Lakeland Mirror

Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Brian Moser Brett Nelson dives into third base and checks home plate against Finlandia last season. The senior hit .372 with 20 RBIs and a .451 slugging percentage.

Media Credit: Brian Moser Shawn Loch drives the ball into the outfield against Marian last year. As a freshman, Loch set the school record for hit by pitch walks in a season with a painful eleven total on the year.

It's been five years since Lakeland's baseball team reached the NCAA Division III College World Series and finished fifth in the nation.

Since then, the team has seen two coaches fired and only a combined 28 wins, six less than they had during 2002's magical run to the World Series, the last two seasons.

For 2007, one of the guys who helped the Muskies reach the series in 2002 is back to lead them again.

Chris Thousand, an assistant coach for the last five years, was hired to replace John Govek after the team went 15-23 in 2006.

This year's team returns almost everyone and everything, except for its mentality.

"We've had to change the attitude a little bit since last year," said Thousand. "Everyone just sort of accepted losing."

Thousand will inherit a strong nucleus of players, losing only two everyday starters, shortstop Matt Ambriz, who transferred after a stellar freshman season, and catcher Matt Andrews, who became an assistant coach after finishing his four-year career with a .283 batting average, seven home runs and 55 runs batted in.

The Muskies also welcome back a pair of players who took a few seasons off in center fielder Tyler Schmitt and first basemen Brett Anschutz, who will both also see time on the mound.

Schmitt and Anschutz will add a lot of pop to an already strong offensive unit.

As a sophomore in 2004, Schmitt batted .425, which was good enough for second all-time for single season batting average, and Anschutz batted .306 as a junior two seasons ago.

His return will move sophomore Shawn Loch to right. Loch started every single game as a freshman, batting .268 and setting a single season record in hit by pitches with eleven.

Lakeland also will get Adam Hablewitz back after he sat out the entire 2006 season with a shoulder injury. Although he will not return to the mound, Hablewitz will start at second base, allowing Thousand to move sophomore Alex Grant to short to fill the void left behind by Ambriz.

Seniors Brett Nelson and Mitch Heinemeyer will look to repeat strong 2006 performances. Nelson led the team in hitting with a .372 average and Heinemeyer set a school record with 20 doubles and is looking at the possibility of reaching career school records in doubles and home runs.

Nelson, who started much of last season in left field, will move back to his natural position at catcher to replace Andrews.

"I feel right now that our offense is going to be our strength," said Thousand. "We feel we have a lot more ammo than most people think we do."

Offense may be the team's strength, but pitching may be an underlooked asset for the Muskies in 2007.

Senior Zach Schmitz and junior Nate Brusewitz will compete for the "ace" role. Schmitz posted a modest 3-4 record and 5.59 ERA but showed his potential by pitching a complete game win against eventual conference champion Edgewood. Brusewitz battled control issues last season, giving up 40 walks in 42 innings pitched on his way to a 3-5 record and 5.74 ERA.

"Having to develop leadership roles last year, Zach and Nate have grown up a lot," said Thousand, "and you can tell it's really helped them."

The biggest question mark for the pitching staff may be the health of Kris Saiberlich, who joined the team just after the start of the 2006 season. Saiberlich, also a guard on the basketball team, experienced a wrist injury during the basketball season which may keep him out of action this spring.

Saiberlich was the team's best pitcher last year, posting a 3-3 record and 2.72 ERA in seven appearances. However, his status is still uncertain for 2007.

Sophomore Dan Rhodes will likely move from an exclusive closer role to make a few starts while continuing to work out of the bullpen.

Although the team may be more talented than last season, the coaches of the Northern Athletics Conference placed Lakeland ninth in their preseason poll.

The conference may be tough, with nationally ranked Aurora joining the field with the merger for the 2007 season, but Thousand says the conference will find out soon enough what Lakeland has to offer.

"If you look at last year's team, we have a lot of different people on our team," said Thousand. "We're looking forward to the spring season and earning respect."

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