salisbury;
Ithaca; Cal Lutheran; Wheaton (Mass.); St. Scholastica; Western New
England; UW-Stevens Point; Keystone; Bridgewater (Va.); Suffolk;
Christopher Newport; UT-Tyler; Trinity (Texas); William
Paterson.
To close it out, this week we received an interesting email from
Harvard University, where students who didn't even graduate have
gone on to become the richest person in the world (Bill Gates) or a
preeminent publisher (William Randolph Hearst). One of last week's
front-page polls asked what was the best on-field D-III baseball
story of the past six seasons. The championship seasons for
Illinois Wesleyan and Trinity (Conn.) were among the short list of
contenders. Bill Decker coached Trinity to its championship and is
now the head man at Harvard. Illinois Wesleyan's leadoff man on its
title team, Brett Moore, is now the baseball sports information
director at Harvard.
"Bill's team better not beat my team in the poll!" Moore said in
the email.
Decker's Trinity team did beat Moore's IWU team in the poll, but
it's always nice to see the reach, camaraderie and success of
Division III baseball alumni. Former D-III players and coaches are
not only mixing it up at Harvard, but this week's Around the Nation
proves our alumni are also doing great things off the diamond as
well. #whyd3? It's seems rhetorical, but if you need examples, this
column is a good place to start.
Next week: Coach impressions on "A game is a game."