Despite a season of ups and downs, the Baker University baseball team pulled through to make the season its best since 1999, earning the team the title of the Baker Orange’s Team of the Year.
The ‘Cats capped off their season with a 23-22 record overall and 14-16 in conference play, making it the best season ever for head coach Phil Hannon, who just finished his seventh with the ‘Cats.
Hannon said he was pleased with the team’s ability to reach above .500 and hopes to mold a new attitude for Baker baseball.
“It’s more of motivation for me,” Hannon said. “My whole thing is preparing the kids to play and developing a winning attitude.”
The team returned this year from a 23-26 overall record and without six seniors from the 2006 season. The Wildcats looked for new leadership and experience from six different team members this year, including seniors Jake Landis, Logan Peck, Ben Mejia, Dan Carr, Paul Foltz, and Tim McConn. They also counted upon several younger players to fill holes consistently throughout the year. Hannon said the group this year simply found a way to win, unlike last year’s team. Landis said Baker’s early success this season was different from last year.
“It’s just the total difference early on last year compared to this year. We found ways to win games by a run or two where last year it seemed like we had to win a game by eight or nine to win,” Landis said. “We just found a way to win.”
Throughout the season, Baker’s defense consistently helped the team find a way to win by maintaining a 93.3 fielding percentage. When the ‘Cats found the bases, they took advantage of their speed by stealing 26 times during the course of the season. However, perhaps the biggest influence to Baker’s success this season was the pitching staff.
“We got a lot of good pitching performances from Logan (Peck), Jeremiah (Johnson), Jake (Landis), and Joe (Kaup), when he got into rhythm,” Carr said. “Our pitchers showed up everyday and helped us win. I give a lot of our success to them.”
Peck, who was the team’s number one ace from the mound, finished the year with a team-high 2.14 ERA and a 4-3 record. Sophomore Jeremiah Johnson helped the ‘Cats out early, as he started the season with a perfect 6-0 record from the rubber. Landis, the team’s routine closer, was named All Conference Honorable Mention, respectively. The consistent right-handed pitcher finished the season with a 5.41 ERA, 44 strikeouts and nine saves in 21 game appearances for the year.
Hannon said the team relied on Landis several times throughout the course of the season.
“Being a third-year closer, Jake’s mental approach every time he took the mound was what shut the opponent down,” Hannon said.
In addition to the production from the seniors, the Wildcats also turned to many younger players to contribute. Freshman Nick Peterson earned a consistent spot as the team’s second baseman. Speedy freshman Danny Cast made numerous starts in center field. When junior Aaron Westerhouse experienced a mid-season injury, freshman third baseman Zandy Hall was called upon for quick production. Freshman Michael Strnad saw some playing time from the mound as well. Hannon said the team’s balance between experience and youth worked well and he was pleased with the play from the freshmen.
“The pressure was taken off of the freshmen with our upperclassmen leadership, showing them how Baker baseball was played,” Hannon said. “They (the freshmen) didn’t think they had to go in and do it all. Guys like Danny (Cast), Zandy (Hall), and Nick (Peterson) did an outstanding job.”
The leadership was rewarding to the seniors this season, as it marked the group’s best year at Baker. Carr said this year showed that the program had a solid team and was solid within the region.
“Being here for four years, it’s a huge step for our baseball team. It was amazing for us seniors to finally be on the winning side,” Carr said.
With many accomplishments, hard work and a committed group of players, the Baker baseball team marked a milestone in the program’s history this season. The team turned over a new leaf, developing a new winning attitude. For the hard work, effort and success, congratulations to the Baker baseball team, this year’s team of the year including seniors Jake Landis, Logan Peck, Ben Mejia, Dan Carr, Paul Foltz and Tim McConn. They also counted upon several younger players to fill holes consistently throughout the year. Hannon said the group this year simply found a way to win, unlike last year’s team. Landis said Baker’s early success this season was different from last year.
“It’s just the total difference early on last year compared to this year. We found ways to win games by a run or two, where last year it seemed like we had to win a game by eight or nine to win,” Landis said. “We just found a way to win.”
Baker’s defense consistently helped the team find a way to win by maintaining a 93.3 fielding percentage. However, perhaps the biggest influence in Baker’s success this season was the pitching staff.
“We got good pitching performances from Logan (Peck), Jeremiah (Johnson), Jake (Landis) and Joe (Kaup), when he got into rhythm,” Carr said. “Our pitchers showed up everyday and helped us win. I give a lot of our success to them.”
Peck, the team’s No. 1 on the mound, finished the year with a team-high 2.14 ERA and a 4-3 record. Sophomore Jeremiah Johnson helped the ‘Cats out early, as he started the season a perfect 6-0. Landis, the team’s routine closer, was named all-conference honorable mention. The consistent right-handed pitcher finished the season with a 5.41 ERA, 44 strikeouts and nine saves in 21 game appearances for the year.
Hannon said the team relied on Landis several times throughout the course of the season.
“Being a third-year closer, Jake’s mental approach every time he took the mound was what shut the opponent down,” Hannon said.
With many accomplishments, hard work and a committed group of players, the Baker baseball team marked a milestone in the program’s history this season. The team turned over a new leaf, developing a new winning attitude. For the hard work, effort and success, congratulations to the Baker baseball team.