Redbirds Set to Open 2010 Season at Riverview Inn Classic

Feb. 18, 2010

Coming off its most successful campaign in eight years, Illinois State opens the 2010 season on the road Friday when the Redbirds travel to Clarksville, Tenn., for the Riverview Inn Classic hosted by Austin Peay.

The Redbirds open the three-day event at Raymond C. Hand Park against the tournament host Friday at 3 p.m., before meeting up with Iowa on Saturday at 11 a.m. Illinois State will face Austin Peay again on Sunday in the tournament's finale. Ryan Camp (Fri.), Ryan Copeland (Sat.) and Corey Maines (Sun.) will likely serve as Illinois State's starting pitchers for the weekend.
Illinois State was picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference by the league's coaches - the highest preseason expectation for the program since 2004.

Leading Off
• Illinois State's Mark Kingston will make his collegiate head coaching debut when the Redbirds match-up with Austin Peay Friday. Kingston amassed 500 wins in 13 seasons as an assistant coach and helped guide eight teams to the NCAA Tournament.

• Illinois State returns seven position players and its entire weekend rotation from a team that earned the program's first winning season and State Farm MVC Tournament berth since 2001. Fourteen newcomers also enter the fold for ISU.

• This weekend's tournament marks the first of 15 road games for the Redbirds to start the 2010 season. It will also be the first of three trips to the Volunteer State for ISU.

 

Last Time Out
Illinois State's 2009 season ended on the eve of the State Farm MVC Tournament championship game as the Redbirds were shutout by tourney host and eventual champion, Wichita State, 4-0.

The Opponent: Austin Peay
• The Austin Peay is located in Clarksville, Tenn., and has an enrollment of 10,188. The Governors are members of the Ohio Valley Conference.
• The Governors return nine position starters and five pitchers from a team that finished 22-30 last season. Austin Peay was predicted to finish eighth in the league's preseason coaches poll. The 2010 Governors should be a motivated crew after seeing a streak of 10 consecutive OVC Tournament appearances end last season when the team finished 7-12 in league play.
• Austin Peay is coached by Gary McClure (Austin Peay '86), in his 23rd season. McClure has amassed 650 career wins (650-603-4) in his years as a head coach, all at his alma mater.

The Opponent: Austin Peay-Illinois State Series History
Austin Peay leads the all-time series 12-7. The two teams last met in 2008 when the Governors survived a three-run ninth inning to top the Redbirds, 9-6, in the final game of the Austin Peay Classic. It was the only loss of that year's tournament for ISU and current Redbirds Ryan Copeland and Kevin Tokarski were named to the all-tournament team.

The Opponent: More or Less, Five the Magic Number for APSU
Austin Peay was victorious in just one game last season when scoring less than five runs, going 1-18 (.052). When scoring more than five runs, the Governors posted a 19-9 (.678) mark. Last year's Governors were a game under .500 (2-3) when scoring exactly five runs.

The Opponent: Iowa Hawkeyes
• The University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and has an enrollment of 30,328. The Hawkeyes are members of the Big Ten Conference.
• The Hawkeyes return six starters and nine pitchers from a team that finished 16-35 last season. Iowa was picked to finish 10th in the 10-team conference by Yahoo! Sports College baseball and was predicted to finish eighth in the league by Baseball America. Iowa welcomes 10 newcomers to the team.
• Iowa is coached by Jack Dahm, in his seventh season with Iowa and 17th season as a collegiate head coach (423-464-2). Dahm is 4-5 at Iowa against the Redbirds, but has seen Illinois State numerous times after previously serving as the head coach at Missouri Valley Conference-foe Creighton for 10 years.
• Iowa assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Ryan Brownlee is the son of former Redbird head coach Jim Brownlee and the brother of former Illinois State assistant coach Tim Brownlee.

The Opponent: Iowa-Illinois State Series History
Illinois State and Iowa have met 17 times, with the Redbirds holding a slight 10-7 edge in the series. The Redbirds defeated Iowa on April Fools Day, 9-6, last season at Duffy Bass Field. Corey Maines, who picked up his fifth win of the season, and Ryan Copeland both saw rare mid-week action during that game due to cancellations the previous weekend. Illinois State also won the meeting between the schools in Iowa City, April 2, 2008, by a margin of 7-6. The first meeting between the schools was in 1975.

