2007 Outlook

Solid Returning Cast Bids for a Successful Season

Each and every year begins with old and new faces, fall practices, classes, study halls, plyo-metrics, pool workouts, weight training and most importantly the excitement and anticipation of knowing that the chance for a championship awaits those who play the best while overcoming any obstacles in the upcoming season.

These same challenges and goals await the Graceland Yellow-jackets when they take to the diamond to begin the 2007 campaign. The Blue and Gold return a solid cast of players to fill the roster and an able coaching staff that knows what sacrifices must be made to play for a conference championship.

Head coach Brady McKillip and his trusted assistants have the task of putting the puzzle pieces together while building a squad that will take the Jackets to the top of the Heart of America Conference.

With veterans at nearly every position, almost the entire pitching staff, and an abundance of talent backing them up, the Jackets seem to have the right mixture to compete day-in and day-out in one of the NAIA’s toughest conferences.

So it is with great enthusiasm that the Jackets enter the season looking to make a run at a conference title and a spot in postseason play.

“We don’t have a lot of power,” said head coach Brady McKillip. “What we do have is a lot of team speed and guys that are capable of using the entire ballpark.”

“We have also increased the strength of our early season schedule to help prepare us for our tough conference schedule.” “I think our players are mature enough to handle it and learn from any early season mistakes,” said McKillip.

First Base

First base is one position where the Jackets are limited in the amount of experience they have there. With last year’s starter gone, the Jackets will look to Senior Victor Tso and Sophomore Adam Shupe to fill the void with Red-Shirt Freshman Cesar Garrido also working to find a way into the line-up.

Although not what you would consider the prototypical first baseman, Tso proved this fall that he is more than capable at flashing some leather. The senior’s ability to scoop balls out of the dirt saved more than a few errors for the infield. With his solid glove in place, the Jackets are looking for the offensive production Tso showed this fall hitting .361 in 61 at bats with 11 RBI’s.

Not to be taken lightly is fellow first baseman Adam Shupe who played in 31 games in 2006 as a catcher and designated hitter, batting .234 with 6 doubles and 11 RBI’s.

After seeing adequate playing time as a freshman, and playing numerous positions including first base for Clarinda in the MINK League during the summer, Shupe knows that his time to shine is now.

Adding depth at first base is red-shirt freshman Cesar Garrido. “I like the talent we have at first base,” said McKillip. “Although we don’t have a lot of game experience; we do have two very capable players who give us versatility. If Tso starts, Shupe will be our DH. Shupe will also give us some opportunities behind the plate.”

Second Base

Returning to start at second base for the third straight season is three-time letter winner Aaron Fuller. After a 2006 season saw Aaron fill a big gap in starting more than half his games at shortstop in place of an injured Matt Calcagni, Fuller looks to settle back into his normal position providing solid play while trying to help the Jackets to postseason play for the first time since 2002.

Backing up at second is senior Kyle Finley who will also push for the starting position. Freshman Trevor Thomas will also be adding depth at second base.

“Aaron has been an outstanding second basemen for us here at Graceland, said McKillip. “He has proved it by being a 4 year starter. As one of the seniors on the team I expect him to be a strong force for us this season.”

Third Base

It’s not very often that you have a player who has started every game during their college career, but that’s exactly what returning senior third baseman Tyler Moe has done over his first three years.

Moe, who was selected to the All-Conference Team for a third straight year as Honorable Mention, was second with 49 hits, held a .331 average and drove in 27 runs. He also holds 1 career school record (Assists, 220) and is on pace to break 7 more this season.

Others that could see time at third this year are senior Matt Calcagni and incoming freshman Luis Moreno although they are more likely to work at shortstop.

Shortstop

Being strong up the middle is a staple of any good team, and for the third straight season Graceland is blessed to have veterans Aaron Fuller at second and shortstop Matt Calcagni returning. A second team All-Conference selection in 2006, Calcagni brings his team leading .379 average, 10 home runs, and school record 47 RBI’s back and hopes of breaking the school record of 14 home runs in a season. Blessed with outstanding power and 20 career home runs, he has a shot at breaking Graceland’s career record of 24 home runs held by former All-American Darrick Jones.

