TERRE HAUTE — Having begun his 19th season as Rose-Hulman’s baseball coach, Jeff Jenkins wasn’t sure what to think of his young team when it traveled to Florida for its annual spring trip last month.
But when the Engineers scored 79 runs — including a school-record-tying 15 in one inning against St. Vincent College on Feb. 25 — in compiling a 6-3 record, he came back with a smile and a positive opinion.
“We had so many question marks going into it,” Jenkins said after Saturday’s trip-ending 9-2 victory over York College. “We didn’t know what to expect.”
Rose, which finished 21-18 overall and 12-10 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference last season, will make its 2008 home debut Saturday. Games are scheduled against Illinois Wesleyan (11 a.m.) and University of Chicago (4 p.m.) at Art Nehf Field.
Missing will be 10 graduating seniors and one graduate student from last season.
Leading the offense so far has been sophomore catcher/designated hitter Keenan Long, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound transfer from Northwestern. He’s batting .486 with two home runs, three doubles, 15 runs batted in and 13 runs scored while playing errorless defense.
“He’s an intense competitor,” Jenkins said of Long. “He’s got good power. He’s jumped in and really taken off.”
Whenever Long starts at DH, Jenkins doesn’t hesitate to use senior Alex Decker (.375) behind the plate.
“We’re really happy with our catching,” the Engineers’ coach said. “We thought it could be a strength and it has been.”
Continuing around the infield, Jenkins is rotating left-handed Nathaniel Miles, a sophomore, and right-handed Reed Eason, a freshman and Rose-Hulman football player in the fall, at first base. Miles is hitting .385 and Eason .333.
“They both have a little pop in their bat,” Jenkins mentioned.
Junior Andrew Pinkstaff (.417) was scheduled to play often at second base, but Jenkins said he’s probably out for the season after injuring his knee while sliding home Friday. Sophomore Tim Tepe (.343, three homers, 17 RBIs) will continue to see plenty of action in the infield, probably more at second base now that Pinkstaff is unavailable.
“He hits the ball well and he can really turn the double play,” Jenkins said of Tepe, who batted .324 as a part-time starter last season.
Senior Michael Matsui, a significant contributor in the past, is likely to fill in at second when he’s not pitching, which gives Jenkins the option of moving Tepe to shortstop.
Also expected to play shortstop are sophomore Chandler Kent (.286) and freshman Kreigh Williams (.375). Williams broke his nose in January and only recently recovered.
Troy Eveslage, a sophomore, is penciled in at third base. “He can play second, short, third or any of the outfield spots,” Jenkins pointed out.
Kent also is capable of handling the hot corner.
Manning the outfield at various times have been sophomore Andrew Bilse (.414, 14 runs, center field), sophomore Kirk Thompson (.429, left or right field), senior Gabe Focke (.300, left field) and freshman Michael Kovacs (.389, 11 RBI, right field). Focke hit .351 as a frequent starter in 2006.
Jenkins described Kovacs as the Engineers’ fastest outfielder with the strongest arm among the outfielders.
“He can cover ground in the outfield,” Jenkins noted. “He can throw. We don’t steal too much, but if we do, he can run.”
Bilse usually bats first in the lineup.
“He really works the count well,” Jenkins assessed, “and he’s already hit two home runs.”
Jenkins said any number of players can start at DH, including Long, Thompson, Focke, Decker and Matsui.
Turning to the pitching staff, Jenkins named sophomore Derek Eitel (1-1, 3.14 earned-run average) of Marshall, Ill., senior Luis Bougrat (1-1) and Matsui (2-0, 2.45), all right-handers, as his main three starters. Bougrat ended up 5-1 last season.
Freshman Gannon Sadzeck, sophomore Nick Maloney and freshman Nick Rumpke, again all righties, also figure to start during busy weeks.
The tallest player on the team, 6-7 senior Sam Deters of Teutopolis, Ill., remains the Rose closer. In nine appearances, the right-hander is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA, nine strikeouts and two saves in 4.1 innings.
“We’ve got one of the best [NCAA Division III] closers in the country,” Jenkins emphasized. “He has been absolutely dominant. He throws it in the mid-80s [mph] and he’s got electric stuff. His ball moves.”
Senior righty Joe Valerioti is likely to handle some of the middle-inning relief duties.
Overall, Jenkins thinks his pitching can compete well in the HCAC when the conference part of Rose-Hulman’s season begins March 29 with a doubleheader at Manchester.
