TERRE HAUTE —
With Sean Manaea in the national spotlight, it’s easy to forget the small matter of Indiana State being the defending Missouri Valley Conference champion.
ISU tied for third in the 2013 MVC preseason poll – Missouri State is the favorite – but there is confidence ISU can defend its crown even though several players who played an important role in ISU’s MVC championship team have moved on.
“We’ve got a lot of new guys that are hard-working and really competitive. It’s going to take us a few weeks to find our identity. It won’t be like last year, but we’re confident and excited,” said ISU shortstop Tyler Wampler, referring to ISU’s 13-game winning streak in March that lifted the Sycamores to a 26-6 mark on April 7, 2012.
Catcher Jeremy Lucas – the 2012 MVC Player of the Year – was drafted by Cleveland. First baseman Jon Hedges ran out of eligibility (and became a father). Left fielder Kyle Burnam called it a career and is working for the university. Outfielder Lucas Hileman went on to become an all-MVFC punter for ISU’s football team.
Pitcher Dakota Bacus was drafted by Oakland. Pitchers Ryan Torgerson and Kyle Rupe left the program.
Lucas’ shoes are the biggest to fill and catcher is ISU’s least experienced position. Heller is excited about transfer Mike Fitzgerald, who will also play in the outfield. Taylor Shaw, a transfer from Southern Utah, figures into the mix as he tries to recover from a knee injury. Taylor Steen is a freshman who might play.
“It’s obviously going to be a question mark with the lack of experience. Our pitching staff is pretty talented and throws hard with good breaking stuff. They’d be tough to catch for an experienced guy. Getting these guys ready has been a lot of work, but they’ve stepped up to it,” ISU coach Rick Heller said.
Hedges’ role has to be filled at first base, but Heller is very high on freshman Jeff Zahn, who played at Castle, Robby Ort’s alma mater.
Ort, who has played right field and first base during his time at ISU, returns to his roots at second base. He was an infielder in high school.
“It’s been tough moving back. I played in high school, but it’s a lot different at the college level. Being away from it for three years, it took a while. Every day is getting better. It’s coming back to me,” said Ort, who was named to the Preseason All-MVC team as an outfielder.
Wampler, one of the best defensive shortstops in the MVC, returns for his third season. Koby Kraemer is also back, but due to an elbow injury, might not play regularly in the infield as he did in 2012.
Jordan Pearson, who can play several infield positions, is in the mix at third base, vacated by Ryan Walterhouse. So is Derek Hannahs, a Robinson, Ill., native and son of former ISU star Mitch Hannahs. He sat out 2012 after starting his career at Ohio State.
With Ort moving to the infield, two spots have to be filled in the outfield. Landon Curry will play center field full-time after splitting time there with Hileman during Curry’s freshman campaign.
Casey McCurdy returns and can play either left or right field. Jacob Hayes, a Terre Haute South star, who like Hannahs, returned to the Wabash Valley from Ohio State, is expected to play regularly in right with Fitzgerald. Owen Conway will also be an option.
ISU suffered a blow when Connor McClain, a candidate to play left field, broke his hand. He had surgery Monday
With Bacus, Torgerson and Rupe gone, Heller has work to do to build a rotation. Manaea will start on Friday’s. Heller expects Daniel Peterson to take Manaea’s former Saturday role.
“Since he’s been here, he’s dominated everybody. He throws strikes and he throws at the knees. The infielders love fielding behind him,” Manaea said.
The Sunday starter’s role will be developed during the nonconference season. Devin Moore, a former reliever, could earn the job. Heller said Moore has been impressive in preseason throwing. Jeff Degaro and Tyler Fehringer are also competing for the job. One of those guys could emerge as ISU’s mid-week starter, a role Rupe was very effective in last season.
Heller believes the bullpen will be deep. Former Terre Haute South star Josh Dove is expected to be the closer after transferring from Lincoln Trail College. Heller has been impressed with veteran Kurt Kudrecki, who slots into a set-up role. Tyler Pazik, Josh Negele and Tyler Browning are veterans who give the Sycamores options.
“I feel like it’s deeper than it was last year. I feel Josh Dove can give us a true closer. He’s been great for us in the fall and spring,” Heller said.
One of the biggest changes to the program has nothing to do with the roster at all. The outfield wall at Bob Warn Field is being rebuilt and will now have a modern, padded outfield fence.
There’s new dimensions as fences have been moved in. Warn Field will be 332 feet down each line, 372 feet to left and right field, 395 feet in the power alleys and 393 feet to center.
Heller knows defending ISU’s league title won’t be easy. Missouri State, who finished second to ISU in 2012, is the favorite and has their own pitching phenom – Nick Petree.
