The doctor is in. The baseball season begins Saturday with the Loyola Wolfpack facing Faulkner College, as the team will play its first game under new coach Michael “Doc” Beeman.
Beeman, who also carries the title of assistant athletic director for the university, came to Loyola after spending two seasons with Georgetown as the Hoyas’ pitching coach. Over his two-year stint, he oversaw a staff that saw its collective ERA drop nearly three points and its opposing batters held to nearly 50 points below the average from the season before he arrived there.
His staff brought the heat as well, racking up a new single season Georgetown record for strikeouts with 340, far surpassing the previous record of 286.
The Wolfpack finished 21-24 last season under former coach Gregg Mucerino, and the team is full of returning players ready to get back on the winning side of the ledger. Beeman’s team is loaded with experience, as 14 seniors line the ‘Pack dugout, and the veteran leadership of the team should make them a formidable foe for the opposition this season.
“It’s nice to have a veteran club coming back,” Beeman said. “I wish I could hit 13 guys this year. That’s a good problem to have.”
The squad is led by two of those seniors, team captains Jeff Pippenger, criminal justice, and Kevin Kalina, communication. Pippenger, a right-handed starting pitcher, was 4-0 last season with an ERA of 3.72. He notched 26 strikeouts in 40 innings. Pippenger was on the team in 2002 when it went to the NAIA Regionals, making him a solid choice to lead by example.
Kalina returns for his second season with Loyola, after starting every game last season in the ‘Pack infield. The durable Kalina was consistent all year to the tune of a .342 average, leading the team in that category, as well as in hits and runs scored.
The team also will see All-Region player and management senior David Sudyka return, named to that honor after posting a .301 average and leading the team in doubles, RBI, and slugging percentage. Sudyka’s value does not stop with numbers, however, as his versatility allows him to play in both the infield and the outfield, giving Beeman much flexibility with his lineup.
Catcher Hudson Miller, communications senior, brings a strong bat to the lineup, and outfielder Greg Veltri’s speed will prove valuable as he did as the team’s leading base stealer in 2004.
The coach and players stressed the importance of the pitching staff this season, especially the less-experienced relief pitchers. Senior graphics design major and right-hand pitcher Matt Franatovitch said that the Wolfpack has good starting pitchers.
“We have to find out if we have depth in the bull pen,” he said.
Starting pitchers David Musch, communications senior, James Blakeman, communication sophomore, and Franatovich also return to the team to bring their mound experiences to this year’s campaign. Musch was the staff’s workhorse last season, starting 12 games and finishing two, while logging 81.1 innings on the year.
For some players, Beeman is the third coach they have had in their Loyola careers. Beeman said it is up to him and the senior players to make his arrival a positive change.
“I couldn’t be happier with the amount of effort the team and the coaching staff give,” Beeman said. “They all hold each other accountable. Makes my job easier.”
Franatovitch said this is the most united team he’s played on.
Faulkner is a good team to play for the ‘Pack to test out their bats and gloves, according to management senior Jeb Bauer.
“Faulkner is usually a ranked team,” Bauer said. “They will be a good test to see how far we’ve come along.”
If consistency and experience mean anything, the 2005 baseball team should make the good “doctor” proud this season. The Wolfpack open against Faulkner at 1 p.m. Saturday at Segnette Field.
Ryan Arena can be reached at [email protected].
