Tigers outlast opponents in slugfests

Vernon named GPAC and Region IV Player-of-the-Week

Andy Dygert
News Editor
April 22, 2004, Page 6

Windy days and energized players turned the Tiger baseball team’s games into sessions of home run derby this past week. The Tigers and their opponents combined to smash 26 long balls as the Tigers won three out of four games.
Both games against Concordia Sunday went into extra innings. The first game went to eleven innings, finally coming to a close when senior Marcus Schmidt hit a home run in the top of the eleventh and then Concordia left two runners on base in the bottom of the inning. The final score was 8-7.
“It was tiring but it was totally a team effort,” senior co-captain Bourke Bowen said. “They came back on us but we never believed we would lose the game.”
The second game of the day turned into an eight inning hitting duel. Doane came out on top 14-10 by sparking a four run rally in the top of the eighth and shutting down Concordia again in the bottom half of the inning.
The Tigers won their first game against Morningside in dramatic fashion on Saturday. After Morningside sunk the Tigers into a 6-2 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning, junior Eric Fuehrer gave life back to his team with two outs with a 3 run homer to make the score 6-5. Two straight doubles following Fuehrer’s hit tied the score. Then freshman Mitch Vernon stepped up and drove a towering hit over the left field scoreboard for a walk-off, game winning home run to make the final score 8-6.
“He (Vernon) is a young man who’s willing to do what he’s told and you can see the results,” Head Coach Jack Hudkins said.
Vernon, who hit two home runs during the game, explained what happened.
“My first two at bats I struck out on curve balls,” he said. “So I was looking for a curveball there at the end and he threw me one.”
In their celebration the Tigers appeared to forget that they had another game, and Morningside made them pay, run-ruling the Tigers by a score of 15-4 in six innings. Morningside walloped four bombs in the contest to walk away with the easy victory.
“I don’t understand it,” Hudkins said. “After coming back like that in the first game. They just embarrassed us as a team.”
Vernon was recognized as the Great Plains Athletic Conference and Region IV Player-of-the-Week after batting .579 over six games with five home runs and 14 RBI’s.
The Tigers’ next games start at 1 p.m. Saturday in Sioux Falls.

Baseball Photos

Jerrome Morgan
Photo Editor
April 15, 2004, Page 6

Freshman Mitch Vernon talks things over with a base runner. Vernon hit two home runs last night.

Senior David Wiggins hustles back to first base as the Johnson & Wales pitcher attempts to throw him out. Wiggins helped lead the team to two wins last night.

Baseball gets back on track with two big wins

Zach Meyer
Sports Editor
April 15, 2004, Page 6

The Tiger baseball team took advantage of fair weather and a slight breeze to win two games last night over Johnson & Wales University.
Doane started slow in the first game, but relied on home runs from junior Eric Fuehrer and freshman Mitch Vernon to finally shut down the Wildcats 9-2. The second game wasn’t even a contest as the Tigers blew out Johnson & Wales 17-0 in just five innings. Vernon added another home run in this contest, as did senior Brett Wobken.
Even though the games were not conference match ups, head coach Jack Hudkins felt the games had a lot of value considering the team had lost three of its last four coming into the match.
“This should be a real confidence booster for us,” Hudkins said.
The big wins allowed for many players, including several freshman, to come off the bench and see valuable playing time.
“The young kids stepped up and did well,” Hudkins said. “Freshman Mitch Vernon had two home runs tonight.”
The wins improve the Tigers to 18-8 overall and they remain 5-5 in the conference. They are looking to improve their conference record to ensure their chances of making the eight team conference tournament at the end of the season.
“There is no weak team in this conference this year,” Hudkins said. “It’s wide open.”
Hudkins emphasized that the team needs, at the very least, to split the rest of its double headers this year.
“But we don’t want splits,” Hudkins said. “We want sweeps.”
The Tigers will get back into conference action this weekend as they host Morningside in a double header beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
“When we hit the field, we just gotta be ready to play,” Hudkins said.

