(
Peru, Neb.)- Peru State College (PSC) head baseball coach
Wayne Albury will begin his second season as the coach of the Bobcats. In their last season in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC), the Bobcats finished the season 11-9 in conference and 20-23-1 overall. The MCAC mark placed them third in the conference allowing the 'Cats to participate in the post-season tournament.
This will be the first season competing in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). The Bobcats will try to prove they deserve to be considered a top team in the HAAC this year along with Culver-Stockton College that finished with the best record last year.
In the MCAC last year, the Bobcat team finished in the top five of all major categories. The Bobcats were second in fielding percentage
(.954); third in batting average
(.305) and runs batted in per game
(4.98); and fourth in opponent's batting average
(.293) and batters struck out per game
(6.27). The Bobcat pitching staff ranked fourth in the MCAC with a 5.66 earned run average.
Key Losses
The Bobcats lost many key players from last year's team. Six members from last year were awarded honors from the MCAC.
Andre Kinder was the only Bobcat to receive All-MCAC First Team as a pitcher. Pitcher
Jon Sanley, first baseman
Matt Martin, second baseman Alejandro Gonzalez, outfielders
Patrick Knabe, and
Jonathan Castillo all received All-MCAC Second Team honors. Knabe was also named the MCAC's Gold Glove winner in right field. Castillo was awarded All-MCAC Tournament Team for his play during the conference tournament. Castillo is the only returner of those earning honors last year.
As Coach Albury knows, many newcomers will have to step up and compete this year. Albury also knows that there are returning leaders whom will push the team and said, “We are expecting great play from our seniors this year, and we will need some quality innings from our bullpen to be successful.”
Pitchers
Last year the pitching staff returned four starters, all of whom had quality experience from last season.
Will Scott (Sr. Defuniak Springs, Fla.), who threw for over 50 innings last year and earned himself a MCAC Player of the Week award, will lead this year's staff.
Bryan Duncan (Jr.
Seattle, Wash.), a transfer from Columbia Basin College, looks to be a strong number two pitcher this year. Competing for the third and fourth spot in the rotation will be
Tim Crawford (Sr.
Omaha), transfer
Austin Parker (Sr.
Brighton, Colo.), and transfer
Philip Lial (Jr.
Las Vegas, Nev.). Lial could also see playing time at third base.
The bullpen returns a lot of experience from a year ago.
Lincoln Mansch (Jr.
Missoula, Mont.), will be counted on heavily and
Tyler Osborn (So.
Tilden) will see considerable time out of the bullpen.
Ryan Grabowski (Jr.
Omaha) is expected to get quality innings.
Danny Borst (Jr.
Moreno Valley, Calif.) had a great fall and looks to get some innings as well.
Newcomers Tim Patterson (Fr.
Valdosta, Ga.) and
Jesse Gavin (So.
Bonifay, Fla.), along with
Brandon Howell (Fr.
Defuniak Springs, Fla.) and
Vince Ramos (Fr.
Bellevue), will each battle for innings as the season moves along.
Catchers
A few players for the Bobcats look to compete for playing time behind the plate this year.
Kyle Fredrickson (Sr.
Omaha) caught the majority of the games last year and is likely to be the probable starter for the Bobcats.
Gio Todaro (Jr.
Miami, Fla.) will be the number two catcher this year. Also looking for playing time this year will be
Jeremiah Dunn (Jr.
Eagle),
Kenny Bias (Fr.
Raymore, Mo.), and John Babic (Fr.
Omaha).
Infielders
Peru State will have a couple players at different positions this season, but has some depth at each position.
Randy Santiesteban (Fr.
Hialeah, Fla.) and
Jonathan Arche (Jr.
Miami, Fla.) will be competing for playing time at shortstop.
Gustavo Arcia (Sr.
Caracas, Venezuela) is an excellent defensive player. Arcia was the starting shortstop last season but will move to third this year. After losing second team All-MCAC second baseman Gonzalez,
Jeff Eubank (Sr.