Lending depth will be incoming freshman Luis Moreno a talented prospect out of Mexico.

“Matt being in the line-up on an every day basis will be a big key to our success this season,” said McKillip. “Luis will give us the opportunity to DH Matt every now and then.”

Catcher

For the fourth consecutive year, the Jackets will enter the season with several catchers capable of fulfilling the job behind the plate. Led by senior Matt Proctor, junior Henry Duke who will likely see time in outfield as well, sophomore Adam Shupe and freshman Zach Stuart, this group will manage the pitching staff very effectively.

Proctor has served as the main catcher the past two seasons and looks to stake his claim as the starter in 2007. He brings 61 starts at catcher the past two seasons.

Shupe started 16 games at catcher last season as a true freshman. Henry Duke, who was the Jackets starting left fielder at the beginning of last season had an outstanding fall behind the plate throwing out 38% of the runners against him.

With this in mind, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see any of these three in the starting role on opening day.

Stuart will also try to crack the lineup as he learns to handle a pitching staff at the college level. “Proctor is our No. 1 catcher,” said McKillip. “He is an excellent receiver and can handle our pitchers. Of course, we have some amazing depth and experience behind the plate with Duke and Shupe. I like the way we shape up back there.”

Outfield

The outfield is a position where the Jackets may be as talented as any team in the country. With two full-time starters returning and a junior college transfer moving into the starting lineup, the Jackets should not lose a step.

Veteran Adrian Kerr, who starts in right field and has also started every game of his college career, returns for his senior campaign. With a career average of .320, 11 home runs and a school record of 64 stolen bases, Kerr, who holds 2 Graceland records is on pace to break 5 more this season.

Senior Rudy Vallejos, who started all 45 games in center field last season is back as well. Vallejos, (.314-11 DB, 14 SB) battled a foot injury all last season and summer while earning Rookie of the Year Honors for the London Badgers in the Inter-County Baseball League in Canada.

Junior college transfer Angel Suarez looks to man left field for the Jackets and take over the lead-off

Spot in the lineup. During the fall Suarez put up some impressive numbers hitting .431 and stealing 16 of 18 bags.

Junior outfielder Rafael Cedeno and sophomore Kulraj Shergill will battle for playing time and provide depth to the outfield. Junior catcher/utility man Henry Duke could also see adequate playing time in the outfield. Meanwhile freshman Ross Jones will red-shirt this season in hopes of replacing one of the two seniors currently in the outfield. “The outfield could be a lot of fun to watch this year with all the speed that they possess,” said McKillip. “And with that speed dispersed throughout the lineup, we should score a lot of runs.”

Pitchers

Although the Jackets have to replace last years No. 1 starter and their closer, they are still returning 88 percent of their wins and over 60 percent of their innings pitched and strikeouts.

Leading the way is junior right-hander Chris Hayes (4-5, 2.93 E.R.A.), who led the team in starts (10) and was second in innings pitched (55.1). A proven battler on the hill, Hayes is saddled with trying to provide leadership to a staff that returns ten arms.

High expectations are also expected from sophomore Luis Perales (7-1, 4.33 E.R.A.) who was selected as an Honorable Mention All-Conference Pitcher in 2006 and was unbeaten in conference play (7-0). With three quality pitches, Perales must continue to work hard if he is going to continue his success in the rotation.

Junior Kyle Palmer, who struggled with some control problems last season, is coming off an impressive fall that saw him post a K/BB ratio of 3:1 and looks to be a weekend starter for the Jackets.

Sophomore Matt Beckenhauer, who was second on the team in appearances (12) struggled in the second half of the season due to a back injury. He returns healthy to solidify the bullpen.

Senior right-hander Jason Bennett, who went 1-1 with a 5.59 E.R.A. and one complete game, made 4 starts while logging 19.1 innings returns as a mid-week starter.

Fellow senior John Stewart, also returns bringing the ability to work middle relief and see time as the closer.

Sophomores Kyle Moman, Kulraj Shergill and red-shirt freshman Glenn Burley also return to add depth to the Jackets staff. Sophomore Don Cox will miss this season due to Tommy John surgery on his right arm.

