Junior shortstop K.R. Schlievert takes a cut.

The Wittenberg baseball team enters the 2005 season with the goal of returning to the top of the North Coast Athletic Conference West Division. Wittenberg's last championship was in 2002, but as they enter their first full year at Carleton Davidson Stadium, one of the finest baseball facilities in all of small college athletics, the Tigers expect to improve on last season's 21-15 overall record, which included a 9-7 mark in the NCAC West.

With the return of 22 letterwinners, the 2005 Tiger baseball team is deeper than ever. That depth, especially on the pitching staff, is a key to success for the Tigers. Leading the way are sluggers Jon Komperda (Bay Village, Ohio/ Bay), a second baseman, Matt Foster (Granville, Ohio, Granville), an outfielder/catcher, and K.R. Schlievert (Findlay, Ohio/ Findlay), a shortstop. Komperda (.441 average, 32 runs) and Foster (.327 average, 31 runs) posted excellent numbers at the plate while leading off and batting third respectively. Schlievert, the two-hole hitter who was among the team leaders in batting average as a freshman, overcame a slow start to post solid offensive numbers again in 2004, and he was also sterling in the field with a .936 fielding percentage and 143 assists while starting every game.

The Tiger pitching staff looks to be strong in 2005 with many of last year's top performers returning. Fifth-year senior Kurt Hartfelder (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) has finally recovered from Tommy John surgery in 2002, and he returns for his medical red-shirt season with hopes of getting back to the all-conference form he displayed as a sophomore. Joining Hartfelder, who made five appearances and one start in 2004, in a likely starting rotation are senior Ryan Goldschmidt (Ft. Loramie, Ohio/ Ft. Loramie) and juniors Steve Less (Sheffield, Ohio/Elyria Catholic) and Justin McCulla (St. Paris, Ohio/Graham). These three pitchers combined for 22 starts, 11 wins and 120 innings pitched in 2004.

Other returning players competing for time on the mound, either in the rotation or in the bullpen, are senior Wayne Massie (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh), juniors Tyler Jacobs (St. Paris, Ohio/Graham), Jason Holmberg (Miamisburg, Ohio/Kettering Alter) and Steve Leep (Springfield, Ohio/North), and sophomores Tyler McClain (Springfield, Ohio/North) and Trey Richardson (West Liberty, Ohio/Salem).

McCulla and senior Tom Pickering (Newark, Ohio/Catholic) will share duties at third base after for the second straight year, giving the Tigers plenty of experience at the hot corner. Junior Colby Albert (Springfield, Ohio/Northwestern) and freshman Tyler Christillo (Eaton, Ohio/Eaton) should see playing time in the utility role, backing up the middle infield positions, third base and the outfield. Rounding out the infield, junior Brian Hampp (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) is the returning starter at first base, but plenty of depth is available as sophomore Andrew Wellman (Huntington, W.Va./Huntington), who hit .333 and did not commit an error in 20 starts in right field a year ago, and junior Bret Wiseman (New Richmond, Ohio/New Richmond) will also compete for playing time.

Junior Matt Berry (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington), Foster and Welmman all return to the outfield, but a strong group of freshmen, including Tyler Curlis (Findlay, Ohio/ Findlay), Joel Puthoff (Russia, Ohio/Russia), Jon Fox (Urbana, Ohio/Urbana), Derek Bartkowiak (London, Ohio/London) and Ryan Cronk (Gahanna, Ohio/Lincoln) are hoping to get into the mix as well.

Multiple players will be battling for time at catcher, including Foster, junior Brad Koopman (Pleasant Hill, Ohio/Newton) and freshman Joey Spano (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe). Koopman has the most experience behind the plate after making six starts and 11 appearances a year ago.

The Tigers begin the season with a Spring Break trip to Port Charlotte, Fla. from March 5-11. They then return to play a very tough schedule, featuring national and regional powers Ohio Wesleyan, Wooster, Marietta, Thomas More and NAIA foe Cedarville. Playing a majority of the dates at home figures to be an advantage, however, as the Tigers have just four planned road dates.

Baseball Home Page