The Muhlenberg Weekly

Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: Sports

The Mules Baseball Team has high hopes for their 2007 campaign. Last year, they had three seniors and a pitching staff that lacked depth and experience. This year is different. This year they have nine seniors and a solid pitching staff that have both experience and depth. When you couple those two things, with the fact that the Mules will be returning eight out of the nine batters that helped the Mules break school records for runs in a season with 308, hits in a season with 438 and walks in a season with 175, it makes for what could be a great year.

The Mules will be returning all of their pitchers from last year with senior starting pitcher Eric Wolfer returning from Tommy John surgery, and they will be adding a few additional arms to the mix as well. Wolfer, who was tied for the team lead in wins in 2005, only made three appearances last year before exiting the season early and undergoing Tommy John surgery. Returning seniors Jason Bonder and Thomas McDonald, junior Paul Faith and sophomores Joe Barrese, Mike Misciagna and Chris Conti, all have extensive game experience from last year; some new additions include senior Dave Andrews, sophomores Matt Ordog and Brent Morris, as well as freshman Phil Cresta. The Mules may even have too many pitchers, if that's possible. Last year, Bonder was the ace of an overused starting staff that included McDonald, Barrese and Faith. Bonder pitched 67 innings last year, followed closely by Barrese and McDonald who hurled 52 innings each. Misciagna led the Mules with 17 appearances out of the bullpen. Bonder, McDonald, Barrese and Misciagna all had three wins each for the Mules.

With regards to position players, let's start with catcher. Last year, senior A.J. Bettini and junior Dan Asip split time behind the plate. Both proved themselves to be very reliable with Asip batting .329 on the year and Bettini throwing out almost 30% of potential base stealers. At first base, returning senior Mike Hart, who batted .333 last year even though he had a shoulder injury, appears poised to have a big year. Returning to second base and perhaps the most consistent Mule on the field will be senior Ryan Sassaman, who led the Mules in hits last season with 49, batted a sparkling .371 while stealing 15 out of 16 bases and played stellar defense.

With sophomore Brad Auerbach out for six to eight weeks due to wrist surgery, the Mules are left with many questions about shortstop. Senior Pete Oris, who was one of the top hitters in all of Division III last year, is returning to 3B/DH position. Oris was voted All Conference second team last season when he led the Mules in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, runs batted in, triples, home runs and total bases with .429, .696, .519, 41, 4, 5 and 78 respectively. He is also only 22 RBI away from breaking Muhlenberg's all time record. Senior Matt Block, who started at short most of last season, has been getting some looks at 3B this season. He could start at 3B if Oris switches to a full time DH. Block led the Mules in assists and walks last season with 22 and 106 respectively.

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