TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn baseball begins the 2024 season in Florida with five games against four opponents over five days in a trip around the Sunshine State beginning Feb. 1 against Lynn University at 1 p.m. CST.
LEADING OFF
>> Washburn baseball will get the 2024 season underway this week with five games across five days in the Sunshine State at the South Florida Invite.
>> The Ichabod baseball season will begin on Feb. 1 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. against Lynn University at 1 p.m. CST.
>> The Ichabods are coming off a second straight 30-win season in 2023 where they went 30-22 (21-12 MIAA) and finished tied for third in the MIAA Regular Season.
>> Last season at the South Florida Invite the Ichabods went 1-4 but were only outscored 32-38 across the five games.
>> The season continues on Friday at 5 p.m. against Palm Beach Atlantic University. The Sailfish went 21-28 overall last season.
>> Saturday the opponent will be Barry University with a 4 p.m. first pitch. In 2023 the Bucs went 35-19 overall and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional Tournament.
>> On Sunday the Ichabods face Nova Southeastern University bright and early with an 11 a.m. start time. The Sharks were 26-23 last season.
>> The finale of the South Florida Invite will be a second game against Lynn University on Sunday, also at 11 a.m. The Fighting Knights went 17-29-1 last year.
SOUTH FLORIDA INVITE INFORMATION
>> All games will be played at the home ballpark of the Sunshine State opponents.
>> Live stats and live streams for all games can be found on the Washburn schedule page and on the schedule page of each opponent.
>> Broadcasts will be through the Sunshine State Conference network and are available at no extra cost.
OPENING DAY
>> The Ichabods are 6-3 in the very first game of the season since Harley Douglas became the head coach in 2015.
>> Washburn is 35-36 all-time in the season opener.
WELCOME BACK EVERY-BOD-Y
>> Twenty-seven Ichabods from last season return with 10 of those being seniors.
>> The rest of the returning roster breakdown is 10 juniors, four sophomores, and three redshirt sophomores.
ALL-MIAA RETURNERS
>> Seven Ichabods Ichabods earned All-MIAA honors in 2023 and five of them return this season.
>> Ike Book earned second team outfielder honors last season in his first season with the Ichabods. He appeared in 45 games, starting 43, and led the team in batting average (.394), OPS (1.044) and was second in RBI (41), and slugging percentage (.563) while sitting third on the team in hits (63).
>> Cal Watkins was a third team selection at shortstop last year starting 52 games and collecting the most hits (76) and doubles (15) on the team while he was second on the squad in stolen bases (13) and total bases (104) while sitting third in batting average (.350).
>> Chase Torkelson was an honorable mention last year and is the only returning All-MIAA member of the pitching staff. Torkelson was fourth among qualified pitchers on the team in ERA (4.80) while leading the team in wins (7), and was second in saves (3) in his 19 appearences.
>> Trey Adams was an honorable mention selection at second base in his first season in Topeka. Adams was fifth on the team among qualified hitters in batting average (.295), fourth in RBI (37) and fifth in OBS (.896).
>> Trevor McCollum started 33 of 34 games he played in during his sophomore campaign. He led Washburn in stolen bases (14) and was second on the team in batting average (.367), second in OB% (.477) and third in OPS (.927).
OUTFIELD
>> Washburn will return nearly all of its outfield production from last season with a combination of five returners who started at least 10 games in the outfield.
>> Alongside Bruce, McCollum and Book who started a combined 127 games en route to All-MIAA recognition Connor Scott and Shane Morrow Scott started 16 and 14 games respectively last year.
>> Scott started the season playing and starting in all 16 games hitting .23 with six RBI along with eight stolen bases before missing the final 30+ games of the season due to injury. In 2022 Scott started all 55 games in the outfield for the Ichabods.
>> Shane Morrow split time between the two corner outfield positions making 14 total starts in 2023. He hit .184 with a .349 OB% with five RBI and a pair of home runs.
>> Seager Holman made 21 appearances a season ago, mostly as a defensive replacement and a pinch runner. He was 5-5 in fielding opportunities with one double play.
>> Grant Jones returns for his junior season after not appearing in a game last season.
