Wabash College’s baseball program has taken giant steps forward the last two years.
In 2007, the Little Giants defeated No. 1-ranked and undefeated Wooster, ending the Scots’ 27-game winning streak. This spring, they were in the North Coast Athletic Conference race until the final weekend when they lost three of four games to Wittenberg. Wabash finished 9-7 in conference action and 20-19 overall, its first 20-win season in five years.
Wabash’s progress is starting to show in recruiting. The most North/South All-Stars Cory Stevens had during his time at the Little Giant helm was two. This coming spring, four All-Stars — including recent Crawfordsville graduate Andrew Swart — will take the field for the Little Giants.
"That just shows the excitement we have in the program right now with the new stadium we are getting and coming off our great year last spring," Stevens said. "And it shows the effort of the assistant coaches going on the road to watch these individuals."
Joining Swart on the South All-Star team for the July 12 game at Notre Dame’s Frank Eck Stadium will be Bloomington South graduate Derek Bailey. Luke Zinsmaster, a recent graduate of Logansport High School, and Mishawaka Marian 2008 graduate Daniel Rancshaert are Wabash recruits playing for the North squad.
Zinsmaster and Swart both are pitchers. Rancshaert played first base for Mishawaka’s team that fell to Crawfordsville in the Class 3A Championship game. Bailey is an outfielder/first baseman.
Stevens said this year’s recruiting class is the best Wabash has had since this upcoming year’s senior class. Included in that recruiting class were Jake Thomas, Matt Dodaro, Andy Weeks, Joey Niezer and Mike Korfhagen, who was Wabash’s No. 1 pitcher through its conference series.
"We are extremely excited not only about the four who will be playing in the North/South All-Star game, but we have a number of great recruits," Stevens said. "We have guys we feel are going to fit our needs well. And with the guys we have returning, we are crossing our fingers that we are going to start something special."
Stevens said the process of getting the 2009 recruiting class started in the summer of their junior seasons. Stevens and assistant coaches Ryan Flynn and Mike Schultz would travel across the state and sometimes and on any day of the week could be in three different places.
Wabash graduated only one player — first baseman Shaun Rico — following the 2008 spring season. Stevens, however, said the returning players are not guaranteed a starting spot if they had one in the spring.
"We are going to play the best nine regardless of age," Stevens said. "We feel the returners’ job is to improve from where they were last year and the job of the coaching staff is to continue to try and bring in the best players every year."
The Little Giants return all their pitchers from last year’s team that finished with a 4.59 earned-run average. Keegan Leckrone led the way with his 1.50 ERA and 5-1 record. Brian Van Duyn returns for his sophomore season after having a 4-3 record his freshman campaign.
"Our pitchers did a great job last year, but as far as numbers we were a little on the small side," Stevens said. "We just hope with the guys we are bringing in and the guys we have coming back we are going to produce something special."
Stevens and his assistants haven’t stopped recruiting, either. They are on the road this summer looking to get their 2010 recruiting class. Stevens was at an Indiana Bulls showcase at St. Joseph’s College Tuesday. He was at Pendleton Heights Wednesday. He will then be at a Bulls’ Tournament Thursday through Sunday.
Wilson is the assistant sports editor at The Journal Review.