Baseball: Lots of new faces in Lion country

Tony Altobelli

The writing was on the wall for the Vanguard University baseball

team from last year’s 9-38 team. Score or lose.

The Lions hit a minuscule .247 last year, last in the Golden State

Athletic Conference by 70 points. Their 356 hits and 158 runs were also

last in the GSAC by wide margins.

But the times are changing for the Lions in 2001.

In seven games, Vanguard (4-3) is nearly already halfway to last

season’s total run production with 64 and with a .328 team batting

average, the game has a little more fun for Coach Kevin Kasper to watch.

“From top to bottom, there aren’t too many give-me outs in our

lineup,” Kasper said. “Our offense is pretty solid. We knew going into

this year we had to score more runs than last year, so that was an

emphasis in our recruiting.

With only seven players still on the team from last year, new faces

are making a major impact, but leading the offensive punch is returning

right fielder, junior Samuel Baeder.

Baeder, who led the Lions with a .314 batting average, has started the

2001 season hitting a whopping .600 (18 for 30) with three home runs and

15 RBIs. He had two home runs and 17 RBIs all of last year.

“Sam has just been knocking the cover off the ball for us,” Kasper

said. “He’ll be in the middle of our lineup and he’ll be asked upon to be

a major run producer for us.”

Joining Baeder in the heart of VU’s lineup will be junior first

baseman Andy Riddell. This year, Riddell is batting .357 with two home

runs and seven RBIs.

“He’s another guy with a lot of power in his swing,” Kasper said.

“We’re expecting him to put up some big numbers for us.”

Defensively, sophomore shortstop Matt Tisthammer (.333) anchors the

Lions’ infield, with second basemen Jeremy Isherwood (.370) and Brian

Davis, as well as third baseman T.J. Hara (.300) adding to the Lions’

den.

“Matt ranks right up there with any shortstop in the GSAC

defensively,” Kasper said. “Jeremy and Brian are platooning, and T.J.

brings some power to the gaps in our offense.”

Left field hosts two of the Lions’ top overall athletes, according to

Kasper.

Senior Anthony Walker (.385) and sophomore Chad Chop (.414) will not

only play in left for the Lions, both will see some quality innings on

the mound.

“If one is in left, the other will probably be on the mound,” Kasper

said of the duo. “If they both aren’t pitching, one will DH, while the

other plays in left. With their hitting capabilities, I’ve got to keep

both in the lineup.

Walker is 1-1 this year with a 4.57 ERA. He has struck out 19 over 17

1/3 innings, while walking only one.

“Pitching will be our X-factor this year,” Kasper said. “It’s a matter

of confidence at this point. The pitchers will need to step it up for our

team to be successful. We can’t continue to win games 14-11 all year

long.”

As far as conference goes, it’s anyone’s guess. “We could be battling

for a GSAC title or the GSAC cellar by the time this one comes to an

end,” Kasper said. “The conference has gotten stronger and not just by

one or two teams. Every team has improved. It’s there for the taking.”

Vanguard University Baseball

1 Bryan Davis 5-11 170 INF Jr.

3 Brendan Cotter 6-3 185 C Fr.

5 Marcus Harris 5-11 185 P/INF Fr.

6 Matt Tisthammer 6-1 185 INF So.

7 Timothy Jara 5-8 195 INF So.

8 Shane Lariba 5-8 208 OF Sr.

9 Kurtis Broderson 6-3 225 RHP Jr.

10 Jeremy Isherwood 6-1 190 INF Sr.

11 Todd Butler 5-10 180 RHP Fr.

12 Brian Wood 6-0 175 RHP So.

13 Tom Baeder 6-2 220 OF Fr.

14 Ryan Williams 6-2 190 RHP Sr.

16 Samuel Baeder 6-1 220 OF Jr.

20 Garold Shaffer 5-10 165 LHP Jr.

21 Chad Chop 6-3 215 P/OF So.

23 Josh Franco 6-0 170 RHP Fr.

24 Michael Bair 5-11 175 OF Jr.

25 Andy Riddell 6-4 225 INF Jr.

28 Anthony Walker 5-11 175 LHP Sr.

29 Bishop Griggs 6-4 235 LHP Fr.

30 P.J. McKaig 6-10 235 RHP So.

Coach: Kevin Kasper