The Opponent: Iowa's Southpaw Slump
The Hawkeyes will be hoping their luck against lefties has changed in the off-season as they will likely see Illinois State's left-handed senior Ryan Copeland in Saturday's game. Iowa was 2-13 (.134) against left-handed starters in 2009. Additionally, Copeland is one of the stingiest southpaws they'll see with 34 walks issued in 250.1 career innings. He has also limited opponents to a .275 batting average over three seasons, including a career-best .246 last season. The Redbirds will likely see sophomore lefty Jarred Hippin, and at 6-10 (.375) in 2009, had their own trouble against left-handed starters.

ISU's Friday Starter: RHP Ryan Camp (6-3, 4.73 ERA)
Illinois State will send sophomore right-hander Ryan Camp to the mound against Austin Peay to start the 2010 season Friday afternoon. Camp didn't shy away from the challenge when inserted as the team's Friday night starter as a freshman in 2009, posting a 6-3 record and 4.73 ERA in 13 games. Camp only got better once the difficult Missouri Valley Conference season started limiting opposing hitters to a .234 batting average and led the Redbirds to their first win on the road at Wichita State since 1995. Illinois State was 6-2 in Camp's Valley starts, not including a win over Indiana State in the State Farm MVC Tournament - the team's first tourney win since 2001. Camp was named Missouri Valley All-Conference honorable mention before being tabbed as the starter for the Clark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League in the 2009 Joe Branzell All-Star Game last summer.

ISU's Saturday Starter: LHP Ryan Copeland (4-5, 3.63 ERA)
Senior left-handed pitcher Ryan Copeland is the probable starter for the Redbirds on Saturday after holding down the No. 2 spot in the rotation last season. Despite his position in the order, Copeland is the leader of the pitching staff. He pounds the strike zone - led the nation in walks allowed per nine innings in 2008 - and uses movement to keep hitters guessing - .246 opponent batting average in 2009. Copeland was fifth in the country with six complete games last season, including three to start the 2009 campaign (2-1, 0.89 ERA). The Redbirds are hoping a talent infusion in the bullpen will keep Copeland from having to go the distance in as many games, but the team knows he can eat innings with great success (Valley leading 1.08 WHIP in 2009).

ISU's Sunday Starter: RHP Corey Maines (6-5, 4.26 ERA)
Junior right-handed pitcher Corey Maines is the likely starter in Sunday's tournament finale for Illinois State. Maines spent the first two years of his Redbird career as a two-way player, playing in the outfield when not on the mound, but will make the shift to full-time pitching duty only in 2010. The Houston, Texas, native finished the 2009 season tied for the team lead with six wins while making a team-best 14 starts. Maines was dazzling at times, striking out a career-best 10 batters in his start against Evansville (3/22) and struck out five or more batters in nine starts. Maines more than doubled his strikeout total - 26 in 2008 to 69 in 2009 - while keeping his walks allowed nearly the same - 21 in 2008 to 29 in 2009. Maines also dropped his opponent batting average from .323 in 2008 to .265 in 2009. It'd be hard for Maines to make similar jumps in 2010, but the coaching staff believes the move to pitching only will be a positive.

Redbirds Predicted to Finish Fourth in Valley Coaches' Poll
The Illinois State baseball team received its highest preseason, Missouri Valley Conference ranking since 2004 as the Redbirds were tabbed as the No. 4 team in the league, according to the coaches' poll. Illinois State received 38 points in the poll and was slated to finish behind Wichita State (57), Missouri State (52) and Creighton (50) - grouped tightly at the top of the rankings. Wichita State, the defending State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament champion, received seven of the possible eight first place votes. Creighton received the other first place vote. Southern Illinois (33), Indiana State (29), Evansville (16) and Bradley (13) were picked to finish behind ISU.

School (First Place Votes) Points
1. Wichita State (7) 57
2. Missouri State 52
3. Creighton (1) 50
4. Illinois State 38
5. Southern Illinois 33
6. Indiana State 29
7. Evansville 16
8. Bradley 13

Redbirds Establish New Mark for Academic Excellence
The Illinois State baseball team posted a 3.1 grade-point average (GPA) and landed 24 student-athletes on the AFNI Athletics Honor Roll during the fall semester, setting the highest single-semester mark by the program. Freshman outfielder Chad Hinshaw earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during his first semester as a collegiate student-athlete and led the charge for the Redbirds to tie the previous baseball team record set during the fall 2006 semester. Redshirt Junior Ryan Court also turned in a strong semester and continues to lead the returning baseball Redbirds with a 3.77 cumulative GPA.

