The Third Edition...2005 Baseball Preview

The third edition of the Pirate Baseball program under Paul Belo will began on February 28th, 2005, when the Pirates open practice. Gone are four position players that saw regular time in 2004 and a senior pitching staff that earned time on the mound during last season’s 17-17 campaign. Arriving are ten new faces to go with 15 returning players, but the Pirates will rely heavily on senior captains Tyler Rubio, Brendan Dailey, Art Treutler and Ryan Wille to lead a team that returns just two starting pitchers and 6 letter winners.

Belo is encouraged by the positive strides his players have made and is confident nothing short of a winning mentality and attitude exists within the Pirate baseball program.  “Hard work, dedication and team chemistry lead to wins on the baseball field.” That is what third-year head coach Paul Belo is constantly teaching within his Pirate baseball program.  “As we continue to grow as a program, the past will become a distant memory and we’ll be a better team because of it. The players have really been receptive to the new direction and have developed unique team chemistry.  Belo and his staff spent most of the fall working on evaluating his talent.  “We challenged our guys this fall,” Belo said. “We challenged them to whole heartedly buy into what we are doing here. If they continue to work as hard and play as a team, they will see the benefits in the spring.”  When I first arrived in the summer of 2002, players believed they were entitled to play simply because they put there time in.  Today players have a greater understanding of the program’s philosophy.  The best nine, not the nine best play here.  We look for kids who can play as a team not individuals, and our athletes know that can change daily.  There is no animosity amongst teammates here.  Our players genuinely enjoy being around each other and playing together.  That’s a key to a long post-season”

The Catchers

The majority of the catching duties this spring will go to senior captain Ryan Schwartz.  Schwartz, who saw limited time, primarily as a DH in the spring of ‘04, will be a solid backstop. Belo is most impressed with Schwartz’s ability to handle pitchers in the fall.   Offensively, Schwartz has one job, “Get on base anyway he knows how.  Ryan is a very good bunter and base runner, he posses outstanding speed and will look to run for himself throughout the season.” Schwartz will be backed up by junior William Ershen.  Ershen, who has significantly improved his receiving and blocking skills behind the plate, will also be competing for the designated hitter position.

The Infielders

Seniors Mike Brown, Art Treutler, Scott Kerr and Dane Henning, from left to right respectively will look to fill our infield positions.  Brown and Treutler will look to change positions for the 2005 campaign. Treutler played a very solid defensive shortstop for the Pirates in the regional championship series and he is the only returnee who logged innings at each infield position.  “Art is extremely intelligent and possesses a game savvy, I am confident that he knows our system as well as anyone in the program.”  Brown and Treutler have both lettered as sophomores while Henning and Kerr played significant roles as juniors.  “Defensively this could be the finest team we have put out there.  Championship teams field at a .960 clip for the season.  This team has the capability of bettering that.”  Offensively Brown, Treutler and Henning all have pop in their bats.  Treutler and Brown have the ability to consistently hit gap to gap.  Henning can hit the long ball.  Kerr has developed sound hitting mechanics but must demonstrate a greater command of the strike zone.  Belo believes he can, “I love Scott’s aggressiveness at the plate, with a year of maturity under his belt I am confident he can contribute offensively.”

At the corners, Senior Max Muench and newcomers Tom Devero and Paul Buck will compete for playing time.  Muench and Buck impressed offensively in the fall and defensively are capable of playing any of the two corner positions.  Devero (left handed) has greatly improved his defensive skills at first base and offensively through out the summer delivered in the clutch.   Devero, a junior, is described as a “gamer” by Belo and is expected to be in the mix at first base.  Meunch, Buck and Devero are all legitimate designated hitter candidates.

The Outfielders

Patrolling the outfield for the Pirates in 2005 will be some familiar faces, primarily of the senior kind.  Five seniors will be competing for three spots.  Taking over for All-State centerfielder Aaron Newman (Northwestern) will be two time letter winner and University of Illinois-Chicago signee Tyler Rubio.  Rubio moves from right field to center, and offensively will lead the Pirates off. Ryan Wille, Kevin Connelly, Marcos Mendoza, and Brendan Daily will look to fill the spots to the right and left of Rubio.  Of the four remaining seniors Connelly logged the most innings of play last year with Wille and Daily playing solid defensively as the season progressed.  Mendoza will look to build upon his pinch/designated running role and impact the starting line-up.  “All four seniors have good range and strong accurate arms; it will be fun watching them compete.” 

Newcomers Andrew “Butch” Biela, a sophomore transfer from William Fremd High School, and juniors Joe Gervasi and Dustin Veternik are also expected to compete for one of the corner outfield positions. Biela is a five tool player and could hit in the middle of the Pirate order.  Gervasi and Veternik possess great speed, bat control and an ability to bunt.   All three players had excellent falls and Belo is expecting the underclassmen to be key contributors in multiple capacities.  

Utility Players

Rounding off possible playing candidates are juniors Matt Burke and Kevin Rossi.  Multi-position players Burke and Rossi are beginning to mature physically and have developed a higher level of athleticism and confidence.  “With time Matt and Kevin with time will confidently learn our system in detail and make a strong run at competing as underclassmen.”

The Pitching Staff

The Pirates return four starting pitchers from a year ago, only one, Junior Tom Devero, logged more than twenty-five varsity innings.  Also starting games were sophomore Joe Huenecke, and seniors Kevin Connelly and Paul Frost.  6’3” Left hander Devero and the 6’6” Huenecke, along with transfer Biela are all projected to be in the mix for starting roles.   Biela and Huenecke were dominant at times during the fall and will play a large role with high expectations in 2005. “Devero has the physical makeup to be one of the better pitchers in the conference.” Equally as impressive to the coaching staff during the fall, was senior Ryan Wille.  “Ryan’s confidence has grown by leaps and bounds, he believes he can make a huge contribution to our team as a two position player.”

Adding depth to the 2005 pitching staff will be senior lefthander Kevin Connelly, and junior lefthanders Dustin Veternik, Scott Balcer and Joe Gervasi.  Toeing the pitcher’s plate from the right side will be seniors Paul Frost and Tom Carbaugh.  “Paul performed very well in middle relief roles last year and Tom is still working on defining his arm slot.  It is expected that they both contribute above what they think they can if we are to be as successful as we aspire to be”