The Principia College Baseball team wrapped up a disappointing 2008 season with a game at RobertMorrisCollege, in which a 7-0 Panther lead was nullified due to rain.The young Panther’s team played the last game of the season with a lot of heart and pride, busting out to a huge lead before the game was called by the umpires in the 4th inning.The team won 11 ballgames this season, which is the 4th highest win total in the school’s history since joining the SLIAC in 1991.Last year’s team won 14 games and this year’s team goal was to surpass the school record of 16 wins in a season.
“This has been a tough year for the guys, but I hope they have learned to value hard work, consistency, and a need for razor sharp focus.This was definitely a building year for the future.We are only losing one player to graduation and have a tremendous recruiting class coming in for 2009,” remarked Coach Pete Paciorek.With 17 of the 18 players returning next year and more than 10 new players joining the squad next fall, the team should be greatly improved.
The 2008 ballclub was filled with freshmen and other newcomers to the baseball program at almost every position on the field.Freshmen Spencer Brown, Matt Bowman, Jeff Strickland, and Justin Breaux were starters for the Panthers.Brown did an outstanding job defensively at shortstop and found his batting stroke during the last third of the season.He hit over .400 during the final 13 games of the season.Brown was named to the SLIAC All-Conference Team-Honorable Mention.Bowman played 3rd base for the team all season and led the team in RBI’s with 28 and homeruns with 5.Strickland played a solid left field and set a school record in doubles in a season with 12.Breaux started the majority of the games at either 2nd base or in the outfield and has developed a good approach at the plate.Along with these freshmen, we also had many other newcomers who continue to show great improvements.
The team’s top pitcher John Raffles will be a senior next year and looks to anchor a much improved pitching staff including:Kyle Johnson (3 wins), Justin Belote (3 wins), Jeff Ball, and Eric Lindstrom to go along with talented new incoming pitchers.
Senior Captain Louis Clough had a remarkable season.“Sweet Lou” broke the single season stolen base record of 18.He stole 21 bags on the year, 8 more than his previous career high.Clough led the team with a .380 batting average and attracted Major League scouts to see him play during the past two years from the following ballclubs:Oakland Athletics, Anaheim Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, and Atlanta Braves.Clough hopes to be the first player in Principia College Baseball history to go on to play professional baseball.
2007 Panther Baseball Year in Review
Great things are happening in the world of Principia College Baseball.The 2007 season was a special year for the Panther Baseball Team. The Panthers turned the corner as the baseball program nearly earned a SLIAC conference tournament berth for the first time since entering the SLIAC in 1991. It was an entire team effort as every single player stepped up their game and commitment to each other.
The members of the 2007 Panther Baseball squad can stand proud of their accomplishments, as they set the tone for a program that is now knocking on the door of the playoffs. We had seven invaluable seniors who graduated last year:Captain Josh Reesman, CJ Wilsnack, Mike Vernon, Micah Wolfe, Justin Wayne, Nick Brock, and Nash Whitney. All seven of these men were great teammates and leaders, who learned the importance of a group striving to accomplish a common goal.No one person on the 2007 team was greater than the collective whole, and that allowed the team to overcome past limitations in overall performance.
What last year’s Graduates are up to:
All seven of our baseball graduates are out in the workforce representing PrincipiaCollege well:
Josh Reesman is enjoying working in advertising for the “Village Voice” newspaper in New York and yes, he is still rooting for those Yankee bums. Last season he was co-MVP, and he also led the conference in hitting with a .410 average.
C.J Wilsnack was able to land a dream job working for the sporting goods and apparel company Under Armour. He too, is still a Yankee fan.Wilsnack threw the game of his life last year on the mound. He went the distance, beating conference powerhouse GreenvilleCollege for the first time in many years.
Mike Vernon is living in Colorado working for an innovative outdoor accessories company working on a new product line. Last year, he attended a professional tryout with the Kalamazoo Kings. He performed very well despite an injury that he was working through for his entire senior season. He is back to full strength and may take one more run at pro ball. Vernon roots for the Cards!
Micah Wolfe is married to his college sweetheart and they are living in Seattle. He is in the process of finding the right school district to teach elementary. Last year, Wolfe won the “Charlie Hustle” Award and the award has now been renamed after him:the “T-Dubs “ Award.Wolfe is a Sox fan.
Justin Wayne is working in the world of business, and for those who know JW, you know he is always thriving at what he does.JW was the team’s workhorse on the mound last season, accumulating 7 wins (the most in school history in a single season since joining the SLIAC in 1991).
Nick Brock received a job with Edward Jones immediately after graduation and is working very hard.Hard work and success is nothing new for him. Last season, Brock had his best offensive season of his career, but it was his stellar defense that had the greatest impact of the team’s success. Brock loves the Sox!
Nash Whitney is working as an engineer for G.E.He explained to me what he was doing exactly, but it was much too complex for me. Whitney was the blood and guts of the team last year, and his hard-nosed attitude earned him team co-MVP.At the end of last season, Whitney had a pro tryout with the Fort Worth Cats.He is from Texas, so you know he loves his Astros.
Quotes from Graduates
“After finishing my fourth year of PrincipiaCollege baseball, I really feel that the program is headed in the right direction. We have a coaching staff brimming with knowledge of the game and a valuable resource in Coach Paciorek, who has the right connections to develop athletes well beyond the collegiate level. I wish I was coming in as a freshman again; there is so much potential for this program.”
--Nick Brock—2007 Grad.
“Baseball at PrincipiaCollege has come a long way since I came here as a freshman. We were consistently the bottom of the conference and considered an easy victory for opposing teams. As a senior, our Panther squad was in and out of first place in the conference and ended on the edge of a conference tournament berth. The coaching has improved steadily and the talent that continues to flock to Principia is only growing. I am proud to call myself a Principia baseball alumni.”
--Josh Reesman—2007 Grad.
“Principia baseball has turned it around in 2007. It is now a program that rewards hard work and perseverance with wins and an attitude that has not been felt by players here for a long time.With a simple motto of ‘trusting the process’ of getting better and ‘taking care of the baseball,' Principia can continue its newfound route to success and respect in the SLIAC.”
--Nash Whitney 2007 Grad.
"PrincipiaCollege baseball is a special affair. Professional level coaching coupled with the desire for growth in grace lends this program to a unique, but highly effective learning experience. Growth is acknowledged both on and off the field of play as the qualities of leadership, honor, and teamwork are honed to perfection. For those aspiring for a successful career in baseball while still exemplifying the whole man, PrincipiaCollege is the place for you."