INFIELD
>> Returning to the infield alongside Watkins and Adams are Cale Savage, Teagan Tamiya, Caden Bressler and Andrew Schmidtlein.
>> Along with Watkins and Bruce, Cale Savage was the third member of the Ichabods to play in all 52 games last season, making 51 starts primarily at first base. He mashed a team-high home runs (13), as well as the highest slugging pecentage (.614) was fourth in batting average (.325), second in hits (64) and third in walks (27).
>> Caden Bressler, a junior, played in 49 games making 47 starts primarily at third base. During his sophomore season he slashed a .276 batting average with a .390 OB% with 45 hits, 22 RBI and eight stolen bases. In the field he was part of seven double plays and made 62 assists.
>> Andrew Schmidtlein made most of his 42 appearances and 28 starts last season at designated hitter but also received time at third base. Last season as a sophomore he hit .269 with a .412 OB% and a .404 SLG%. He was tied for third on the team in RBI (27) in only 104 at-bats.
>> Teagan Tamiya saw action in only five games as a middle infielder. He had one hit and on RBI in three at-bats.
CATCHER
>> Washburn will return its entire backstop rotation from a season ago with both Otto Jones and Blake Scott returning after the duo combined to start all 52 games.
>> Jones, a senior, played in 38 games starting 32 hit .253 on the year with a .350 OB% and slugged .343. Jones connected for 25 hits resulting in 14 RBI with nine walks. Behind the dish he allowed just five passed balls and threw out 10 would be base stealers
>> Scott, a junior, assumed the role of day two catcher for most of the year and slashed a .242 AVG, .297 OBP%, .308 SLG% at the plate with 22 hits and 14 RBI. Scott threw out seven runners from behind the plate.
STARTING PITCHERS
>> The starting rotation for the Ichabods will look massively different in 2024 with all three everyday starters from a year ago no longer on the team.
>> Between Griffin Huiatt, Chase Torkelson and Charlie Kiefer Washburn returns just nine starts from a season ago.
>> Huiatt, a sophomore has the most recent experience as a starter with four of his 15 appearances a season ago getting the starting nod. He posted an 8.60 ERA across 30.1 IP with 19 strikeouts and 18 walks.
>> Both Torkelson and Kiefer received even more of their action from a season ago out of the bullpen.
RELIEF PITCHERS
>> Ten Ichabods who made relief appearances last season will return for 2024 with one more (Cade Parry) redshirting this season.
>> Of the 10 seven made at least 10 appearances in 2023 including Huiatt, Torkelson and Kiefer.
>> Not counting starts Jayden Payne topped all Ichabods in pitching appearances out of the bullpen with 17. He tossed 21 innings and was first among qualified pitchers in ERA (3.86). Payne tallied a 2-0 record with 15 strikeouts and allowed no triples or home runs.
>> Torkelson made 16 relief appearances last season to go along with three starts. He posted a 7-3 record and a 4.80 ERA in his All-MIAA season.
>> Charlie Kiefer, a senior, went 2-3 in his 17 appearances out of the bullpen last season. He tallied 34.2 innings combined with his two games started with a 6.75 ERA. He fanned 26 batters and made a team-high five saves.
>> Cole Warner appeared in 14 games pitching 31.2 innings with a 6.82 ERA. he struck out 26 batters and compiled a 3-1 record.
>> Cal Leonard begins his junior season after making 12 relief appearances last season with a 1-0 record. He tossed 12.1 innings striking out 15 with a 5.84 ERA.
>> Jake Schroeder appeared in 10 games tossing six innings and allowing 11 runs with a 0-0 record on the year.
>> Defin Fritzsch throw 4.2 innings in three appearances with four strikeouts and a 1.93 ERA.
>> Max Clark pitched three innings in three appearances with a 6.00 ERA.
>> Caden Bressler made two appearances giving up four runs with one save.
NEW FACES
>> Washburn welcomes 25 newcomers to the 2024 squad with 15 transfer student-athletes and 10 freshmen beginning their collegiate careers.
>> Of the 15 transfers 13 will be juniors in the 2024 season with one senior and one sophomore rounding out the group.
