WAYNE – As the sporting world began to see games and seasons being called off, the Wayne State College baseball team was just returning from their spring trip in Auburndale, Florida wanting to hustle back and get their field ready for a home weekend.
But as news spread rapidly, head coach Alex Koch and staff had to address the team that the rumors were becoming true.
The Wildcat baseball team went 2-3 during the RussMatt Invitational between March 8 – 11 capping off their season at 8-7.
Coach Koch was entering his sixth season leading the Wildcat baseball team. The coaching staff talked to the team in the lobby of the airport but at that time the Friday game with Northern State was still on.
“Because we had pulled into town about 6 o’clock, so we were going to get the field ready and get ready to go,” said Koch. “Then Mike Powicki (AD) called on the way back and informed me of what was going on. So, we kind of know about halfway back to Wayne what the deal was.”
While the team was on the flight back the NCAA basketball tournament was cancelled and the spring championships were called off.
The team has been hitting well all year and the coaching staff knew the pitching was going to come around with a lot of experience on the mound. WSC went 2-3 during their spring break games with wins over Grand Valley State (2-1/11 innings) and a non-conference win over a conference opponent of Northern State (8-0). Losses included to Tiffin of Ohio (5-1), Northwood of Michigan (9-4) and Ashland of Ohio (8-6).
Coach Koch added he was excited to get back from their Florida trip.
“Ashland was a World Series team last year,” Koch added. “We had a lead on them and played a tight game with them, then two other region teams that were in the regional last year. So, we played a lot of good competition and played some good games. We just had to put a few things together and it was starting to come together. It was kind of a bummer of coming back and not being able to play anymore.”
The 2020 season started the earliest it has ever done in program history with a January 31 game one in Cleburne Texas during the Alpine Fresh 4 HIM Baseball Classic.
Wayne State opened the season with wins over Newman University (8-6) and Southern Nazarene (10-4) but lost to Southern Arkansas (15-5) and Oklahoma Panhandle State (18-12) in Texas. After having an early February road trip cancelled, the team went 2-1 in their Southwest Baptist series in Bolivar, Mo (Feb. 16-17) before adding another 2-1 series win over Newman in Wichita, Kansas (Feb. 21-22).
With spring athletes gaining another year of eligibility, coach Koch mentioned next year’s roster could be on the upwards of 42 including over half of this year’s senior class.
“As of right now we’ve got I think seven of the 11 (seniors),” Koch mentioned. “I know there’s a couple for sure no’s; got to move on, got job opportunities and stuff like that. I’d say we’re going to have at least 70% of our seniors back.”
As student-athletes look to end their spring semester at WSC academically, coach Koch said they’re not asking a whole lot from the guys.
“We’ll have summer baseball too hopefully, guys going out playing collegiately,” said Koch. “Just kind of asking them to stay in shape so they can collegiately play in the summer.”
Leaders at the plate:
Junior Noah Roberts: batting average (.447) and on-base % (.571).
Junior Andrew Hanson: slugging % (.687); team’s lone triple; total bases (46); stolen bases (7 of 9) and at-bats (67).
Senior CJ Neumann: runs scored (16) and walks (18).
Senior Bryce Bisenius: RBIs (19) and HRs (seven).
Junior Alex Logelin: doubles (11) and total plate appearance (75).
Senior Brendan Madsen: hits (25) and batting average (2nd/.410).
Logelin, Hanson, Bisenius, Neumann and Madsen all started and appeared in all 15 games.
Pitching:
Sophomore Ryan Obrecht, sophomore Andrew Staebell and senior Hunter Wienhoff all recorded two wins.
Staebell: two saves; seven appearances (T-1st); six games finished and seven games in relief (T-1st).
Sophomore Ryan Petersen: seven appearances (T-1st) and seven games in relief (T-1st).
Wienhoff: 19 2/3 innings pitched (T-1st) and four starts (T-1st).
Senior Aidan Breedlove: 19 2/3 innings pitched (T-1st); 19 strikeouts and four starts (T-1st).