Indiana_State_Sycamores_baseball

Indiana State Sycamores baseball

Indiana State Sycamores baseball

University baseball program

The Indiana State Sycamores baseball team is the NCAA Division I baseball program of Indiana State University, located in Terre Haute, Indiana. It is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 2023. Their first season was 1896. The Sycamores have had 12 All-Americans, 26 Major Leaguers, and more than 2,070 victories. The team's most successful season was in 1986, when the team appeared in the College World Series and finished with a record of 48–21. The Sycamores have appeared in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 1979, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2021, and 2023.

Quick Facts Founded, University ...

They appeared in the NAIA Baseball World Series in 1958 and won the NAIA "Midwest" District Championship in 1964. In 2013, the 1958 team was honored on the 55th Anniversary of their appearance at the NAIA Baseball World Series.[2]

Past coaches include John Wooden, Bob Warn, former ISU and MiLB'er Paul L. Wolf,[3] and Wally Marks. The Sycamores play their home games at Sycamore Stadium at Bob Warn Field (900) and are coached by Mitch Hannahs; Hannahs was named as the 29th head coach on July 25, 2013 and returns to his alma mater following a 9-year stint as the head coach at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Illinois. Hannahs was an assistant at Indiana State from 1995–1999 and the 2001 season. An All-American 2B for the Sycamores, Hannahs spent three seasons (1989–1991) in the Milwaukee Brewers system, spending two seasons in AA-ball with the El Paso Diablos of the Texas League.

Division I NCAA tournament results

The Sycamores have appeared in 12 NCAA Division I Baseball Championships. Their combined record is 14–24; they won the 1986 Mideast Regional and the 2023 Terre Haute Regional; they reached Regional Finals in 1989 and 2019.

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National awards (2)

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All-Americans (17)

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Most Valuable Player

Conference (reg. season)

Conference Tournament (6)

All-Conference (113)

Only players selected for the conference first team are displayed; for second team and honorable mention, please consult the Indiana State baseball media guide at www.gosycamores.com

All-Indiana Collegiate Conference (35)

  • Henry Smith, (P) – 1954
  • Henry Smith, (P) – 1955
  • Henry Smith, (P) – 1957
  • Parker Eaton, (P) – 1958
  • Gerald Jeffries, (2B) – 1958
  • Paul Edgerton, (C) – 1958
  • Bill Gilkey, (OF) – 1958
  • Jim Bates, (OF) – 1958
  • Joe Decker, (SS) – 1962
  • Gary Cunning,[6] (C) – 1962
  • Paul Gries, (SS) – 1965
  • Larry Roesch, (2B) - 1965
  • Mike Harlan, (OF) – 1965
  • Randy Miller, (OF) – 1965
  • Paul Edgerton, (C) – 1965
  • Randy Miller, (OF) – 1966
  • Drew Thomas, (P) – 1966
  • Robert Warren, (P) – 1966
  • Alan Buell, (1B) – 1966
  • John Smith, (SS) – 1966
  • Mike Phillips, (3B) – 1966
  • Mike Harlan, (OF) – 1966
  • Steve Hollenbeck, C – 1966
  • Drew Thomas, (P) – 1967
  • Alan Buell, (1B) – 1967
  • Randy Miller, (2B)
  • Mike Harlan, (OF) – 1967
  • Mike Phillips, (3B) – 1967
  • Mike Lecklitner, (OF) – 1967
  • Steve Hollenbeck, (3B) – 1968
  • Dave Lecklitner, (C) – 1968
  • Nick Petrycki, (SS) – 1968
  • Mike Russell, (OF) – 1968
  • Drew Thomas, (P) – 1968
  • Mike Phillips, (1B) – 1968

All-Missouri Valley Conference (87)