Baseball deserves more respect

Kiley Mackie
Staff Writer
Mar. 11, 2004, Page 4

The 26 men on the Doane College baseball team are no different than other athletes.
They train, run, sweat, bleed and play until every ounce of energy has been zapped from their bodies – and then they get up and do it again.
Yet one factor separates the team from others in the Doane athletic program. The players of America’s favorite pastime do it all in the midst of adversity from administration and fans.
Despite numerous victories, including a Great Plains Athletic Conference title two years ago, the team has continually been left to warm the bench. They get no respect.
The men often have to practice late at night because other sports are given precedence in using Fuhrer Field House. Players with 8 a.m. classes sometimes return to their rooms as late as 11:30 p.m. with three to four hours of homework to do before they can rest.
The players’ use of the Field House falls under attack when other teams accuse them of damaging the gym. In reality, the team has broken only one light fixture.
The complaints force team members to defend their use of a facility that is inadequate for baseball practice.
The caution required in the Field House hinders the team’s ability to practice the most elemental strategies of the game, such as hitting and fielding the ball.
Though warm weather may solve the problem of practicing inside, the outside option is not much better.
Baseball and softball are the only sports that lack designated practice and game areas on campus.
The teams must travel to Tuxedo Park to play on the slovenly kept city field with rudimentary stands.
The quality of the stands, however, is the least of the team’s concerns because the games are rarely attended by either students or faculty.
Inconvenient field location plays a big part in low fan attendance. The lack of media coverage also contributes to poor attendance. The fact that baseball games do not make money for the college may be part of the lack of respect.
Doane keeps spending money on building renovations and additions. Perhaps the administration should provide an on-campus field that would boost game attendance.
Baseball and softball players deserve more than the shaft they have been getting.
It’s time the Doane starts wising up to the facts.

Baseball opens with mixed results

Zach Meyer
Sports Editor
Mar. 11, 2004, Page 6

The Tiger baseball team have played four games this season, all against York College.
The Tigers split the first double header with the Panthers in York.
Yesterday, the Tigers hosted the Panthers at Tuxedo in the team’s home opener.
The Tigers had a rough start, losing the first game 10-2.
Senior pitcher Bourke Bowen took the loss for the Tigers. The Panthers out hit the Tigers 12-7 in the first game.
Temperatures dropped and both teams battled the wind as the second game featured less scoring.
The Tigers brought in two runs in the third inning, and went on to win 3-2.
Junior pitcher John Gadeken picked up the win for the Tigers. Gadeken struck out five batters and gave up only one earned run while pitching a complete game.
The Tigers record is now 2-2 after yesterday’s games.
The Tigers will be in action again at home at 1 p.m. on Friday to make up a postponed double header against Buena Vista College.

Experience will lead team in run at conference title

Jo Teeters
Managing Editor
Feb. 26, 2004, Page 4

After last year’s sixth place finish in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, the Doane College baseball team is ready for a good season.
Assistant Coach Joe Kellerby said that the team, despite practice setbacks from snow and mud, is ready to begin the season.
“It should be a pretty exciting year,” Kellerby said. “We have a team full of experienced seniors.”
Kellerby said that many of this year’s seniors were part of the team that won the GPAC tournament two years ago. Kellerby said that the combination of talent and experience of this class should aid the team in winning the conference title, the team’s goal for this year. Last season the Tigers were 14-26 overall and 11-15 in the conference and lost two straight in the GPAC tournament.
The team’s key returning seniors include third baseman Marcus Schmidt, first baseman Brett Wobkin, short stop and relief pitcher Brandon Noerrlinger, left fielder David Wiggins, second baseman Brett Sonday and pitcher Bourke Bowen.
Kellerby said that junior designated hitter and third baseman Eric Fuehrer will also be a key player.
Replacing last year’s catcher, John Rodriguez, will be sophomore Jerad McBride. Also joining the team are freshman Mitch Vernon, first baseman and a possible designated hitter, and freshman Chris Bombardier, who will fill in at shortstop when Noerrlinger is pitching.
Kellerby said that last year’s pitcher Jeremy Fries was supposed to return this year, but did not get his medical red shirt. Instead, he is helping coach this year’s pitchers, Kellerby said.
The team’s elected captains are Bowen, Noerrlinger and Schmidt.
While the starting line-up hasn’t been released, Kellerby said that it will combine the team’s strengths of speed and power in order to score more runs.
The snow and mud have kept the team from practicing outside so far this season. The team has been practicing in Fuhrer Field House, and has often practiced late at night because they have to share the Field House with other sports teams. So far, Kellerby said, the team members have handled the setbacks with good attitudes.
The Doane College baseball team was picked to finish eighth out of 13 in the preseason poll. Their first game will be held at 1 p.m. on Feb. 28 at York College since their original season opener against Colorado School of Mines was postponed because of the weather.