Baseball Ready for Spring Trip
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 5, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - FUN IN THE SUN - Michigan State will escape the Michigan winter as they travel 1,400 miles south to Boca Raton, Fla. The Spartans will play eight games in nine days. Florida Atlantic will serve as the hosts for the week.
A BRIEF LOOK AT THE COMPETITION - The Spartans are scheduled to play seven different teams while in Florida, including St. John's, Florida Atlantic, Illinois State, LaSalle, Pace, Lewis and Iona.
St. John's- The Red Storm currently owns a 3-6 record. After a 28-17-1 season in '98, they are led by major league prospect Patrick Collins, a very talented right-hander who posted 79 strikeouts in 75 innings.
Florida Atlantic- They enter the game with a 12-1 record. Offensively, they are led by Ryan Withey, who sports a .462 average with three home runs and 14 RBI. Last year FAU posted a 29-30 record.
Illinois State- The Redbirds are currently 3-3. Last year they posted a 32-22 record, their first 30 win season since 1994.
Pace- The Setters are yet to play this year after posting a 14-26-1 mark in '98.
Lewis- The Flyers are 0-3 after a 22-27 season in 1998.
Iona- The Gaels open their season on Mar. 5. In '98 they were 22-26.
LaSalle- The Explorers are 3-0 after a 12-28 1998 season.
COACH MAHAN - Head coach Ted Mahan (Michigan '77) begins his fourth year at the helm of the Michigan State baseball squad. During his tenure he has amassed a record of 67-97, 24-56 in the Big Ten.With 13 more victories, Mahan will become the fifth winningest head coach, passing Chester Brewer (79-61-1).Under Mahan the Spartans are 3-1 against Florida Atlantic, 0-1 against LaSalle, 1-0 against Lewis and 1-0 against Pace.
TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD - The Spartans opened the 1999 season by posting a 2-1 mark in the Lake Area Classic in Lake Charles, La. In the season opener, MSU captured a 4-3 victory over McNeese State behind five scoreless innings of relief from John Steiger, who earned the victory, and Chris Yens, who picked up the save. Carlos Fernandez supplied the offense, going 2-4 with 2 RBI. In the second game, the Spartans were crushed 17-0 by Louisiana Tech. In the finale, MSU outscored Indiana State 14-9, led by Joe Kalczynski's three hits and four RBI. Kimya Massey recorded the win by pitching four innings of scoreless relief.
JOE KAL EARNS PRESEASON KUDOS - Junior catcher Joe Kalczynski was selected to Baseball America's preseason All-Big Ten team. The 6-4, 200-pound catcher was fourth on the 1998 squad with a .296 batting average. Behind the plate, he threw out 23 of 43 would-be basestealers. He was also selected as a member of the GTE Academic All-America District team.
Kalczynski is wasting little time living up to the expectations in '99. He leads the team with 4 RBI, is tied for the lead in hits (4) and tied for second in batting average (.364).
Baseball America is not the only publication to recognize Kalczynski's prowess. Collegiate Baseball has tabbed him as a Big Ten Player to Watch, along with center fielder Mike Wagner and left-handed pitcher Gary Zsigo.
Y-E-N-S SPELLS RELIEF - Senior pitcher Chris Yens finished the 1998 season with seven saves, tied for second most in school history. Yens, a third-team All-Big Ten selection also led the Spartans with 20 appearances and a 2.77 ERA. Opponents hit a meager .184 off the Spartan closer.
Career Save Chart 1. Brad Lamont 14 2. Mike Ericson 12 3. Chris Yens 9WAG THE DOG - At many times during the '98 season it appeared as if Mike Wagner was single-handedly propelling the Spartans to victory. In his first year at MSU, the senior center fielder made an immediate impact, leading the team in runs (40), hits (61), triples (3), home runs (9), RBI (37) and stolen bases (12). Not surprisingly, Wagner was named Michigan State's offensive player of the year.
Wags is once again leading the offense in '99. He leads the team in runs (5), stolen bases (2), tied for first in hits (4) and tied for fourth in batting average (.333).
NEW FACES - The 1999 Michigan State lineup will feature some new faces in key positions. Both infield corners will be manned by first year players. Kyle Geswein, a 1998 draftee of the New York Yankees, will handle the duties at first base. Across the diamond, redshirt freshman Troy Bergman and true freshman Don Watchowski will compete for playing time at the hot corner. Behind the plate, Matt Haynes will serve as Joe Kalczynskis backup and Chris McCuiston will provide depth in the outfield.
On the pitching mound, Pat Gill will attempt to become a fixture in the starting rotation. He will be joined by a number of freshmen who will perform a majority of the long relief duties, including: Dan Horvath, Jon Huizinga, Mike Salling and Domanick Squires.
