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YSU baseball coach looks ahead after big finish
By GREG Gulas
AUSTINTOWN
Youngstown State University baseball coach Steve Gillespie reflected on last season’s postseason’s run for the ages when he spoke to the Curbstone Coaches on Monday.
The third-year coach this year’s squad is already champing at the bit to get started.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever had a more enjoyable two-week period during my 30 years in baseball like that 14-day stretch last spring,” Gillespie said.
“We had four or five significant injuries in the regular season and the weather, which kept us off the field all but twice over a three-week stretch, prevented us from going on any type of roll,” Gillespie said. “Winning the Horizon League Tournament and then winning for the first time ever in the Division I tournament wiped away some of the disappointment of the regular season.”
Gillespie used 43 different lineups until league tournament play, going 4-0 to capture the crown as the Penguins earned the league’s automatic NCAA berth.
YSU defeated Indiana State, 5-2 in the Bloomington Regional to register the school’s first Division I tourney victory.
“We have 20 of 29 players returning this year off that championship team,” Gillespie said. “We also had a good recruiting class, adding three outfielders, three catchers a shortstop and two pitchers so we’re excited as we eye the upcoming campaign.
“Also, we had the best fall in my three years at YSU,” Gillespie said. “We return a large group from that team so there’s more stability. You can just see that the players have bought into what we are doing.”
The Penguins set several marks in the weight room during the offseason as well while a dozen players can boast of having recorded sub-seven second, 60-yard dash times.
“The average 60-yard dash time in MLB is 6.9 seconds so we feel as if we are bigger, faster and stronger as we head into the new season,” Gillespie said. “The most encouraging part, however, is that the teams’ expectations are high and there’s a leadership group that is holding everyone accountable.”
YSU’s popular “First Pitch Breakfast” will take place Jan. 17 at the Maronite Center with Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench joining YSU president Jim Tresselas guest speakers.
“The breakfast is just a fun way to kick-off the season,” Gillespie said. “We will have a live and silent auction that includes four autographed jerseys, autographed bats, balls and photos as well.
The authenticated jerseys are from Bench, George Brett (1985 Kansas City Royals World Series), Rollie Fingers and Gaylord Perry.
An autographed ball from 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner Zach Grienke will be available.