Speaking of the conference, Jenkins rattled off Mount St. Joseph, Transylvania, Anderson and Manchester as the favorites to win the championship.
“I think we could surprise some people this year,” he added.
Rose-Hulman baseball schedule
All times EST
Feb. 24 — St. John Fisher at Leesburg, Fla. (won 7-4)
Feb. 25 — St. Vincent at Leesburg, Fla. (lost 9-2 and won 19-4)
Feb. 26 — Emory & Henry at Sanford, Fla. (won 16-12)
Feb. 27 — Ohio Northern at Leesburg, Fla. (won 8-1)
Feb. 28 — John Carroll at Orlando, Fla. (won 7-5 and lost 10-5)
Feb. 29 — Johnson & Wales at Leesburg, Fla. (lost 7-6)
March 1 — York at Longwood, Fla. (won 9-2)
Saturday — Illinois Wesleyan, 11 a.m.
Saturday — U. of Chicago, 4 p.m.
Sunday — U. of Chicago, 11 a.m.
Sunday — Illinois Wesleyan, 4 p.m.
March 15 — Adrian, noon
March 16 — Adrian, 1 p.m.
March 22 — Robert Morris-Springfield, 1 p.m.
March 29 — at Manchester (2), noon
March 30 — at Manchester, 1 p.m.
April 1 — Franklin, 6 p.m.
April 2 — at DePauw, 4 p.m.
April 4 — Bluffton, 4 p.m.
April 5 — Bluffton (2), noon
April 8 — vs. Anderson at Indianapolis’ Victory Field, 6 p.m.
April 11 — Mount St. Joseph, 5 p.m.
April 12 — Mount St. Joseph, 6 p.m.
April 18 — at Defiance, 4 p.m.
April 19 — at Defiance, noon
April 22 — at Franklin, 4 p.m.
April 25 — Hanover, 7 p.m.
April 26 — Hanover (2), 1 p.m.
April 29 — Anderson, 6 p.m.
May 3 — at Transylvania (2), 1 p.m.
May 4 — at Transylvania, noon
May 8-10 — HCAC tournament at TBA
College Report
Young Engineers baseball team smiling after spring trip
- College Report
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Catching up as the school year winds down
Odds and ends from here and there as the school year quickly winds down. For starters, high jumper Nick Jaeger of Terre Haute South was named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s male track & field newcomer of the year:
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College Report: Lively earned collegiate upgrade with strong play
Hillary Lively signed to play Division II basketball at Maryville (Mo.) during her senior year at North Vermillion, but those plans changed and she would up at nearby Danville Area Community College — where she recently concluded an outstanding two-year career.
Lively was impressive enough to earn a Division I scholarship to Southeast Missouri State of the Ohio Valley Conference, and both her future and past college coaches think she will continue to succeed there.
“She fits what we need,” SEMO coach Ty Margenthaler said. “She has college experience, she is strong and physical and plays well around the basket and moves well.
“Her strength, rebounding and touch around the basket will be a big help. On the defensive end, she’ll be able to guard a true center.” -
COLLEGE REPORT: Valley prep athletes getting ready for next level
The NCAA “regular” signing period begins Wednesday for all sports except football, field hockey, soccer, track and field, cross country and men’s water polo.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Conferences honor Valley softball players
Several Wabash Valley area college softball players have been honored by their respective conferences for outstanding play this spring.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Jake Newton makes big impact for Lincoln Trail College
Jake Newton had a long time between playing in competitive basketball games, a span of about 18 months, and used the frustration from that long dry spell to produce a stellar freshman season for Lincoln Trail College this winter.
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COLLEGE REPORT: A.J. Reed earns SEC Player of the Week honors
After belting three home runs during a five games last week, Kentucky sophomore left-handed pitcher/first baseman A.J. Reed was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Spring newcomers making marks
Several freshman baseball and softball NCAA Division I players from the Wabash Valley have already made immediate impacts at their new schools, while others are waiting for their turns to shine.
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COLLEGE REPORT: A.J. Reed named third-team preseason baseball All-American
Two-way sophomore standout A.J. Reed was one of three University of Kentucky players named third-team preseason All-America by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Sponsler honored after big week for Wabash men's hoops
Wabash College freshman Ross Sponsler of Terre Haute North was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 6.
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COLLEGE REPORT: North grad Hughes finds success after facing preseason adversity
A.J. Hughes knew he was in for a battle as he competed with three other walk-on punters in the preseason for the lone starting job on the Virginia Tech football team.