FAMILIAR FACES, DIFFERENT PLACES - Along with the emergence of new players in the lineup, the '99 Spartans will have to adjust to some players switching positions. After two years at second base, Ted Demetral will move to the other side of the bag and handle the fielding duties at shortstop, a position left vacant by Tom Grigg's graduation. Demetral's double-play partner at second base will be Carlos Fernandez. In '98, Fernandez started 17 games at catcher and 27 in right field. Also switching positions will be Mike Pisani, who will make the move from third base (where he started 45 games in '98) to left field, while also earning time at first.
AGENT MULDER'S DISAPPEARANCE - Mark Mulder, a 1998 third-team All-American and two-time All-Big Ten selection, was the number two pick in the 1998 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Oakland A's. In October he signed with the A's and became the first drafted baseball player to receive a $3.2 million signing bonus. In just two years as a Spartan, Mulder stands eighth on the career strikeout list (169) after posting a single season record 113 strikeouts in '98. Mulder is currently taking part in Oakland's spring training as a non-roster invite and is expected to begin the season with the AA Midland RockHounds.
YOUNG GUNS - With the departure of Mulder and Brian Murphy, the fortunes of the Michigan State baseball squad will hinge on the performances of an inexperienced pitching staff. The M&M boys finished their careers with 66 starts. Entering the 1999 season, the 13 member Spartan staff had a combined 34 starts.
Career Stats for Spartan Starters Name G/GS CG W L ERA SV IP H R ER BB SO Gary Zsigo 13/12 1 6 4 6.39 0 66.2 89 50 47 21 67 Josh Axelson 15/1 0 0 1 11.64 1 17.0 27 25 22 12 16 Scott Brandell 19/1 0 1 1 4.63 0 35.0 41 26 18 15 31 John Steiger 10/8 0 2 3 5.65 0 36.2 46 25 23 18 41 Pat Gill 1/0 0 0 0 9.00 0 1.0 5 5 1 0 1
MIDDLE RELIEF IS KEY - In both of Michigan State's wins, strong middle relief has propelled the team to victory. While a Spartan starter is yet to earn a victory, the men out of the bullpen have pitched 10 innings in the two wins. In those two games they have allowed only two runs and seven hits while striking out nine. Kimya Massey and John Steiger each picked up a victory while pitching four scoreless innings.
A TRAVELIN' JONES - Perhaps it's the cold Michigan weather or maybe its just an excuse to get away from East Lansing, but Michigan State opens the season with 14 straight and 19 of 20 games on the road. The home opener is Mar. 23 against Eastern Michigan. The Spartans better enjoy the trips while they can, because starting with a March 30 game they are home for 23 of 29 games.
COUNTDOWN T0 1800 - No, the Michigan State baseball team is not 200 years behind every one else. In a year where so many people are counting down to the next millenium, the Spartans are hoping to collect their 1800th win as a program. In 112 years of competition, MSU has a record of 1771-1382-28. To reach number 1,800 they will need 31 wins this season, the most since 1993 (31-23).
THE ORIGINAL LEAD-OFF MEN - Michigan Agricultural College's 1884 baseball squad is credited with playing in the school's first ever intercollegiate competition (a 20-9 win over Olivet).
UPCOMING CAREER MILESTONESTED MAHAN, Head Coach Has 75 Wins 67
CARLOS FERNANDEZ, 2B, Sr. Has 400 Putouts 381 100 Hits 77 75 Runs 50 50 RBI 28
TOM HARTLEY, OF, Sr. Has 150 Hits 105 75 RBI 58 75 Runs 67 30 Doubles 24
MIKE WAGNER, OF, Sr. Has 100 Hits 65 50 RBI 38 50 Runs 45 20 Stolen Bases 14 10 Home Runs 9
CHRIS YENS, P, Sr. Has 50 Games 32 10 Saves 9
JOE ALBAUGH, OF, Jr. Has 100 Hits 55 50 RBI 31 50 Runs 32 20 Doubles 14
TED DEMETRAL, SS, Jr. Has 300 Assists 266 100 Hits 87 50 RBI 33 50 Runs 47
JOE KALCZYNSKI, C, Jr. Has 500 Putouts 470 50 Hits 46 50 RBI 37 50 Runs 28
MIKE PISANI, OF, Jr. Has 100 Hits 96 75 Runs 54 50 RBI 42
GARY ZSIGO, P/DH, Jr. Has 100 Strikeouts 67 100 Innings Pitched 66.2 10 Wins 6
KIMYA MASSEY, P, Jr. Has 100 Innings Pitched 76.1 50 Strikeouts 49
JOHN STEIGER, P, So. Has 50 Strikeouts 41
SCOTT BRANDELL, P, So. Has 50 Strikeouts 31
