Millersville University Athletics

The 2008 Marauder baseball team has a mission: Win the PSAC East, win the PSAC, win the regional tournament and advance to the NCAA Division II World Series in Montgomery, Ala.

“Going to the D-II World Series may seem far-fetched to many people who have seen our record over the past three years (39-95-1),” says first-year head coach Jon Shehan. “There were many circumstances that were out of the players’ and coaches’ hands and devastating to our win-loss record. I think that most people will finally see major improvements on the field with this year’s team.

“Our players need to realize that winning a regional has happened to a team in our conference every season for the past decade. Going to Montgomery is realistic for every PSAC team. Our long-term mission on the field should be nothing less than going to the World Series.”
To accomplish that goal, the team must first make the PSAC playoffs for the first time since 2000. “We are a much more talented group than we were for the past two seasons. If we get our veterans to play to their potential and our young players to play with confidence, I think we should be in the mix for a playoff spot at the end of April.”

Shehan begins his first season as the Marauder head coach after Jeff Swarr resigned in June. With him comes first-year pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, Patrick Swift, first base coach Erik Supplee and student assistant, Jason Redman.

Shehan believes the young coaching staff is exactly what the Marauders need to build a championship caliber program. “Our coaches are young and motivated. All four of us have tasted winning at different levels and we fully expect to see rapid improvement this year and the years to follow. We will not settle for mediocrity on the field or in the classroom and our players know that.”

He credits much of his coaching and player development philosophies to the Atlanta Braves minor league system. “I was a selfish player in college and playing in a team-oriented, selfless environment was an eye opener. The Braves focus on developing character and unity in a winning environment and that is what I plan on doing here. Once players submit to their teammates and the people around them, execution and winning baseball games will fall into place.”

Coach Swift joins the staff as the Marauder pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. Swift spent the last three seasons as the pitching coach at Chowan University in North Carolina. “Swift is an excellent addition to our staff. His knowledge of pitching is already exceptional and his willingness to learn more is even more impressive. Swift’s aggressive mentality is exactly what our young pitching staff needs in order to improve,” Stated Shehan.

Erik Supplee comes to Millersville from Marist College where he pitched for four years. Supplee will be working with the Marauder outfielders as well as coaching first base. “Erik is a winner. You can tell that about him right away. He shows the confidence that we need to rub off on our players. He is already a great asset and is continuing to mature as a coach,” said Shehan.

Jason Redman also made the switch from player to coach in the past year. According to Shehan, he has done so with ease. “Jason will be a great coach at whatever level he chooses to work at. His ability to lead is impressive. He is detail oriented and does not accept failure.” Redman will work with the Marauder hitters.

The coaching staff is very optimistic about where the program is headed. “We may have the most untested pitching staff in the conference,” Swift said, “but from what I have seen, we have a group full of new faces that has a lot of potential.”

Pitching may become a strength for the Marauders in the very near future. The team had an ERA of 7.15 in 2007, but Shehan’s ’08 recruiting class featured eight pitchers, including the four who will compete for conference starting rolls. Essex Community College transfer Scott Lippa is the early favorite to become staff ace. Lippa’s fastball is above average for the PSAC and he mixes in three other pitches for strikes. Swift believes Lippa will have a big year for the Maruaders, “Lippa is a big strong kid, with a great arm. He has a work horse mentality and should be the leader of our staff. Our team will look to Scott to give us a chance to win every time he takes the hill.”

Ted Staruch should follow Lippa in the Marauder rotation. Ted comes from CCBC Catonsville, a very strong junior college program under the direction of Coach Dan Blue. Shehan and Swift are undecided about who will be their fourth and fifth conference starters, but said that it will come down to senior Brett Rhoads, freshman Zach Eckley and freshman Mike McMonagle.

“We know Brett can be successful in conference, but he could end up starting or closing depending on how our freshmen pitch early in the season,” Shehan said. Rhoads has been inconsistent as a starter over the past three years, but has very good stuff; he no-hit Mansfield in 2006.

The bullpen should be deeper in 2008. This year’s pen features veterans Ross Nicolini, Andrew Clemens, Forrest Mengle and Ryan Stauffer. All should see plenty of conference innings. Should Rhoads become a full-time starter, Clemens is Shehan’s other option to close out games, “Clemens is a bulldog. He will come after you with everything he has. I love his mentality.”

Defensively, the Marauders return junior middle infielders Andrew Dochterman at second base and Scott Slembecker at shortstop. Slembecker saw time at shortstop and third last year, but will most likely play everyday at short this year. “You always know what you’re going to get from Slem. He knows how to play the game hard.”

Freshman Ryan McCormick will compete with Dochterman for the second base job. McCormick and Dochterman are both above-average hitters who could also serve as DH. Redshirt freshman Derek Kline had an excellent fall, making the move from third base to first base, while protecting right fielder Brett Rhoads in the middle of the lineup. Shehan feels that Kline will be a run producer, stating, “If Kline hits up to his potential, he should put together a nice year. He is slowly maturing as player, and still needs lots of at bats to reach his ceiling height.”

Junior Lance Miller transferred in from rival Mansfield and should make an immediate offensive and defensive impact at third base. “Lance is a leader on and off the field,” says Shehan. “He has experienced success in our conference and is a consistent player offensively and defensively.”

Junior Cody Wile, a career .300 hitter, will compete with Miller for the spot at third. Wile could also see time as the DH.

The outfield may be the young Marauders’ strength. Leading hitter Corey Phelan, a sophomore, will most likely bat leadoff and roam center field. “Corey is a talented kid,” says Shehan. “He runs well, has an above average arm and hits in all counts. He should be able to make the move to the leadoff hole this season and cover a lot of ground in center field.”

Seniors Brett Rhoads and Enrique Arroyo will play right field and left field. Both Rhoads and Arroyo hope to return to their past form (both had career averages of over entering last year) “Brett and Enrique had off years last year,” Shehan says. “I’m excited to see what these two guys can do. They have worked harder this year and are motivated to prove themselves.” Rhoads will hit in the middle of the lineup and Enrique will most likely hit in the nine or two hole.

Shehan thinks that the catching position is one area that is undecided. Junior Bryan Stovall saw time behind the plate as well as in the DH hole and first base in 2007. Shehan thinks Bryan is one of the better hitters on the team, but has not won the job defensively. Stovall will compete with University of Pittsburgh transfer Miles Gallagher, a sophomore, and freshman Mikhael Hall for the starting job.

“All three catchers have improved a lot from the fall, but Gallagher seems to be the most consistent all-around player at this point. He is one of the best athletes on the team and will only improve as time goes on. Stovall is going to hit and has made a lot of progress with his defense. It will be interesting to see who wins the job.”

This year’s team is young and inexperienced, but much more talented than the past few years. Shehan is ready to get his young team on the field. “We are really looking forward to getting started this year,” he says. “Our players and our staff have a fresh, confident attitude and that is a credit to how hard our players have worked this off-season. We should see a lot of improvement. The bottom line is that our young guys need to get lots of innings on the mound and lots of at bats. Only time will tell how good this year’s club can be.”