By Rich Green, Carson Kusch and Ali Ibraimi
IV Leader Staff, March 19, 2009
The IVCC baseball team hopes to turn things around after
last season’s 19-32 record. This season is considered a rebuilding year, but the
team’s goals are still to be competitive and to win championships.
“We should be a solid team this year,” said sophomore
transfer Anthony Hughes.
It will be challenging as the Eagles return only two
sophomores from last year’s team. Ben Durham (.267 avg. in 60 at bats last
season according to the NJCAA Web site) and St. Bede alum Ty Potthoff will be
the only players on last year’s roster.
Joining Durham and Potthoff will be transfer students from
other schools. Entering the roster will be pitcher Shane Browning, (4-5 with a
3.93 ERA at Waubonsee) a LaSalle-Peru graduate, and P/1B Anthony Hughes, a
transfer from Illinois Central College and Putnam County graduate.
“All four know what it’s like to play a college baseball
season,” said Head Coach Mike Fulkerson. “Their leadership and experience will
definitely be counted on to help with the younger, inexperienced players at this
level.”
A small roster going into the season is something the men’s
team is going to have to deal with. The roster includes 15 players, which is
much smaller than the previous squads of past years. This means the pitchers
will have to throw more innings
“We do have a small roster, but I have said since day one:
numbers in that fashion do not worry me,” Fulkerson added. “We have 15 guys that
can play right now. You give me 15 guys that truly care about the game and their
team, and are willing to give me everything they have physically, mentally and
emotionally and we will play anyone in the country.”
The Eagles have a tough road ahead of them as they play in a
very hard-hitting conference schedule, with teams such as Black Hawk, Sauk
Valley and Kishwaukee being described as “solid.”
“Carl Sandburg is going to be good this year and so is
Highland. I think we are going to be the sleeper team of the conference this
year,” Fulkerson added.
According to Ross Bruenger, a freshman from Clinton High
School, if the Eagles “play well together [they] should be a tough team to
beat.”
The non-conference schedule won’t be any easier either. With
teams such as 2008 National Champions Joliet Junior College, and perennial
powerhouses such as South Suburban and Madison Area Tech, the men’s baseball
team will have its hands full.
“Our region as a whole (Region IV) is going to be a dog fight
every game as each team has made tremendous strides the past couple of years to
make it one of the toughest Regions in the country to compete in,” said
Fulkerson.
The team will start the season without a spring training trip
due to a lack of funds in the budget. Instead, the Eagles will be purchasing new
equipment, something that is more a necessity.
“It’s more important for the future to have all the
necessary equipment for the long term aspect,” said Fulkerson. “There will be a
trip next year.”
Besides some of the challenges that face the Eagles this
year, Fulkerson remains very optimistic
“Our goals will never change from year to year. We want to be
Arrowhead Conference champions, Region IV champions and National champions.”