“I think we all know it’s not going to be easy. There’s teams with a lot more back than we do. Missouri State has almost everyone back. Wichita State wasn’t hurt that much in the draft. The team I think that has the most back is Illinois State,” Heller said. “I think what we’ve seen in scrimmages gives me a lot of hope we can beat anybody. It’s up to them to do the job, but I think they will.”
College
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Tap: Indiana State standout Rob Ort lays down bunts during indoor practice Monday.
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Tyler Wampler
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ISU baseball coach Rick Heller
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Rob Ort
Discussion
ISU hopes new contributors emerge to defend MVC title
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Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain
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ISU's Negele answers call in big way in wake of Manaea injury
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ISU baseball hoping Manaea can get its MVC Tournament moving in right direction
Indiana State’s baseball team has been waiting all season for its stars to align.
But this is the 2013 Sycamores, after all, and after a season in which seemingly little has gone right, it appears its stars will remain crossed at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. -
ISU track sending record 22 to postseason
On the heels of their thrilling double victory at the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships both the Indiana State men and women moved up in the national rankings which were released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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ISU's athletic treasure trove
Think of every championship that Indiana State has won in each of its sports, past and present. Think of every tournament — postseason or regular season — which the Sycamores have claimed as their own.
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Ort sets ISU RBI record in 16-7 win
Robby Ort celebrated his Indiana State baseball Senior Day on Saturday by becoming the Sycamores’ all-time leader in RBIs as ISU ended its regular season with a 16-7 win over Bradley at Bob Warn Field.
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Bradley ends 16-game MVC losing streak against ISU
Momentum was the only thing riding on Indiana State’s baseball game against Bradley on Friday. With a five-game winning streak going, ISU wanted to keep the good vibes going into next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
ISU couldn’t do it. -
Behind 16 hits and Manaea's pitching, ISU beats Bradley
Indiana State’s baseball team rode a wild ride of emotion on Thursday.
First came the public announcement that Bob Warn Field would host the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Later, Sean Manaea’s availability to pitch ISU’s series opener against Bradley was in doubt. -
Indiana State women add five transfers, including experienced D-I point guard
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Metro roundup: Woods softball takes seventh in national tournament
The St. Mary-of-the-Woods softball team finished seventh in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association softball tournament on Tuesday at Firestone Stadium.
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Metro Roundup: Indiana State’s Shakir Bell on Performance Awards watch list
College Football Performance Awards has announced its watch list for the 2013 CFPA FCS Running Back Award, and Indiana State’s Shakir Bell earned a spot on the list.
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ISU baseball team builds on success with 14-2 rout
Indiana State’s baseball victory over Alcorn State on Friday would take on more meaning Saturday if the Sycamores could build momentum and pick up on the good work they did in Friday’s ninth-inning rally.
Mission accomplished.
The Sycamores were aggressive from the opening inning at the plate and starting pitcher Devin Moore gave them eight valuable and effective innings on the mound as ISU defeated Alcorn State 14-2 at Bob Warn Field.
“It was a really good experience for everybody. It felt great to finally come out here and put some things together. It’s also really nice when your offense puts a lot of runs on the board,” Moore said.
Moore’s eight innings of work were as valuable as gold to an ISU team that is short on quality arms due to injury and ineffectiveness. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning and one of the two runs he conceded was unearned. -
Johnson, Lyke win MVC titles for ISU
Indiana State’s Felisha Johnson and Maurice Lyke were both crowned Missouri Valley Conference champions on Saturday during the MVC Track and Field Championships at Drake University.
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ISU earns badly-needed win
Alcorn State’s baseball team might be ranked in the bottom 10 in RPI and Indiana State might have never lost to a Southwestern Athletic Conference team. So it wouldn’t appear that a quality win was in the offing when Alcorn State visited Bob Warn Field on Friday.
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ISU’s Mascari and Hope win MVC track & field titles
Indiana State produced two champions during the opening day of action in the Missouri Valley Conference track and field championships Friday at Drake. Freshman John Mascari, a Terre Haute native, won the men’s 10,000-meter race and Nicole Hope won the women’s pole vault for the second time in three seasons.
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ISU pole vault tradition continues with help from its author
Pole vault is track and field for the adrenaline junkie, Indiana State senior Nicole Hope proclaimed during a recent practice at Marks Field.
To catapult oneself about 14 feet into the air with a large $500 fiberglass pole on a daily basis is a risky endeavor.
“We have to be fearless. You can’t be afraid at all,” said Hope, who has also catapulted herself into the NCAA’s elite in the event, ranking 15th in the NCAA with her leap of 13-feet, 9 1/4. -
Sycamores searching for answers after seventh loss in eight games
These are the bad times for the Indiana State baseball team.