  • Bill Hayes, (C) – 1977
  • Jay James, (3B) – 1977
  • Jeff Brisson, (OF) – 1977
  • Bill Hayes, (C) – 1978
  • Greg Baker, (OF) – 1978
  • Preston Williams, (1B) – 1979
  • Wallace Johnson, (2B) – 1979
  • Pete Piskol, (SS) – 1979
  • Greg Baker, (OF) – 1979
  • Mark Walberg, (P) – 1979
  • Pete Piskol, (SS) – 1979
  • Pat Dumochelle, (C) – 1980
  • Dave Browning, (DH) – 1980
  • Zane Smith, (P) – 1982
  • Pete Piskol, (SS) – 1982
  • Mark Walberg, (OF) – 1982
  • Rob Baker, (OF) – 1983
  • Brian Dorsett, (C) – 1983
  • Rod Zeratsky, (DH) – 1983
  • Tim Barrett, (P) – 1983
  • Mike Coin, (1B) – 1984
  • Scott Mann, (OF) – 1984
  • Rod Zeratsky, (C) – 1984
  • Tony Collins, (DH) – 1984
  • Blaise Ilsley, (P) – 1984
  • Boi Rodriguez, (3B) – 1985
  • Bob Zeihen, (OF) – 1985
  • Tony Collins, (DH) – 1985
  • Blaise Ilsley, (P) – 1985
  • Boi Rodriguez, (3B) – 1986
  • Paul Frye, (OF) – 1986
  • Mike Eberle, (C) – 1986
  • Mitch Hannahs, (2B) – 1987
  • Dan Roman, (SS) – 1987
  • Mike Eberle, (C) – 1987
  • Jamie Allison, (OF) – 1987
  • Mitch Hannahs, (Util) – 1988
  • Mitch Hannahs, (2B) – 1989
  • Chad McDonald, (3B) – 1989
  • Kurt Olson, (UT) – 1989
  • Mike Farrell, (DH) – 1990
  • Dave Doster, (2B) – 1992
  • Steve Ruckman, (3B) – 1992
  • John LaMar, (OF) – 1992
  • Stoney Burke, (C) – 1993
  • Demetrius Dowler, (OF) – 1993
  • Casey Whitten, (P) – 1993
  • Ric Johnson, (OF) – 1994
  • Jeff Leaman, (UT) – 1995
  • Todd Tatlock, (DH) – 1995
  • Ric Johnson, (OF) – 1995
  • Brad Finken, (P) – 1996
  • Dan Olson, (OF) – 1996
  • Rick Angell, (OF) – 1998
  • Tony Harden, (P) – 1998
  • Pete Hennecke, (IF) – 1998
  • Clint Barmes, (SS) – 2000
  • Mitch Stetter, (P) – 2000
  • Jason Frome, (OF) – 2001
  • Nevin Ashley, (C) – 2006
  • Ryan Strausborger, 2B – 2008
  • Ryan Strausborger, UT – 2009
  • Brady Shoemaker, OF – 2009
  • Nick Ciolli, OF – 2009
  • Joe Rodriguez, (SP) – 2009
  • Ryan Strausborger, (OF) – 2010
  • Jacob Petricka, (SP) – 2010
  • Robby Ort, (OF) – 2011
  • Jeremy Lucas, (C) – 2012
  • Rob Ort, (OF) – 2012
  • Dakota Bacus, (SP) – 2012
  • Ryan Keaffaber, (RP) – 2014
  • Tyler Wampler, (SS) – 2014
  • Andy DeJesus, (2B) – 2016
  • Hunter Owen, (OF) – 2016
  • Tony Rosselli, (OF) – 2017
  • Jake Means, (3B) – 2018
  • Tyler Grauer, (LHP) – 2019
  • Collin Liberatore, (RHP) – 2019
  • Jake Means, (3B) – 2019
  • Aaron Beck, (OF) – 2021
  • Connor Fenlong, (RP) – 2021
  • Geremy Guerrero, (SP) – 2021
  • Jordan Schaeffer, (SS) – 2021
  • Max Wright, (C) – 2021
  • Lane Miller, (SP) - 2023
  • Matt Jachec, (SP) - 2023

Conference specialty (12)

Pitcher of the Year (2)

  • Geremy Guerrero – 2021
  • Connor Fenlong – 2023

Defensive Player of the Year (3)

  • Tyler Wampler – 2014
  • Jake Means – 2019
  • Grant Magill – 2023

MVC Newcomer of the Year (5)

  • Rich Angell – 1998
  • Clint Barmes – 2000
  • Tim Brewer – 2005
  • Collin Liberatore – 2019
  • Aaron Beck – 2021

MVC Freshman of the Year (2)

Career leaders

Batting average

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  • Bird appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI.[7]

Hits

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  • Bob Zeihen holds the National NCAA career record for triples (32)[8]

HRs

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Wins

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ERA

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Strikeouts

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Sycamores in MLB

While long-time baseball great Tommy John is an alumnus of Indiana State; he did not play baseball for the Sycamores as he attended classes around his professional baseball schedule. Future New York Yankees-great, Don Mattingly, declined his baseball scholarship from Coach Bob Warn after he was drafted by the New York Yankees.

