The Capital University baseball team looks to build upon a record-setting 2013 season with 14 seniors returning in 2014 and a number of other key players coming back.
Last season, the Crusaders finished with a 21-17 overall record to post the program's first 20-win season since 1995. Capital also finished tied for sixth in the Ohio Athletic Conference with an 8-10 mark, just two games away from an appearance in the OAC Tournament.
With the return of seven starting position players and three starting pitchers, fifth-year head coach Ryan Grice is confident in the team's ability to break through for its first postseason berth since the 2007 season, when the Crusaders reached the OAC Tournament final.
"We're obviously looking to build on the progression from last year," Grice said. "We have highly-motivated guys … it's a senior class that wants to make the (conference) tournament and possibly win the OAC."
The Crusaders open the season Saturday against Brandeis (Mass.) on the first day of a nine-day, nine-game spring break trip to Winter Haven, Fla. Capital finished 5-0 in games played in Florida in 2013 and is 12-5 on spring break in its last two years making the annual trip.
"We've been really successful down there the last couple years," Grice said. "It's good for our guys to get away and it's good for our guys to bond and work on team chemistry. From traveling 18 hours on a bus, to staying down there together, to going out to eat together and not having to worry about class, it's good to get away and be focused on the early part of the season."
Capital visits Denison on March 11 for its first game in Ohio, and plays its home opener on March 12 against OU Lancaster. The team opens the OAC season on March 22 at Muskingum.
Other featured league games include a home doubleheader against cross-town rival Otterbein on March 29 and a visit to perennial national power Marietta on April 15.
"I think the OAC will be strong, but will be more balanced," Grice said. "I think there could be five or six teams, maybe seven, that could compete for one of those top four spots in the conference."
See below for a position-by-position breakdown of the 2014 Capital baseball team.
Infield
Seniors Anthony Calabrese (Hudson, Ohio), Brian Wyer (New Albany, Ohio), Ryan Pearson (Springfield, Ohio) and junior Matt Carnahan(Moundsville, W.Va.) lead this experienced, deep group.
The Crusaders led the league with a .966 fielding percentage last season, and Grice expects more of the same defensively.
"We need to expand on that if we want to win the OAC and get better," Grice said. "We have experience in the infield, and now we have depth, which is something we haven't had a lot of in past years."
Calabrese, a middle infielder, led the league with 10 sacrifice hits, while fellow middle infielder Wyer started 23 of the 28 games he appeared in.
Carnahan, who will move to first base after being used primarily as a catcher and designated hitter a year ago, tied for the team lead with nine doubles and hit .290 with 21 RBIs. Pearson, a third baseman, started 33 contests and knocked in 19 runs.
Sophomore catcher Kirby Boehm (Worthington, Ohio) started 19 games and played in 23 overall in 2013. Boehm, who hit .264 in 53 at-bats and didn't commit an error, will take over behind the plate in 2014.
"As catcher, Kirby's kind of the glue that holds everything together, even though he's only a sophomore," Grice said. "He's a tremendous leader who works very, very well with the pitching staff."
Sophomores Quinn Bender (Massillon, Ohio) and Ryan Barnette (Fairmont, Ohio) return and may see time at first base. Bender appeared in a pair of games last season, while Barnette appeared in one.
Junior Austin Underwood (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) returns to the team following a year's hiatus. Underwood hit .353 in 11 games in 2012.
Freshmen/Transfers (Name, Bats-Throws, Hometown/High School/Last School): Danny Blake, L-R, Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge/Univ. of Akron;Logan Bastin, R-R, Lexington, Ohio/Lexington; Brett Colburn, R-R, Liberty Township, Ohio/Lakota East; Tyler Gibbons, R-R, Liberty Township, Ohio/Lakota East; Justin Ennis, L-R; Tyler Cetnarowski, R-R, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary; Jake Foley, R-R, Pataskala, Ohio/Licking Heights; Jacob Sheaf, R-R, Cincinnati, Ohio/Wilmington; Andrew Hulse, R-R, Fredricktown, Ohio/Fredricktown; Jack Langer, R-R, Centerville, Ohio/Centerville; Brent Shannon, R-R, Greenfield, Ohio/Greenfield McClain; Joe Swisher, R-R, Westerville, Ohio/Westerville Central; Austin Walker, L-L, Cincinnati, Ohio/Milford
Outfield
A pair of All-OAC honorees highlights the group of returning Crusaders. Senior left fielder Taylor Branisel (South Euclid, Ohio) earned second team all-conference honors after posting a .357 batting average as well as team highs in home runs (4), runs batted in (36) and total bases (68). Senior centerfielder Nate Campbell (Latrobe, Pa.) garnered honorable mention accolades after leading the OAC with 25 stolen bases while batting .345 and leading the team in runs scored (33), on-base percentage (.429) and walks (19).
