15 return for YSU’s baseball team

January 12, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

BEAVER TOWNSHIP

With their season opener a little more than five weeks away, YSU head baseball coach Steve Gillispie welcomed back 15 letter-winners and 19 newcomers for Monday’s first day of indoor practice.

In his fourth season at the helm, Gillispie is hoping that this year’s Penguins can duplicate the success they enjoyed in 2014 when they won the Horizon League Tournament, then earned the program’s second NCAA Division I postseason berth.

Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches at Avion Banquet Center, Gillispie added that their 56-game regular-season schedule once will again be challenging with Wright State and Illinois-Chicago the teams still to overtake in conference play.

“Of our returnees, the majority were a part of that tournament run and played in the regional,” Gillispie said. “We’ll definitely draw on that experience over the course of the season.

“Our goal is to not only win a league title, but a regional title as well,” the YSU coach said. “We won a game back in 2014 and expect to face those caliber of opponents over the course of the season.”

There are 301 baseball teams that comprise Division I with only 12 programs having improved their winning percentage over the past three seasons.

Four of those programs also improved their strength of schedule. Of that group, YSU made the greatest jump in terms of schedule strength.

Among the newcomers are 12 freshmen with Gillispie adding that the recently completed fall season was the best of his four-year tenure.

“We definitely had a very productive fall session,” Gillispie said. “We’ve finally been able to develop depth throughout our roster. With pitching, we don’t necessarily have the experience but boast quality arms with good breaking stuff.”

In lieu of captains, four players again will comprise Gillispie’s “Coaches Council.”

“We don’t have typical captains, instead opt for players that represent each class so they have a voice in the program,” he said. “This is the fourth year that we have done that and it has worked out really well.

“A freshman might have different concerns than a senior, plus it helps to develop leadership earlier in their collegiate careers.”

The four players selected to comprise this year’s council are senior Jonny Miller, junior Joe King, sophomore Anthony Rohan and freshman Collin Floyd.

The program’s popular “First Pitch Breakfast” returns on Feb. 6 at the Embassy with former Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins serving as guest speaker.

For information, call 330-978-0504 or email ysubaseball@yahoo.com.