Illinois State Expecting Speed to be Better in 2010
This may not be Illinois State head coach Mark Kingston's 2001 Miami team that stole 228 bases and had four players with at least 30 steals, but it won't be the 55 steal Redbirds of 2009 either. Kevin Tokarski (33 steals as a freshman in 2008) is back on the diamond after missing last season with a wrist injury and the Redbirds welcome Ty Wiesemeyer (30 steals at Heartland Community College in 2009), Brett Kay (20 steals and eight triples as a senior) and Chad Hinshaw (34 steals as a senior). Tyler McNeely (12 steals last season) may also get the green light more often.

Supporting Cast Arrives in Illinois State Bullpen
The 2009 version of Illinois State bullpen was essentially two-man show with Kyle Nelson and Jim Sajewich getting the majority of work when games were on the line. Both made at least 20 appearances and logged 33 innings or more. Junior right-handers Jake Wielebnicki and Matt Werderitch are back after undergoing ulnar transposition surgeries last season, and lefty specialist Kenny Long has dropped his arm angle in search of increased success. An assortment of new pitchers will add necessary depth. The Redbirds welcome six new pitchers, including junior college transfers Kasey Ourada and Cory Stonelake. and freshmen pitchers JD Learnard, Steve Maher. Brad Sorkin and Cam Verbeke. The coaches will also select mid-week starters from that crew.

Sajewich Nearing Career Appearance Record
Illinois State redshirt senior Jim Sajewich was called in from the bullpen a team-high 22 times last season and is approaching the career mark for appearances. Sajewich is currently tied with Kyle Zaleski (2001-04) for second all-time with 70 appearances. The Wheaton, Ill., native is 16 appearances behind former teammate and current leader Eric Theisen (2004-08), who appeared in 86 games during his career.

Redbirds Return Three All-Conference Performers
Ryan Camp, Ryan Court and Tyler McNeely were among five Redbirds to earn All-Missouri Valley Conference honors last season. Each player was named All-MVC Honorable Honorable Mention, while helping the Redbirds advance to their first State Farm MVC Tournament since 2001. The five honorees was the most for Illinois State since the Redbirds placed five on the 2006 All-Missouri Valley Conference teams.

Camp posted a 6-3 record and 4.73 ERA in 13 starts as a freshman. Camp went 3-2, with a team-best 4.39 ERA in eight Valley starts and limited opposing hitters to a .234 batting average in conference play. Court batted .323 overall and drove in 25 of his team-best 41 RBI during conference games. Court also led the Redbirds with 21 runs scored and a .443 on-base percentage in Valley games. McNeely finished the 2009 season with a team-best seven home runs and hit five of them in conference competition. He hit .305 in Valley games, much better than his .264 average for the entire season.

Court Named to Academic All-District V First Team
Illinois State third baseman Ryan Court was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District V First Team in 2009. Court was one of three Missouri Valley Conference players on the District V team.
Court, leads the baseball team with a 3.77 GPA in business teacher education. He was one of Illinois State's most productive offensive players after playing in just eight games in 2008. He has posted a 3.5 GPA or higher and landed on the AFNI Honor Roll in all seven of his semesters at Illinois State, and has twice posted a perfect 4.0 GPA in a semester.

Court Named MVC Player of the Week - (4/20/09)
The Redbirds earned two Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week honors in 2009, including one by Ryan Court on April 20. During the previous week, Court drove in seven runs and helped the Redbirds to a sweep of Northern Iowa April 17-18.
Court notched seven RBI in a doubleheader, including the deciding runs on a two-run home run in game two, to help Illinois State finish a series sweep over Northern Iowa at Riverfront Stadium. Court batted .421 (8-for-19) for the week and added three doubles for a total of four extra-base hits in five games. He led Illinois State in hits (8), RBI (8) and tied for the team lead in runs scored (6) and on-base percentage (.455) during the week.

