Oilers Picked to Place 6th
2015 Preseason GLIAC Baseball Poll
The University of Findlay baseball team was picked to finish sixth in the North Division of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) as the league office unveiled their annual preseason poll on Feb. 11.
The Oilers received 17 points in the poll, five behind Northwood University, who was picked to finish fifth in the North Division. Grand Valley State University was tabbed as the early favorite to win the division as they accumulated 61 total points and 11 first place votes.
Ashland University was selected as the favorite in the South Division after recording 55 total points and seven first place votes. Lake Erie College was second with 49 points and three first place votes while Ohio Dominican University was third with 44 points and a pair of first place votes.
The 2015 edition of the Oilers baseball team features a strong group of young talent led by a few seniors who look to improve on solid careers. Head Coach Steve Parrill looks to improve on last year's 12-31 finish and hopes to do so by building a defensive brand of baseball. The Oilers, who finished tied for fifth in the GLIAC last season with a .953 fielding percentage, have built defensive depth at all positions with the acquisition of a capable freshman class and the development of key returners. With this improvement, the team expects to be a serious competitor in the newly devised GLIAC North.
The squad will need to replace a pair of All-GLIAC performers, Reid Rothenbuhler and Derek Draper, but return one of their more valuable assets from a season ago, senior Alex Williams. The right-handed pitcher, who garnered multiple post-season awards including honorable mention All-American from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, finished last season as the GLIAC's leader with a 1.70 earned run average, solidifying his role as one of the best closers in the league. Getting to the closer is an issue the Oilers have improved upon with the return of pitchers (listed by 2014 innings pitched) senior Jon Walker, sophomore A.J. Cecil, junior Mason Mayberry, junior Jake Ireland, and senior Collin Parrill. Also helping improve the Findlay pitching staff is the acquisition of sophomore transfer Austin Rodesky, who was 3-1 last season for Urbana, and freshmen Alexander Theiss, Anthony Ondrejcak, Colin Gossard, Reid Renollet, Josh Robinson, Eric Schrand and Pete Burkett, who will also compete for time at first base.
Offensively, the Oilers return three players who amassed at least 100 plate appearances last season: sophomore outfielder Logan Harrah, sophomore shortstop Kevin Schrock, and junior catcher Jordan Garcia. Senior Tyler Donaldson also returns in the outfield, but may see action at second base as well. Competing for the other spots in the outfield will be senior Jon Shollenberger, who missed last season due to injury, sophomore slugger Austin Adams, junior Kris Hayward, and freshman Josh Schwerer. Some players expected to earn more time this season include junior catcher/designated hitter Miguel Valdez, who hit .267 in limited time last year and junior infielder/designated hitter, Chase Goulette.
Click below for an interview with head coach Steve Parrill.