But perhaps the biggest impact will be felt with the addition of freshman hurler Daniel Laviolette and JC transfer lefty Tyler Wright. With a fastball in the upper eighties, Laviolette must harness the power in his gifted right arm and concentrate on the art of getting batters out in order to be successful as a starter or the Jackets closer. Wright a crafty lefty, had an impressive fall posting a 3.52 E.R.A. in 23 innings of work, will look to be in the weekend rotation.

Also coming in with solid credentials is sophomore transfer Anthony Carlo, who is one of the candidates to be the Jackets closer in 2007.

“Hayes is a battler on the hill and if he can be 100 percent he is the No. 1 pitcher,” said McKillip. “Perales is a solid No. 2 guy, while Palmer seems to have fixed his control problem and has a shot at the No. 3 spot. Wright has the inside track as the No. 4 starter and Laviolette is capable of working his way into one of the top four slots.”

“Bennett, Moman, and Beckenhauer can all be mid-week guys along with Stewart.”

“The closer role is wide open at the moment with Stewart, Carlo, and Laviolette as the leading candidates, while Beckenhauer can be a setup man along with Shergill.”

2007 Schedule

Graceland University head baseball coach Brady McKillip announced the 2007 schedule that includes 20 home games, highlighted by a mid-week double header against #10 nationally ranked Culver-Stockton, and a trip to the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn., to play Midland Lutheran, and Mount Marty. The rugged schedule also sees the Jackets play 20 games versus teams that made NAIA regionals in 2006 (Benedictine, Culver-Stockton, Grandview, Lindenwood, Midland Lutheran, Park, William Jewell and William Penn).

“This is one of the toughest schedules we have ever put together,” said McKillip. “You just look down the schedule and see names like Midland Lutheran, William Penn, Grandview, Park and of course the teams in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, and you know it will be very tough.”

“We were able to strengthen up the preseason portion of our schedule a bit to help us prepare for conference play. The tournament in Branson two weeks before the Lindenwood double header will give us a good idea of where we stand. There are always good teams down there.”

“It’s extremely important for us to get off to a good start in the conference as we play three of the first four double headers on the road, and playing host to the defending HAAC champions as our first conference home games doesn’t make our task any easier.”

“We also play 12 of our home games in March, so hopefully the weather will cooperate and give the fans a chance to come out and watch.”

The Jackets open the 2007 campaign Feb. 9-11 in the Metrodome and the 23-25 in Branson, MO at the Bobcat Classic. The Jackets then take to the road again on Mar. 17-20 to play in Springfield, MO; Bartlesville, OK; and Claremore, OK.

Graceland’s opponents in the Metrodome are Midland Lutheran University and Mount Marty University. They will face Rogers State University, Northwest Oklahoma University, College of the Ozarks and Culver-Stockton College in the Bobcat Classic.

Following their home opening double header against Briar Cliff University on March 3rd, the Jackets will again take to the road for a Friday afternoon double header against Park University and their conference opener in St. Charles, MO against Lindenwood University on Mar. 9-10, only to return home on the 11th and 13th for four non-conference home games versus Buena Vista University and Grandview College.

Conference play will pick back up on the 17th on the road against Evangel University, following the Jackets will travel into Oklahoma to play two double headers with Oklahoma Wesleyan University and Rogers State University on the 19th and 20th.

There is no rest for the wicked as the Jackets will make the long trip home to play host to conference foe Culver-Stockton College on the 21st and back on the road to play Missouri Valley College and William Woods University as spring break begins. They will return home on the 27th to play Central Methodist University and then travel to NCAA Division III Simpson College on the 28th.

As spring break draws to a close the Jackets will begin playing conference division home and home weekend series as they will host Baker University and travel to Baldwin City on the 31st of March and April 1st.

Over the final four weekends of April the Jackets will play home and home series with William Jewell, Benedictine, Mid-America and Avila and squeeze in a mid-week double header on April 10th at William Penn University.

The 2007 Conference Championship Series will take place May 4-6 on the campuses of two of the qualifying schools.

NAIA Regional action will run May 9-12 in St. Charles, MO. Super Regionals will be May 18-19 at campus sites. The NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, will be May 25th to June 1st.