>> #2 Cash Jay (INF/Chickasha, Okla.), #5 Payton McHarg (OF/Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada), #14 Cooper Carlgren (RHP/Topeka, Kan.), #16 Jett Buck (UTL/Kansas City, Mo.), #25 Logan Bartlett (LHP/Cheney, Kan.), #26 Hayden Priest (C/Enid, Okla.), #29 Ashton Jenkins (RHP/Highlands Ranch, Colo.), #34 Joe Dasho (RHP/Affton, Mo.), #35 Fidel Hatch (RHP/Piedmont, Okla.), #41 Sam Wragge (RHP/Lincoln, Neb.), and #45 Blake Priest (RHP/Enid, Okla.) will join the active roster for Washburn this season.
>> Keegan McDonald (Jr./OF/Clay Center, Kan.), Connor Pruyser (Jr./RHP/Silver Lake, Kan.), Trenton Smith (Jr./RHP/Paris, Texas) and Grant Zwald (Sr./RHP) will sit out the season as redshirts.
>> Of the freshmen class #28 Chase Littrell (OF/Liberty, Mo.), #31 Collier Hestermann (RHP/Firth, Neb.), #32 Gavin Wilhelm (RHP/Topeka, Kan.), #37 Kai Bennett (RHP/Liberty, Mo.), and #43 Camden Brashear (RHP/Liberty, Mo.) will all be on the active roster as true freshmen.
>> Konnor Becker (INF/Topeka, Kan.), Zack Craft (C/Blue Springs, Mo.), Jack Lemasters (UTL/Kansas City, Mo.), Brooks Richardson (C/Salina, Kan.), and Kolby Wheeler (UTL/Paola, Kan.) will redshirt for the year.
ICHABODS AROUND THE COUNTRY
>> Washburn's 52-man roster consists of players from eight different states.
>> There are 15 players on the roster who are from the Sunflower State.
>> The state producing the second most Ichabods is Missouri with 11.
>> Eight players come from both Nebraska and Oklahoma.
>> Colorado and Texas have both each produced four.
>> One Ichabod hails from Canada (Peyton McHarg) and Teagan Tamiya is from Hawaii.
IN THE RANKINGS
>> Washburn is receiving votes in the first National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Central Region rankings of the year.
>> Te Ichabods received five points in the first poll.
>> Central Missouri sits atop the Central Region with seven first place votes and 113 total points.
>> Augustana is in second place with four first place votes and Southern Arkansas is third and received the final first place vote.
MIAA PRESEASON POLL
>> In the 2024 MIAA Coaches Preseason Poll, the Ichabods were picked fourth after finising tied for third in the 2023 regular season.
>> Central Missouri repeated as the conference favorite, earning 10 first-place votes and 120 total points.
>> Missouri Southern was slotted in second with Pittsburg State narrowly behind, each received one first place vote.
>> Washburn and Central Oklahoma completed the top five with Washburn earning a total of 89 points.
NOTEABLE NUMBERS FROM 2023
>> The 2023 Washburn baseball team finished top-three in the conference in several categories as a team last season and fared well nationally as well:
- Strikeouts thrown per nine innings - 9.0 (2nd MIAA / 32nd nationally)
- Hits allowed per nine innings - 9.32 (3rd MIAA / 59th nationally)
- Triples - 17 (3rd MIAA / 34th nationally)
>> On an individual level multiple returning Ichabods had strong seasons in multiple categories:
- Ike Book - batting average - .394 (3rd MIAA / 73rd nationally)
- Ike Book - on base percentage - .481 (3rd MIAA / 106th nationally)
- Charlie Kiefer - saves - 5 (4th MIAA / 51st nationally)
- Ike Book - toughest to strike out - 9.4 ABs (4th MIAA / 181st nationally)
- Chase Torkelson - victories - 7 (6th MIAA / 81st nationally)
- Cal Watkins - hits per game - 1.46 (8th MIAA / 89th nationally)
HEAD COACH HARLEY DOUGLAS
>> Former Washburn All-MIAA outfielder Harley Douglas enters his 10th season at the helm of the Washburn baseball program in 2024.
>> In nine seasons, Douglas carries an all-time record of 224-196 with five appearances in the MIAA Tournament and led the program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament in 2022.
>> He has also coached a total of 54 all-MIAA selections, including the MIAA Player and Pitcher of the Year in 2016.