Fort Pierce, Fla.) is the probable starter at second base this season and will hit third in the lineup.
Brenden Gentry (Sr.
Sallisaw, Okla.) brings a lot of experience and leadership to the infield this season and will be the starter at first base. James Thomason (Sr.
Holt, Fla.) is likely to see time at first and on the mound while also being the designated hitter for the Bobcats.
James Welty (Sr.
Omaha) can play multiple positions for the infield, thus becoming a valuable back-up for Peru State.
Jared Esquivel (So.
Falcon, Colo.), Michael Arango (So.
Davie, Fla.),
Michael Jacobson (Fr.
Omaha),
Riley Glasgow (So.
Oak Grove, Mo.) and
Patrick Bramhall (So.
Vermillion, Kan.) all look to see playing time this season as well.
Outfielders
With several returners and a few new faces, the Bobcat outfielders should be strong this season.
Jonathan Castillo (Sr.
Paterson, N.J.) will be the senior leader after being second team All-MCAC last year. Castillo is a very good base runner and will also hit lead off for the Bobcats.
Derek Voigt (Jr.
Auburn, Wash.), a transfer from Pierce College is likely to be the starter in right field.
Tyler Croushorn (So.
Omaha) will take over the duties in left field this season after the 'Cats lost second team All-MCAC and golden glove Knabe.
Other outfielders who will compete for playing time are
Aubrey Dezarn (So.
Las Vegas, Nev.). Dezarn is a solid outfielder and may see some time on the mound.
Mitch Roberts (Jr.
Blue Springs) is a very good base runner and valuable back-up for the Bobcats at all three outfield positions. In addition,
Darrick Ramaekers (Jr.
Columbus),
Dan McGonigle (Fr.
Blue Springs, Mo.), and
Ryan Perkins (Fr.
Omaha) look to help the Bobcats in the outfield this season.
Schedule
Depending on the weather, the Bobcats are to begin their season the first weekend of February, as they will travel to Shawnee, Okla. and Salina, Kan. to play Oklahoma Baptist University and Kansas Wesleyan University. The first home game is scheduled for February 20 as Dakota State University will travel to Peru to take on the Bobcats at the Centennial Complex. In addition, this year's spring break trip will consist of the team heading to the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. for a couple days during the first week of March.
Most of the teams' dates will be double-headers. The HAAC opens with the Bobcats traveling to Lamoni, Iowa, to take on Graceland University on March 17 for two seven-inning games. April 28 will be the last test for the Bobcats before the conference tournament as they travel to Marshall, Mo. to compete against Missouri Valley College for a scheduled double header.
Coach Albury Comments
Albury added, “The HAAC is a good conference to play in. Every year the teams compete to send a team to the national tournament. The Bobcats will try to show they can compete with the best. Our ultimate goal is to compete for a HAAC Championship.”
Coaches
Head Coach Wayne Albury - Albury came to Peru State College with 17 years of head coaching experience and an overall record of 511 wins and 360 loses. He previously held the head coaching position at four NAIA schools, including Lambuth (Tenn.) University, University of Rio Grande (Ohio), Union (Ky.) College and Pikeville (Ky.) College. He also served as head baseball coach and physical education teacher at Sonoraville High School in Sonoraville, Ga., and Bethlehem High School in Bonifay, Fla.
Albury was named the Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year in 2003, the same year he led his Lambuth Eagles team to a Mid-South Conference Championship and a third place finish in the Mid-South Regional Tournament. He was also honored as Coach of the Year in District 32 in 1994 and 1991 while at Union and Pikeville Colleges.
Some of Albury's other accomplishments include multiple milestones at Lambuth University where his teams reached the regional tournament seven times, including two runner-up finishes, two third-place finishes and a Region XI Championship in 2002. During the 2002 season, Albury led his championship team to the Mid-South Super Regional, recorded a school record 47 wins (breaking the 2001 record of 41 victories) and a top 12 national ranking in the NAIA. His collegiate teams have finished the season in the Top 20 six times.
