BASEBALL YSU returns most players

The Penguins are off to an 0-6 start.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Although the Youngstown State baseball team has opened the season with a 0-6 record for two southern road trips, eighth-year coach Mike Florak is optimistic that his team will rebound and have a good year.
That's because the Penguins return all but two players from last year's team that posted a 29-27 record -- Florak's best season in seven years.
Last year's record included a second-place 10-6 record in the Horizon League, the Penguins' best mark in that loop.
The year before, Florak led YSU to its first Horizon League championship and NCAA Division I Regional Tournament berth.
"This probably will be as solid a lineup since I've been here," Florak told the Curbstone Coaches Monday at their noon luncheon at the Lockwood House. "We have a lot of depth.
"From [batters] 1-9, we have the most power and speed. But all of the tools and talent can't take the place of leadership."
Upcoming games
YSU's home opener is March 21 against Bowling Green at Cene Park at 3 p.m., followed by another home game March 22 against West Liberty State also at Cene Park at 3.
The Penguins' next outing is Saturday at Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn., in a doubleheader. "We will play several games at Cene but most of them at Eastwood Field. We have two home fields, Cene and Eastwood," said Florak, who is assisted by Craig Antush, Jim Lipinski and Kyle Sobecki.
Eight starters back
YSU returns 11 seniors and eight starters to a 40-man roster. The only two players not coming back are Justin Thomas, who was drafted as a junior in the fourth round by the Seattle Mariners; and Jim Phillips, who capped his senior season and career in 2005 by being named YSU Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
"I know we haven't done that well," said Florak of the winless record so far this year. But, "All of our games have been close."
And he pointed out that " it matters more how you are playing at the end of the season."
So he believes, "We'll be fine this year. I feel good about the team. Our players will be tough and ready for the challenge."
Momentum
In addition to experience, YSU brings a lot of momentum into this season. The Penguins won 23 of 28 games during the latter part of last year's campaign.
"We have a veteran team. Now we have to bulldog ahead," said Florak, a graduate of Steubenville Central Catholic High (1985) and Ohio University (1989), who has a seven-year record of 164-210-1 at YSU.
Big pitching staff
Florak said the pitching staff doesn't have any big guns like in the past, but is balanced and formidable with a lot of potential.
"We have 10 pitchers who can help us win," said Florak, noting that senior Kevin Libeg of Hubbard is one of the leaders. The others are senior southpaw pitcher Eric Shaffer and sophomore Lucas Engle.
Florak said the other top holdovers are senior third baseman Justin Banks and senior catcher-outfielder Brandon Caipen, who both made the All-Horizon team last year. Also back is veteran senior shortstop Charles Schultz.
Florak said YSU's team is producing outstanding players and students with its allotted 11.6 full scholarships that it divides among the players.
Good players, students
"We have eight players in the last seven years to be offered pro contracts," said Florak, who also lauded the academic work of his team.
He said his team most recently achieved a 3.08 grade-point average, and that having good students helps them gain academic scholarships to complement baseball scholarships.
Florak also has completed writing a book called "Healthier Than Normal," in which he chronicles his battle against Crohn's Disease and depression. He said the book has been published and now is available in the area at the YSU Bookstore and Borders Books in Niles, but that he also is negotiating with a distributor for world-wide distribution.
"It helps a lot of people and that is my intent," said Florak of his book, noting that more information is available at www.mikeflorak.com.
kovach@vindy.com