Game-Changer Tokarksi Returns to Illinois State Lineup
It's tough to lose a player at any position, but the Redbirds were dealt a heavy blow when Kevin Tokarski couldn't take the field in 2009 while recovering from glove-hand wrist surgery. Tokarski earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America Honorable Mention honors and was tabbed as the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year after hitting .303 and swiping a school-record 32 bases in his 2008 debut season. Tokarski started every game at shortstop during his freshman season and was set to move to second base prior to the premature end to last year. He's slated as the starter at second base and the Redbirds will welcome his quick bat and game-changing speed back to the lineup.

'Birds Garner Dark Horse and Rising Stock Tags
Illinois State was tagged as the Valley's "dark horse" in College Baseball Today's conference preview and were labeled the team with "rising stock" according to Yahoo! Sports College Baseball's MVC preview. Giddy-up!

Mirabal One of Valley's Best Behind the Dish
Sophomore catcher Matt Mirabal's .243 batting average may have kept him from garnering recognition on the Valley's Preseason All-Conference Team but a poll of league coaches by College Baseball Insider labeled him as the best defensive catcher and best catcher arm in the Valley. Mirabal threw out 15 would-be base stealers during the 2009 season. He was tabbed as one of the team's most improved players in a poll of his teammates prior to the start of the 2010 season.

Summer Catch...Minus the Bad Acting
Sophomore pitcher Ryan Camp, junior third baseman Ryan Court and junior college transfer Ty Wiesemeyer played together last summer in the Clark Griffith League, a wood-bat collegiate baseball summer league. The trio helped lead the Vienna Senators to a CGL title and Camp was named the CGL's top prospect according to Baseball America after also starting in the CGL's All-Star game. Camp went 5-0 with a 2.74 ERA in 13 appearances. He struck out 44 batters in 42.2 and limited opponents to a .210 batting average. Wiesemeyer was error free in 67 chances and batted .280. Court tied for the team lead with eight doubles and drove in 19 runs.

Kohli Enters 2010 With Team's Longest Active Hit Streak
Illinois State is hoping Evan Kohli can start the 2010 season the same way he finished the 2009 season - on a hot streak. Kohli's modest five-game hitting streak is the longest active hitting streak for the Redbirds. Anthony Ruffolo and Ryan Court both compiled team-best 10-game hitting streaks last season.

Draw a Walk, Keep the Baseball
When it comes to issuing walks, Illinois State pitcher Ryan Copeland is one of the stingiest in the nation. Copeland ranked No. 32 nationally last season with 1.47 walks per nine innings, after leading the nation with just nine walks surrendered in 89.1 innings in 2008. Last year, Copeland allowed 15 free passes - the most he'sever allowed in a season. Copeland has issued 34 base-on-balls in 250.1 career innings entering the 2010 campaign. Among pitchers with 50 innings or more, Copeland led the Missouri Valley Conference with a 1.08 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched).

Going the Distance
Illinois State left-hander Ryan Copeland threw a career-high six complete games last season, which tied for fifth among all NCAA Division I players. Among Copeland's complete games were two of the nine inning variety, one eight-inning and three seven-inning complete games. Copeland pitched six innings or more in each of his 12 starts and led the Missouri Valley Conference with an average of 7.18 innings per start.

A New Beginning
Mark Kingston was named Illinois State's ninth head coach last summer after compiling exactly 500 wins in 13 years as an assistant coach. Kingston helped lead Miami to a National Championship as an assistant in 2001 and reached the College World Series on two other occasions - as a player (UNC '89) and associate head coach (Tulane '05). Kingston was an assistant for Illinois State's offensive-record-setting 1999 team and helped re-energize the program as associate head coach last season.

In the Pros
Illinois State has six active players in professional baseball. Those players are: Jeremy Accardo (Toronto Blue Jays), Kyle Bloom (Pittsburgh Pirates), Neal Cotts (Chicago Cubs), Tyler Cox (Pittsburgh Pirates), Kevin Dubler (Chicago White Sox) and Matt Herges (Kansas City Royals). Accardo, Cotts and Herges all saw time in the Major Leagues last season. Kyle Bloom is the closest of the remaining group to getting the call after spending two successful seasons at Altoona (AA). Bloom was selected in the first round of the 2008 Rule Five Draft by the Detroit Tigers but was returned to Pittsburgh following Spring Training. He has a chance to make the Pirates' roster as a left-handed specialist.