The name Saunches is well-known in Southern Illinois University baseball circles. Tom Saunches was an assistant coach for Itch Jones during the Saluki programs greatest years in the 1970s.
So, when Illinois State designated hitter--and Tom Saunches son--
Mike Saunches steps up to the plate for the Redbirds in this weekends four-game series at Abe Martin Field, the name might ring familiar.
If the son continues his heavy hitting, memories of dads coaching might vanish quickly. With a .404 average and 18 runs batted in in 12 Missouri Valley Conference play, Mike Saunches has been terrifying enemy pitching. He has seven doubles and three home runs among his 19 league hits, compiling a .745 slugging percentage and a .451 on-base average.
Mike has begun to mature as a hitter, said head coach
Jeff Stewart, whose Redbirds (13-15, 5-7 in the Valley) play a single game at 4:30 p.m. Friday, a doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday and a single game at 1 p.m. Sunday. He is listening to what his coaches and his teammates have to say about hitting and it has helped him perform at a higher level.
With continuing work, Stewart thinks Saunches could approach the level of Ryan Duncheon, another lefthanded power hitter who is Illinois States all-time home run leader and one of the best hitters in the history of the program.
When we signed Mike, we thought he would have R.D. (Duncheon) power potential, said Stewart. We still think he does, but Ryan became that kind of hitter because he spent hours on extra work, learned to be constructively critical of himself and was constantly searching for answers and making adjustments. Mike can develop the same way by becoming even more of a student of the game.
Actually, Saunches, the Valley Player of the Week last week, is part of a trio of Redbirds leading the Valley hitting charts. At .380 for the season, the sophomore trails only junior teammates
Jared Dufault (.410) and
Ryan Cantrell (.400) in Valley hitting. No other Valley hitter is above .365.
Any one of them could be the first Redbird player to lead the conference in hitting since Todd Schroeder in 1992. Stewart is enjoying their development, including Dufaults combination of power and speed which has him tied for third in career triples at ISU with 13.
Jared came to us as more of an all-or-nothing guy who had more power, but more strikeouts, said Stewart. Now, hes using his speed, driving the ball and becoming more of a well-rounded hitter.
He thinks the left-handed hitting Cantrell, who was a pitcher his freshman year at ISU, just needs more experience. The Normal Community High School graduate started the season hot, earning Valley Player of the Week honors in February.
Ryan needs more left-on-left work against lefthanded pitchers, said Stewart. Hes a little behind our other lefthanded hitters in that respect, but hes pretty special. Hes getting the job done for us.
ISU is hitting .314 as a team and is 7-4 since dropping all four games at Wichita State. The Salukis (13-20, 7-9) have struggled to stop opponents from scoring. Losing six of their last eight, SIU has allowed nine runs per game during that stretch.
Junior lefthander
Neal Cotts (4-1), among the nations leaders in strikeouts per inning and a two-time Valley Pitcher of the Week, takes the mound for ISU in Fridays first game with the Salukis. SIUs roster includes University High School graduate Jason Rainey, who is hitting .217 in 23 at bats this season.
