SELINSGROVE, Pa. — The 1999 season was admittedly a learning experience for Tim Briggs, who was in his first season as head coach of the Susquehanna University baseball team.
Apparently, Briggs learned well as he took a team which had gone just 9-22 and finished last in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League the previous season, and guided it to an 16-13 mark and a tie for second-place in the league at 8-6 — copping league Coach of the Year honors in the process.
With Briggs more experienced as skipper and seven everyday starters returning along with four regular pitchers, optimisim is riding high in the Crusader camp that this season’s team can contend for the MAC Commonwealth title and the automatic NCAA Division III Tournament bid which goes with it.
Yet Briggs is quick to point out that it is guarded optimism since there are a number of variables which will make this season much different than last.
First is the uncertainty of where or how many home games the team will play this spring. A new Harold Bollinger Baseball Field was constructed last summer, but the grass is not ready for play at the start of this spring — meaning the squad will have to play its home games at the Selinsgrove Area High School baseball field until the new field is ready. At present, the Selinsgrove High schedule doesn’t conflict with the Susquehanna home schedule, although any weather postponements might force Briggs and his team to play some of their home games on the road.
Secondly, the NCAA has moved away from its proposed use of wooden bats nationally, facilitating the MAC coaches to also go from wood back to metal bats in 2000. The Crusaders flourished in the lower scoring wooden bat games of last season, meaning the game and their possible success could be much different with metal.
Thirdly, Briggs will have a brand-new coaching staff in new assistants Matt Kazmierczak and Sean Noonan. He believes preseason drills have gone well with the new staff, but developing the chemistry under game conditions might take some time.
The new learning process will begin with the team’s annual Spring Break trip to the Cocoa Expo Complex in Cocoa, Fla., with the opener being on Sunday, March 5, at 10 a.m. vs. Madonna University.
“We’re real high (on this team) right now, but we also have to prove something before we can be real high,” said Briggs, who was an assistant coach with the program for two seasons before taking the head job. He is also the brother and defensive coordinator to head football coach Steve Briggs.
“There are so many little day-to-day things which may be a problem because of our facility situation and some other things. There’s going to be too much room for distractions and excuses. That’s why we’re taking the attitude that when we’re on the field, all we want to worry about is focusing on the little things concerned with playing the game and doing those right.”
THE INFIELDERS
The Crusaders have starting experience at every infield position, although they graduated regular third baseman Chris Hutchins.
Senior Andy Berwager (Hanover/South Western H.S.) will anchor the infield as a two-year MAC Commonwealth League Second Team All-Star shortstop, when he’s not on the mound as the team’s pitching ace. Also the lead-off hitter when he’s not pitching, Berwager repeated his second-team honors as he was second on the team last season in both batting and on-base percentage, hitting .330 (31 of 94) with a .447 on-base clip. He had a team best 19 walks and tied for the team lead in doubles with six, also finishing second in stolen bases with 12 of 15 to tie for sixth in the MAC (0.43 per game), and second in runs with 19. Defensively, he also led the team with 72 assists.
Berwager is a career .344 hitter (67 of 195) at Susquehanna and ranks ninth all-time in on-base percentage at .446. There’s no secret that his play will be a key to the team’s success.
“Andy’s a proven commodity. He’s got to be one of the top returning players in the whole conference,” said Briggs.
Berwager will be throwing over to another MAC Commonwealth League Second Team All-Star at first in junior Lyle Hosler (Lititz/Manheim Township H.S.). One of just two players to start all 29 games last season, he continues to be the team’s defensively leader — sporting a team best .992 fielding percentage last season. He went his first 239 chances without an error collegiately. Presently with the best career fielding percentage in program history at .994, Hosler recorded the third most putouts in a season at Susquehanna last year with 227. Offensively, he was fourth among the regulars with a .391 on-base percentage and .264 (24 of 91) batting average while hitting in the middle of the lineup. He tied for the team lead in runs with 22, also recording four doubles and 12 RBI.
“Lyle’s one of our solid returnees. He’s just that guy as a coach you can trust,” said Briggs.
Berwager and Hosler are also both returning MAC All-Academic Baseball Team selections and Academic All-America candidates.
Backing up Hosler and also serving as the team’s primary designated hitter will be senior Chad Walters (Oley/Oley Valley H.S.). Walters played in 17 games last season as a DH, batting .324 (12 for 37) with a double, seven runs batted in and three runs scored. He had an on-base percentage of .405 which included four walks. Walters will be student-teaching next fall and join Briggs as assistant coach, running his fall baseball program.
Five-foot-11, 240-pound freshman Scott McQuiggan (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown H.S.) also might see some time at first and get some rips at DH with his big, left-handed bat.
Briggs has the flexibility to play one of three players at short when Berwager pitches, although two of them may be his regulars at second and third in junior Chris Knickerbocker (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy) and sophomore Matt Springman (Montoursville/Montoursville H.S.) respectively.
Knickerbocker will primarily be the starter at second and bat second, although he could lead-off and play short when Berwager pitches. A spot starter in each of the last two seasons, Knickerbocker hit .179 (12 of 67) with a double, seven runs batted in, 10 runs scored and five stolen bases last season. He also fielded at a solid .944 clip with just six errors.
Springman played in 15 games at either short or third in his freshman season, and appears to be the hier apparent to Hutchins at “the hot corner.” While he hit .174 (4 for 23) with a double, four runs scored, he did have an on-base percentage of .269. Briggs believes both his batting and fielding average will improve with more opportunity.