Senior right fielder Andy Grillo (McArthur, Ohio) led the team with a .367 batting average to go along with four doubles and nine stolen bases.
The trio combined for 46 stolen bases in 2013 and committed just two errors.
"I think we have the most athletic outfield that I've coached in my career," Grice said. "I think it's one of the best outfields, both offensively and defensively, in the conference."
Other returning outfielders include senior Jake Nelson (Utica, Ohio) and junior Christian Ross (Bucyrus, Ohio). Nelson appeared in eight games last season, while Ross played in seven, including one start.
Freshmen/Transfers (Name, Bats-Throws, Hometown/High School): Dylan Evans, R-R, Zanesville, Ohio/Marysville; Derek Ketchum, R-R, Lima, Ohio/Allen East; Scott King, L-R, Richmond Heights, Ohio/St. Ignatius
Pitchers
Grice expects even more consistency from this year's experienced pitching staff, which recorded a 4.60 earned run average last season.
Junior pitcher Robert Fravel (Port Clinton, Ohio) was named honorable mention All-OAC in 2013. The right-hander led the team with a 2.74 ERA and posted a 4-1 record with a shutout and a save, and was a two-time OAC Pitcher of the Week.
Four of the team's five pitchers who made at least five starts a year ago return to the mound in 2013. Seniors Justin Hoying (Ft. Loramie, Ohio),Jeremy Finchum (Galloway, Ohio) and Kevin Brennan (Mason, Ohio) rejoin Fravel in the team's starting rotation. Hoying struck out a team-best 40 hitters in a team-high 55 innings in 2013 and amassed a 4-3 record with a 4.25 ERA. Finchum was 4-2 with a 4.02 ERA and one complete game, while Brennan registered a 1-2 mark and a 5.29 ERA in eight appearances, including six starts.
Hard-throwing senior right-hander Sam Sifferlin (Wooster, Ohio) headlines Capital's deep bullpen, which returns seven players who made three or more appearances a season ago. Sifferlin posted a 3.18 ERA and registered two saves while leading the team with 13 appearances.
Senior right-hander Michael Flegal (Akron, Ohio), senior left-handers Anthony Klamic (Wooster, Ohio) and Jared Lee (North Bend, Ohio) also return to come out of the bullpen. Flegal went 3-2 in 11 appearances in 2013, while Lee pitched in seven games and Klamic in three.
Other returning relievers include right-handed junior Derek Colston (Port Clinton, Ohio), sophomore lefty Adam Journic (Akron, Ohio) and sophomore right-handers Avery Walker (Pickerington, Ohio), Jeff Small (Sylvania, Ohio) and Derek Peters (Fayetteville, Ohio). Colston posted a 2.53 ERA in nine appearances in 2013, Journic appeared in seven games, Walker pitched in five games and Small appeared in three.
Sophomore left-hander Cory Spencer (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) returns to the roster and look to bounce back from injury in 2014.
Freshmen/Transfers (Name, Right or Left, Hometown/High School): Brendon Borkey, RHP, Mentor, Ohio/Lake Catholic; Michael Davis, RHP, Fairfield, Ohio/Badin; Erik Hunkemoeller, RHP, West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West; Jacob Sheaf, RHP, Cincinnati, Ohio/Wilmington; Luke Veldman, RHP, Tipp City, Ohio/Bethel; Shane Wellman, RHP, Moundsville, W.Va./John Marshall; Tyler Spears, RHP, Washington Courthouse, Ohio/Washington; Brandon Bush, LHP, Zanesville, Ohio/Maysville; Austin Walker, LHP, Cincinnati, Ohio/Milford