For the second year in a row, the Illinois State baseball team will begin its 2002 campaign with a three-game, season-opening series against the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky this weekend.
No strangers to each other, the Redbirds and Hilltoppers have met 10 times in the past four years, with each team winning five games a piece. Western Kentucky opened its season Feb. 8 with a three-game series versus Western Illinois and currently stands at 3-3 on the year with one game against Asbury to play Friday before the Birds roll into town for a doubleheader Saturday.
Head coach Jeff Stewart, entering his 14th season as the leader of the team, is excited about hitting the field this weekend.
We finally get to tee it up outside, said Stewart, regarding their first games of the season. Its nice to open up at a place like Western Kentucky. Joel Murrie is an Illinois native whos been a coach down there for years. We get treated especially fair and it will be a good experience no matter what..
Although the Redbirds lost star players to graduation and the draft, which included reigning Valley stikeout leader Neal Cotts, 2001 MVC batting champion Jared Dufault and 2001 all-MVC honorable mention Ed Tolzien, they do return a strong offensive lineup led by the Valleys top returning hitter Ryan Cantrell and preseason Collegiate Baseball All-America third team selection Mike Saunches.
Our biggest concerns are on the mound because of our lack of experience, not our lack of ability or the ability to compete, said Stewart. My hope is what well find is that all of our newcomers are great leaders when they have the ball in their hand and when they dont.
These games should help us to gauge where were at while also getting a chance to beat someone who is very well respected. Were really looking forward to it, added Stewart.
Cantrell ranked second on the team and Valley in 2001 with a .380 batting average and notched 16 doubles to lead the Redbirds. Saunches, who became just the second player in ISU baseball history to earn all-America honors since the program moved to D-I in 1971, led the team in homers (13), RBI (68) and slugging percentage (.621) last season. Cantrell sparkled at the plate gainst the Hilltoppers in last years series, after going 6-for-10 with two doubles, five runs scored, five walks and three RBI en route to being named the MVC Player of the Week.
With Cantrell the likely leadoff in the batting order, he will position himself defensively in right field. Joining him is senior Jake Perganson in right followed by Kevin ODell and Jeremy Pickrel sharing time at center.
Anchoring the infield for the Birds will be shortstop Jeremy Accardo and second baseman Scott Legan. Accardo played in all 53 games for ISU last year and started at shortstop all but one, contributing 133 assists while Legan was at second 43 games. Jon Peacock and Saunches will fight for first while Lance McMillan will be at third.
On the mound for Illinois State in the first game will be sophomore Todd Stein who earned experience last season making 12 appearances for the Birds. Junior Neil Johnson along with freshmen Kyle Zaleski, Kyle Bloom and Josh Shugart may also see pitching time over the weekend.
The Redbirds play their first game of three on Saturday at Noon.
