Aug. 16, 2005
NORMAL, Ill.-- -
If success breeds success, then the Illinois State baseball team has a lot to look forward to in 2006, as four Redbirds won summer league baseball championships recently. Jay Molina, Kris Jenkins, Ryan Anetsberger and Matt Bolt were members of championship squads while several other players competed in leagues also.
Head coach Jim Brownlee stressed the importance of playing summer baseball.
"The summer teams give the guys a chance to play every day with wood bats and give them a feel of what it would be like to be a professional," said Brownlee. "It also gives them time to work on their weaknesses and develop their game, without having to deal with the pressure of winning in league play."
Molina earned tournament co-MVP honors for the Quincy Gems of the Central Illinois Collegiate League (CICL), who won this year's title. Molina batted .315 with four homeruns and 41 RBI's while splitting time at catcher and in the outfield for Quincy.
Redbirds Kyle O'Brien, Eric Theisen and Dan Frega also competed in the CICL, all with the Twin City Stars. Theisen earned CICL Pitcher of the Week honors during the last week of July, finishing with a 2-6 six mark with 47 strikeouts. Frega also pitched well for the Stars, posting a 4-4 record with 45 strikeouts. O'Brien was limited due to injury, but started in all 24 games he played.
Jenkins traveled to Texas to play his summer baseball and the trip seems well worth it. Jenkins batted .274 with 40 hits and 15 stolen bases for the Texas Collegiate League champion Denton Outlaws.
Anetsberger and Bolt played together for Prairie Gravel of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League. Prairie Gravel competed in the National Baseball Congress World Series, winning the tournament in dramatic fashion for their first NBC title. Anetsberger, the tournament MVP, finished the year with a .376 average while leading the team in RBI's (18), slugging percentage (.561) and total bases (37). Bolt, the 2005 Illinois State MVP, hit .231 while tying for the team lead with 19 RBI's. Illinois State recruit Dan Sorce also played for Prairie Gravel, appearing in four games with a 1-0 record and a 2.70 ERA.
Redbird pitcher Luke Baughman also had a successful summer on the mound. Baughman, who played for the Brainerd Blue Thunder of the Northwoods League, was 5-2 with a 2.75 ERA in 17 games for Brainerd. He also recorded two complete games, with his last coming in the final game of the season, a five hit shutout win.
With many of his players having success this summer, Brownlee believes this year will be one to remember for the Redbirds.
"Everybody in the program is extremely excited about the direction ISU baseball is moving in," said Brownlee. "With so many players with experience returning and good crop of new recruits, there is a lot of optimism for this season. We have a great blend of pitching, hitting and defense and that could turn into a championship season if we stay focused and determined."