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Etling, Meggs enjoying great year
It’s been a great year so far with more to come for a pair of longtime friends and St. Patrick’s School classmates.
Former Terre Haute resident Jack Meggs quarterbacked the Bellevue Wolverines football team to the Washington Class 3A state championship this fall, culminating with a 35-3 win over Sammamish Eastside Catholic — Bellevue’s fifth straight crown.
Danny Etling, meanwhile, has completed graduation requirements at Terre Haute South and is preparing for an upcoming high school all-star game and his first college classes in a couple of weeks. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Valley’s women’s college hoops players start strong
Several women’s college basketball players from the Wabash Valley have gotten off to good starts this season on the hardwood. Highlights:
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COLLEGE REPORT: Mayhew, Mascari provide fall highlights
Several dozen Wabash Valley athletes enjoyed successful fall seasons collegiately in cross country and tennis this year. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Former North teammates start strong in college
Former Terre Haute North teammates Ross Sponsler and Matt O’Leary made their college basketball debuts last week and had outstanding initial performances. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Shoemaker OBP leads Chisox farmhands
Former Indiana State, Olney Central and Northview baseball standout Brady Shoemaker opened a lot of eyes last summer in the Chicago White Sox farm system, earning him a spot on a mlb.com blog team that highlighted the team’s outstanding minor leaguers at each position.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Boeglin has plenty of ISU memories, but not all are related to basketball
Melanie Boeglin, an All-American who played on the women’s basketball team at Indiana State from 2002-2006, will be inducted into the 21st class of the Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday.
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COLLEGE REPORT: North grad leading DePauw volleyball in winning streak
DePauw’s volleyball team has won seven straight matches entering this weekend’s DePauw Invitational, including four straight wins last weekend to capture the Rose-Hulman invitational title.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Engle moving up football coaching ranks
Michael Engle graduated from DePauw University in the spring of 2011 with a degree in political science and future plans to advance his studies in law school.
Being a coach’s son and a competitive athlete by nature, Engle has put those plans on hold for now. -
COLLEGE REPORT: From Terre Haute South to Division I competition to coaching careers
Adriane Wunderlich and Katelyn Bishop both turned stellar high school careers at Terre Haute South into Division I collegiate careers at Indiana State and Southern California, respectively.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Former prep athletes getting ready for fall college season
An impressive total of at least 122 Wabash Valley athletes and coaches will be competing collegiately for the first time during the upcoming school year or have changed schools to continue their careers.
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COLLEGE REPORT: SP’s Boetjer is Indiana’s Miss Softball
South Putnam’s Brooke Boetjer, who will be a freshman on the Indiana University softball team next spring, was named the 2012 Indiana Miss Softball last month between games at the North/South All-Star games in Carmel.
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College report: North grad Mayhew is second team all-American at IU
Indiana University running standout Zach Mayhew of Terre Haute North was honored earlier this month as a second-team All-American by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
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College report: Bloomfield runner to join IUPUI track, cross country teams
Bloomfield track/cross country standout Julie Riggins will be joining the developing IUPUI program next fall as one of six incoming recruits.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Roberts takes coaching position at UNC-Greensboro
Terre Haute native Mike Roberts is continuing his climb up the college basketball coaching ladder, recently departing Rice for a spot as the associate head coach at North Carolina-Greensboro.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Valley grads playing role for No. 13 Vincennes
A few springtime odds and ends:
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COLLEGE REPORT: Shouse making his mark for Danville Community College
Derek Shouse definitely flew under the radar in his one season of playing for the Terre Haute South boys basketball team last winter.
Not highly recruited, he made his way to Danville Area Community College as a walk-on with the hopes he could find his way onto the court at some point. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Bullock finds sunny home to continue tennis career
Most college athletes progress along similar paths to get to their final destinations athletically, but Terre Haute South grad Taylor Bullock’s route to the Eckerd College women’s tennis team was a little different than most.
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COLLEGE REPORT: TH South QB entertains Division I offers
Danny Etling’s trek to being a big-time college quarterback took a huge step this week when the Terre Haute South junior picked up a scholarship offer from Purdue, according to 247sports.com.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Seibert stepping up her game
Terre Haute South grad Haley Seibert has seen the usual ups and downs of her freshman basketball season at Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne and is making the most of her opportunities this season.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Vikings Waters, Barton excited about college basketball
West Vigo grad Lauren Dailey helped the Lady Vikings basketball program to a lot of success at the end of the 1990s, and went on to play for Eastern Illinois from 2001-2004.
- More College Report Headlines
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Catching up as the school year winds down
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