Junior Lee Rogers (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry H.S.) has transferred to Susquehanna after stints at both Endicott College and Elizabethtown, and has impressed Briggs both at short and on the mound.
Junior Mike Sauers (Mifflinburg/Mifflinburg H.S.) and sophomore Patrick Quillian (Nichols Hills, Okla./Casady H.S.) both saw some varsity time at third and second last season respectively, and should provide quality depth at those positions.
Freshman Aaron Richmond (Duncannon/Susquenita H.S.) rounds out the infielders at second.
THE OUTFIELDERS
Berwager and fellow senior Denny Bowers (Westminster, Md./Westminster H.S.) will once again team up as the team’s “Killer B’s.” A first-team league All-Star in 1998 when he played mostly first base when he was not pitching, Bowers made a successful conversion to the outfield a year ago. He will be the starting left fielder this season and continue to bat clean-up.
The 6-2, 235-pound Bowers batted .318 (27 of 85) last season and tied for the team lead in doubles with six, also recording the team’s lone home run with 15 runs batted in. He was second on the team in slugging percentage at .424, and was also seven for seven in stolen bases. Defensively, he fielded all but two of his 35 chances cleanly for a .943 fielding percentage.
He is presently third all-time at Susquehanna in career batting average at .378 (70 for 185), ranking fourth in on-base percentage at .477, and 10th in slugging percentage at .530.
“The metal bats should make a big different to Denny. We look for him to return to his sophomore form when there weren’t a lot of people who wanted to throw to him,” said Briggs, who also expects Bowers to take on the role as the team’s pitching closer.
Junior Josh Pahl (Northumberland/Shikellamy H.S.) was the team’s primary starter in left before having his season cut short midway through by a serious knee injury. He’s back and expected to fill the void of graduated four-year starter T.J. Lane in center. Prior to the injury, Pahl had just two errors in 24 total chances (.917 fielding percentage), while batting .233 (10 for 43) with two doubles, 10 runs batted in and six runs scored. Pahl also stole two bases. He’ll bat fifth or sixth in the lineup.
Junior Mark Barnes (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg H.S.) looks like the favorite for the starting job in right after being a spot starter in his first two years. Barnes played in 13 games this season as an outfielder and had an on-base percentage of .250 while going 3 for 21 (.143). He had one stolen base and scored two runs while fielding all eight of his defensive chances cleanly.
Senior Brian Forgione (Dunmore/Dunmore H.S.) will also see time in the outfield, although he’s going to miss the Florida trip due to his student-teaching obligations. Forgione appeared in 21 games last season and hit .130.
Freshman Tim Ronchi (Factoryville/Lackawanna Trail H.S.) was a starting split end and one of the top receivers on the MAC Commonwealth League champion Crusader football team last fall. He also appears like he’ll see some time in the outfield or on the mound this spring. Briggs has been impressed with his athleticism.
Sophomore John Kulp (Duncannon/Susquenita H.S.) and freshman Chad Miller (Lewisburg/Lewisburg H.S.) round out the outfielders and “will also get some innings down South,” according to Briggs.
THE PITCHERS
Berwager and Bowers head a pitching staff which returns all but two arms from last season.
Berwager led the team and finished fourth in the MAC in earned run average last year at 1.91, compiling a 3-3 record while striking out a team high 30 batters and walking just 15 in 47 innings. He will be the number-one starter in the rotation this season.
While he may still also start some games, Bowers is projected to become the team’s first true closer in years. He appeared in seven games last season – eventually becoming one of the team’s league starters in his five starts. He posted a team best 4-1 record, finishing third on the squad in earned run average at 1.93 while giving up just seven earned runs in 32 2/3 innings. He was second on the team in strikeouts with 26.
Bowers’ move to the bull pen should open the number-two starting job to hard-throwing senior left-hander Josh Shipton (Mifflinburg/Mifflinburg H.S.). A transfer last season after stints at both Division II Bloomsburg University and Division III power York (Pa.), the 5-11, 190-pound Shipton appeared in eight games – starting three. He went 2-3 with a team high two saves, giving up 18 earned runs in 28 innings of work for a 5.79 ERA. He struckout 14 in his first Crusader campaign.
The rest of the starting rotation will be largely untested in right-handers Quillian, Ronchi and Rogers.
Quillian actually led the team in earned-run average at 0.82 last season and won his two starts, including a victory over York. He should be the right off-speed compliment to the other power starters.
Sophomore right-hander John Jezorwski (Moosic/Riverside H.S.), Pahl and freshman Richmond round out the staff and could also be used as spot-starters, or mid-relievers. Jezorwski appeared in six games last season, but lost his only two decision. Pahl, meanwhile, threw in just one game, but one that one while giving up just two earned runs in four innings.
THE CATCHERS
Whoever is on the mound will benefit from sophomore Travis Zook (Belleville/Indian Valley H.S.) returning as the starting back stop. Zook came on to not only earn the team’s starting job at catcher, but also become the best defensive catcher in the league. He led a group of Crusader catchers who threw out 17 of 51 (.333) potential base stealers. Zook also fielded 100 of his 104 defensive chances cleanly for a .962 percentage. Offensively, he had an on-base percentage of .324 which included nine walks and being hit by a pitch twice. He was 11 for 57 at the plate (.193) with a double and eight runs batted in. He also had four stolen bases and scored seven runs.
Backing him up will be sophomore Jamie Troutman (Halifax/Halifax H.S.) and freshman Clay Nixon (Perrineville, N.J./The Peddie School). Because of the rigors of catching, Briggs expects either of them to see some time this season.
