Millikin Baseball Has High Expectations in 2017

For the first time during his four years as Millikin head baseball coach, Brandon Townsend welcomes a veteran team back for the 2017 season. The Big Blue roster is filled with experienced, talented players that have played together for the last two to three seasons. Millikin returns 30 letter winners and eight starters from last year's team resulting in a high level of competition at several positions.
          Townsend believes that the depth of talent has Millikin ready to take the next step as a program and challenge for a spot in the top four of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). With more power in the batting order and improved play defensively Coach Townsend believes it will translate into more victories this season.
          All-Conference First Team performer junior Julian Gutierrez returns to patrol one of the corner outfield spots for the Big Blue. Gutierrez led the CCIW in slugging percentage (.667) and homeruns (nine) last season. Overall he hit .341 with a team high 35 RBIs. Sophomore Mason Bruce is expected to see most of the time in centerfield after batting .301 last season. Several players are in battle for the other corner outfield spot and time at designated hitter. Millikin's top hitter from last season Keith Askins (.398) will split his playing time between right field and third base. Other players in the outfield battle include senior James Lulek, junior Devin Crews, sophomore Jon Walters and transfer junior Jake Drada.
          The infield returns junior Seth Coffey after starting 36 game last season for the Big Blue. Coffey earned CCIW All-Conference Second Team honors after batting .345. Coffey is the key to the Millikin infield with Townsend looking to the skilled shortstop for his experience and leadership. Sophomore Adam Peters is expected to see significant playing time at second base, but he is being challenged by freshman Garrett Brachbill. Other key infielders are junior Anthony Rendina and slick fielding sophomore Anthony Bryan. Rendina can play several position on the infield and could see time on the mound out of the Big Blue bullpen.
          The competition is heating up for the corner infield positions. In addition to Askins seeing time at third base, senior Kaleb Krigbaum returns to the hot corner. Senior transfer Bobby Neylon is challenging for playing time at third as well.
          The starting spot at first base is still up for grabs between juniors Jake Stanton and Eric Schurtz, senior Andrew Huss and transfer junior Luke McConnell. Stanton has battled injuries over the last two seasons, but has shown great power when in the lineup. Stanton will be a factor at catcher for Millikin as well. Sophomore Luke Azzarelli and junior Hunter Wenstrom are battling Stanton for the starting spot at catcher. Azzarelli made 25 starts behind the plate last season.
          Millikin will count on a mix of returners and newcomers on the pitching mound. Leading the group will be sophomore Adam Zuk and senior lefty Max Paolicchi. Zuk posted a 4-3 record as a freshman and led the Big Blue in strikeout with 46. Freshmen Ben Williamson and Jacob Hennessy are challenging for the other starting rotation slots.
Sophomore Logan Talkington will be a swing man for Millikin seeing action both as a starter and a reliever.    Seniors Ben Peters, Phillip Ganley and Zak Owens will anchor the Millikin bullpen. Peters is the Big Blue leader in career saves with 11. Sophomores Gage Eller, Brandon Viken and Ryan Dobey along with newcomers Matthew Frank, Blaine Lewallen and Josh Ratts should provide Townsend with reliable arms out of the pen.
          The addition of a ninth team, Carroll University, to the CCIW has changed the traditional conference schedule that saw teams face off in three game weekend series.
Conference games are now spread throughout the week and in some instances have teams playing back-to-back doubleheaders against different opponents on Saturdays and Sundays. Townsend believes the new scheduling will make pitching depth more important across the league and bring pitching matchups against a specific team's lineup more into play.
          Millikin opens the season on Saturday, February 18 with a doubleheader at the University of the Ozarks.

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