Bill Hayes had 2 "cups-of-coffee" in the majors but would go on to a long career as a Minor League manager before beginning a 15-year coaching career with the San Francisco Giants, winning 3x World Series Championships (2010, 2012, 2014); in Dec 2014, he was named 1st-base coach for the Giants.[9] Long-time college basketball coach Ron Felling was a 2-year letterman for the Sycamores.

In addition, basketball legend Larry Bird appeared in two games for the Sycamores, in the spring of 1979, following the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Indiana State has placed over 75 Sycamores in the Minors, of which 27 have reached the Major Leagues or Negro Major Leagues. They are by order of appearance:

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Coaching leaders

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  • - John Wooden was a Graduate Student while he coached the baseball team

Coaching honors

Conference Coach of the Year (10)

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Hall(s) of Fame

  • 1987 – Paul Wolf (Coach) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[12]
  • 1988 – Don Jennings (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[13]
  • 1989 – Howard Sharpe (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[14]
  • 1990 – Bob Warn (Coach) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[15]
  • 2000 – Bob Warn (Coach) – Iowa Western Hall of Fame[16]
  • 2002 - Junius "Rainey" Bibbs (Player) - Indiana State University Hall of Fame[17]
  • 2002 – 1986 Baseball Team (College World Series participant) – Indiana State University> </ref>
  • 2002 – Bob Warn (Coach) – Indiana State University Hall of Fame[16]
  • 2002 – Paul Gries (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[18]
  • 2003 – Bob Warn (Coach) – American Baseball Coach's Association[16]
  • 2007 – Brian Dorsett (Player) – Indiana State University Hall of Fame[19]
  • 2008 – Brian Dorsett (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[20]
  • 2011 – Junius "Rainey" Bibbs (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame[21]
  • 2021 - Sean Manaea (Player) – Indiana State University Hall of Fame[16]
  • 2022 - Steve Ruckman[22] (Player) - Frontier League Hall of Fame[23]
  • 1985 - Wallace Johnson (Player) - Indiana State University Hall of Fame [16]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Athletic Communications". GoSycamores.com. May 10, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  2. [2]
    "1958 Baseball Sycamores Recognized - Indiana State University". Indiana State University. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  3. [3]
    "Paul Wolf Minor Leagues Statistics & History".
  4. [4]
    "Strausborger Earns Rawlings Gold Glove Award - Indiana State University". Indiana State University. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  5. [5]
    "Magill named 2023 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I Gold Glove Winner". 21 June 2023.
  6. [6]
    "Gary Cunning Minor Leagues Statistics & History - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  7. [7]
    Dana Hunsinger (May 4, 2015). "Larry Bird's baseball career: A lofty .500 batting average". Indystar.com. Indianapolis Star. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  8. [8]
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150530025447/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/baseball_RB/2015/D1.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 30, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. [9]
    Haft, Chris (2014-06-30). "Bill Hayes named Giants' first-base coach; Roberto Kelly moves to third-base coach | sfgiants.com". M.giants.mlb.com. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
  10. [10]
    Indiana State University Archives Home Archived June 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  11. [11]
    http://www.mvc.org/baseball/baseballrecords.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  12. [12]
    "Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  13. [13]
    "Inductees". www.indbaseballhalloffame.org. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010.
  14. [14]
    "Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  15. [15]
    "Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  16. [16]
    Indiana State University Archives Home Archived June 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  17. [17]
    "Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame Class List". Indiana State University. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  18. [18]
    "Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  19. [19]
    "Five To Be Inducted Into 2008 Class Of Indiana State Athletic Hall Of Fame – GoSycamores.com—Official Web Site of Indiana State Athletics". Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  20. [20]
    "Inductees". www.indbaseballhalloffame.org. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010.
  21. [21]
    "Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame". www.indbaseballhalloffame.org. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  22. [22]
    "Steve Ruckman Independent Leagues Statistics & History".
  23. [23]
    "Sycamore alum Steve Ruckman named 2022 Frontier League Hall of Fame inductee". 13 June 2022.
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