As a player, Albury was an All-District 32 selection at Union College and a First-Team All-GJCAA selection at Andrew College. He holds a bachelor's degree in physical education and health from Union College and a master's degree in health, physical education and recreation from Morehead State University.
Assistant Coach Andy Davis - Coach Davis begins his fifth season as an assistant for the Bobcat baseball program. He continues to serve as the Bobcats' pitching coach and will work with the catchers.
A native of Boone, Iowa, Davis played baseball and was an all-conference and all-district performer. He was also selected as the Mid-Iowa Player of the Year as a pitcher. Following high school, Davis played two years of baseball at Hesston College in Hesston, Kan., where he was the Larks' ace of the pitching staff. He was selected as an all-region player.
Coach Davis played his next years of baseball at NCAA Division II Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan. As a Gorilla, Davis was a mid/long relief pitcher and was a MIAA Commissioners Academic Award recipient.
Davis also served as an assistant coach at Carl Junction High School in Carl Junction, Mo., primarily working with pitchers and catchers. He also spent a summer working at the Mickey Owen Baseball School in Miller, Mo., getting the opportunity to work with a number of college coaches and former professional players. For the past three summers, Coach Davis has been an assistant coach for the Joplin Outlaws in the M.I.N.K. league. During the summer of 2008, Davis served as the pitching coach for Dawgs summer baseball program in Alberta, Canada.
Coach Davis serves as an adjunct instructor in the College's Health and Physical Education Department. He also has facilities management responsibilities in the Al Wheeler Activity Center.
In 2011, Davis married his wife, Kristen. They reside in Peru.
Assistant Coach Mark Houck - Coach Houck begins his second season as a Bobcat assistant having served last year as a student assistant following a very successful two-year stint as a Bobcat baseball player. Houck is pursuing his master's degree in organizational management at PSC after having earned a sport management degree in 2010.
Houck is a native of Derby, New York, where he attended Lake Shore High School and was a three sport athlete in soccer, basketball, and baseball. He earned all-conference and All-Western New York honors in baseball.
After high school, Houck played for the nationally-ranked Erie Community College (N.Y.) Kats. Houck earned Western New York Athletic Conference and All-Region honors both years.
Coach Houck then transferred to Peru State College where he primarily played third base. During his two-year career as a Bobcat, Houck made his mark on the offensive side by finishing in the top five in several season and career categories. This includes having the highest on-base percentage season record by a Bobcat of statistics compiled since 2005.
Following the 2009 season, Houck was named to the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference First Team. For the 2009 year, Houck was named the male recipient of the Bert Swenson Award, a honor given to the top male athlete at PSC.
Coach Houck will primarily work with the outfielders and hitters in addition to helping with recruiting. He also has athletic game management and facility management responsibilities for the College.
Assistant Coach Ryan Lanpher - Lanpher enters his second year as an assistant baseball coach for the Bobcat baseball program. He recently completed his bachelor's degree in English education and graduated in December 2011. Lanpher plans to begin his master's program next fall.
A native of Blue Springs, Mo., Lanpher was a letter winner in baseball and football at Blue Springs High School. In addition, Lanpher played American Legion ball and was named twice to the All-Legion Team in the Kansas City metro area.
Lanpher began his collegiate career as a red-shirt at Missouri Western State University before transferring to nationally-ranked Maple Woods Community College in Kansas City, Mo. After playing two years at Maple Woods, Lanpher transferred to Peru State for his junior and senior seasons. Primarily, Lanpher was a catcher, but spent time at first base and on the mound.
At PSC, Lanpher was a MCAC Scholar-Athlete following the 2009 season and served as a team captain as a senior.
Recently, Lanpher coached a collegiate summer team in the Strike Zone Upper Deck League in Omaha.
Lanpher will primarily work with the catchers and hitters.