The will is there for the Sycamores to pull out of their worst slump of the season, but the results are not. The suffering continued on Wednesday at Bob Warn Field as Eastern Illinois defeated ISU 5-3. -
METRO ROUNDUP: ISU men's track picked first in MVC Championships, women second
The Indiana State men’s track team has won the last two Missouri Valley Conference outdoor championships, but the women have not stood on the top podium since 1999.
That may change this year, but the Sycamores will face some stiff competition in their quest for the championships. -
North grad Welker helps Whitson earn first NCAA bid as coach
Eastern Kentucky girls golf coach Mike Whitson, an alumnus of his employer, enjoyed his stay in Terre Haute as coach of Indiana State, where he started the women’s golf program.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman wins HCAC all-sports trophy
Rose-Hulman has won the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s all-sports trophy for the fifth time in the past six year, the league announced Monday.
Rose tallied 66.5 points for its finishes in 11 men’s sports, just ahead of Franklin with 66. Hanover was third with 53 points. -
METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman tennis falls in HCAC semifinal
Rose-Hulman’s hot streak in men’s tennis came to an end Saturday in the semifinal round of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament at the West Indy Racquet Club.
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Manaea fights off bad hip, wet weather to toss four innings
Mother Nature has been the bane of the Indiana State baseball team’s existence all season. Eight games wiped due to weather are a testament to that. So it was no surprise, though no less disappointing, when she didn’t deal Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea the greatest hand on Saturday as he tries to recover from a hip injury.
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ISU track enjoys big night at IU's Billy Hayes Invitational
The Indiana State Sycamores either won or finished as the top collegian in 12 events, led by the record-breaking performance of senior Brandon Pounds at the 2013 Billy Hayes Invitational Friday at Indiana University.
Pounds broke his own school record to win the men’s hammer throw. -
Lansing looking for more home games for next fall
Indiana State’s men’s basketball team is looking for a few good games.
Home games that is.
The Sycamores have filled in most of the blanks in their nonconference schedule, but as ever, ISU coach Greg Lansing would like to visit the friendly confines of Hulman Center a bit more often. -
Secret weapon: Kelsey Rosselli finishing Woods career with a bang
At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, reporting game results to the Tribune-Star after a win or a loss is not always a high priority.
So when one of its athletes enjoys an outstanding season, like senior Kelsey Rosselli is doing for the Pomeroys’ softball team in 2013, media publicity doesn’t always follow.
In fact, her efforts almost seem like a government secret.
Rosselli’s name might sound familiar to longtime Terre Haute softball followers because she was a standout for North High School, from where she graduated in 2009.
Since then, she’s helped The Woods finish runner-up in three straight U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national tournaments in 2010, 2011 and 2012. -
ISU baseball gets back into rhythm with victory
Baseball is a rhythm game. With contests every day or five times a week in the case of many college programs, you have the chance to build on success or wallow in a slump.
Mother Nature took that rhythm away from Indiana State’s team last week. After a 7-1 loss to Indiana on April 24, ISU was supposed to play a three-game series at Tennessee-Martin, but it was wiped out by rain.
So the rhythm was disturbed, but perhaps that wasn’t a bad thing.
ISU was in a five-game losing streak before its unintended vacation and the Sycamores made a move in the right direction Wednesday with a 7-0 win over DePauw at Bob Warn Field.
“It was a disappointing weekend. We went all the way down to Tennessee and didn’t get to play. We sat around in the hotel room. We came here and it was still raining. It was nice to get out and see some live pitching,” ISU center fielder Landon Curry said. -
Metro roundup: ISU hands out spring awards
The Indiana State University athletic community, along with family, friends and fans, paused Tuesday night to honor the spring sports teams at the Terre Haute Savings Bank Spring Sports Banquet.
Most of the ISU teams are still in competition with the baseball team having 13 games left of its regular-season schedule before beginning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament May 21, the softball team with just three games left of the docket this coming weekend against Southern Illinois and the track and field program with just one more meet before beginning its postseason events.
The ISU women’s golf team is the team that has ended at this time, with the group recording a sixth-place finish at the MVC championships one week ago. -
METRO ROUNDUP: Rose baseball wins another thriller
Rose-Hulman earned its third victory in its last at-bat in the last five days with a 6-5 win over Franklin in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball Tuesday night at Art Nehf Field.
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ISU relay teams enjoy strong day at Drake Relays
It was a day for the relay teams to shine at the 104th Drake Relays Saturday as four of the five Indiana State relay teams that competed ran times that put the team among the top five in school history for their respective events.
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