Baseball Travels to Louisiana
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
February 26, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Fri., Feb. 26 vs. McNeese St. 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 27 vs. Louisiana Tech. 6:00 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 28 vs. Indiana St. 11:00 a.m.
PLAY BALL - Michigan State opens its 1999 campaign on the road at the McNeese State Tournament in Lake Charles, La. The Spartans will play one game each against McNeese State, Louisiana Tech and Indiana State.
SCOUTING McNEESE STATE - McNeese State enters the tournament having already played 11 games, posting an 8-3 record. The Cowboys boast a powerful offense with three starters returning who hit ten or more home runs in 1998. As a team, McNeese State had a .305 batting average last season. Their pitching staff is led by senior hurler Kevin Sprague who posted a 7-4 record with a 5.16 ERA in 1998.
SCOUTING LOUISIANA TECH - The Spartans' second opponent of the year will be the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech University. Like McNeese State, Louisiana Tech enters the tournament having already played a number of games, posting a 3-6 record. Senior second baseman Brian Myrow is the foundation of the Bulldog squad. A 1998 all-conference selection, he led the team in virtually every offense categorie.
SCOUTING INDIANA STATE - The Sycamores of Indiana State enter the weekend with a 1-2 record, having played one series with Oral Roberts. Coming off a season in which they went 37-18-1, the Sycamores are led by senior outfielder Rick Angell. In 98, Angel hit .363 with 11 home runs and 56 RBI to earn first-team all-conference honors. In terms of pitching, they are led by a trio of left-handed starters (Alex Graman, Sean Brummett and Mark Bernhardt).
THE COACHES - Head coach Ted Mahan (Michigan '77) begins his fourth year at the helm of the Michigan State baseball squad. In three years he has amassed a record of 65-96, 24-56 in the Big Ten.With 15 more victories, Mahan will become the fifth winningest head coach, passing Chester Brewer (79-61-1).
McNeese State head coach Mike Bianco (LSU '91) is in his second year, after posting a 30-26 record during his innaugural campaign. Prior to his arrival, the Cowboys had posted two consecutive losing seasons. Previously, Bianco served as an assistant coach for five years at LSU, helping the Tigers win three national championships.
Louisiana Tech head coach Jeff Richardson (Louisiana Tech '86) is in his first season atop the the Bulldog program. A former major leaguer, Richardson returns to his alma mater after three years managing in the Pittsburgh Pirates' farm system.
Indiana State head coach Bob Warn (Southern Illinois '68) is in his 24th year directing the Sycamores, compiling a record of 851-509-8. Overall, he has a record of 1,015-556-8 in 30 years of coaching collegiate baseball.
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.
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 8
WAG 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.
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 Kalczynski's 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 changing their positions. After two years at second base, Ted Demtral 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.
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.
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.
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 1769-1381-28. 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 13-3 loss to Michigan).
UPCOMING CAREER MILESTONES
TED MAHAN, Head Coach Has 75 Wins 65CARLOS FERNANDEZ, 2B, Sr. Has 400 Putouts 375 100 Hits 74 50 RBI 26 50 Runs 49
TOM HARTLEY, OF, Sr. Has 150 Hits 102 75 RBI 56 75 Runs 64 30 Doubles 23
MIKE WAGNER, OF, Sr. Has 100 Hits 61 50 RBI 37 50 Runs 40 20 Stolen Bases 12 10 Home Runs 9
CHRIS YENS, P, Sr. Has 50 Games 30 10 Saves 8
JOE ALBAUGH, OF, Jr. Has 100 Hits 52 50 RBI 28 50 Runs 32 20 Doubles 13
TED DEMETRAL, SS, Jr. Has 300 Assists 256 100 Hits 83 50 RBI 31 50 Runs 45
JOE KALCZYNSKI, C, Jr. Has 500 Putouts 444 50 Hits 42 50 RBI 33 50 Runs 27
MIKE PISANI, OF, Jr. Has 100 Hits 95 75 Runs 54 50 RBI 42
GARY ZSIGO, P/DH, Jr. Has 100 Strikeouts 61 100 Innings Pitched 62.2 10 Wins 6
KIMYA MASSEY, P, Jr. Has 100 Innings Pitched 72.1 50 Strikeouts 47
JOHN STEIGER, P, So. Has 50 Strikeouts 37
SCOTT BRANDELL, P, So. Has 50 Strikeouts 28