>> Prior to returning to his alma mater in 2012 he was the head coach at St. Marys HS from 2003-06 and at Rossville HS from 2007-10.
>> Douglas is a two-time Washburn graduate, receiving his Exercise Physiology degree in 2002 before earning an Education degree in 2004. He also earned a Master's Degree in Adaptive Special Education from Emporia State in 2010.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
LYNN FIGHTING KNIGHTS
>> Lynn is coming off a 17-29-1 season that saw the Fighting Knights finish 8-22 in conference play and miss out on the SSC Conference Tournament.
>> There is stability in the dugout for Lynn with head coach Rudy Garbalosa returning for a 24th season at the helm of the baseball program where he has a 636-505-4 record all-time.
>> The Fighting Knights were better at home last season, going 12-16-1 in Boca Raton and just 5-13 away from campus.
>> Lynn will return most of its offensive punch from a season ago with all four of its .300 hitters returning for another season.
>> David Judge, a Second Team All-SSC player a season ago, ranked in the top 10 in the conference in home runs, runs batted in and slugging percentage. The senior slashed .362 with a .433 OBP and a .592 SLG a season ago along with a team-high nine home runs and 43 RBI.
>> AJ Orrico also returns to the top of the lineup for Lynn. A season ago the senior was second on the team hitting .330 and was tied for the team lead with a .441 OB%. His 16 stolen bases were tops on the team and he was the fourth toughest player in the SSC to strike out, with one every 13.6 at-bats.
>> The Lynn pitching staff compiled a 5.97 ERA in 2023 with 374 strikeouts to 495 hits and 206 walks.
>> Nathan Shane brings the most experience on the mound from a season ago with 48 innings pitched over 15 appearances and five starts. He had a 5.25 ERA with 31 strikeouts, 29 walks and a .307 opponent batting average.
>> Washburn is 1-1 all-time against the Fighting Knights. Last season the Ichabods won 18-3 in Boca Raton with nine different players recording hits, led by four at the top of the lineup by Cal Watkins.
PALM BEACH ATLANTIC SAILFISH
>> The Sailfish went 21-28 (9-21 SSC) in 2023 and missed out on the Sunshine State Conference tournament.
>> They were picked eleventh in the Sunshine State Conference preseason poll.
>> Head coach Kent Bottenfield enters his 13th season at the helm of the baseball program where he has a 239-289-1 record over his first 12 seasons.
>> The Sailfish return much of their production at the plate from a season ago with five of the top six hitters by batting average returning to the squad in 2024.
>> Matty Warren will be a graduate student after leading PBA in batting average (.352) and hits (62) while being second on the squad in OPS (.882) and tied for the team lead with 11 stolen bases from the outfield.
>> Nate Housen will fill another outfield spot with experience as a 5th year senior. A season ago he hit a team-high four home runs and was second in slugging percentage (.454), as well as third in both hits (59) and OPS (.866).
>> Last season on the mound Palm Beach Atlantic carried a 6.45 ERA with 379 strikeouts to 251 walks and gave up 527 total hits with opponents hitting .302 against them.
>> Justin Lovell returns the most experience on the mound from a season ago with 40.0 innings tossed over 17 appearances with five starts. He carried a 4.28 ERA with a 2-0 record a struck out 40 batters while allowing 38 walks and 30 hits.
>> Daniel Foster had the lowest ERA among all Sailfish pitchers last season at 3.10 over 15 appearances and 20.1 innings. He went 0-2 on the year with 15 strikeouts and one save.
>> Washburn and Palm Beach Atlantic are 1-1 all time. Last season the Ichabods lost 8-0 on West Palm Beach, Fla. on Feb. 11, 2023 with Washburn recording seven hits in the game.
BARRY BUCS
>> The Bucs had a major turnaround in 2023 going 35-19 overall and 16-14 in the SSC after going 18-31 the year before and winning just nine games in conference play. Barry continued the big year with a trip to the NCAA Super Regional after advancing out of the NCAA South Region. They finished the season ranked No. 21 in the final NCBWA poll.
>> Barry was picked to finish fifth in the Sunshine State Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
>> Brett Young begins his first season in charge of the baseball program, it's his first stop as head coach at the collegiate level.
>> The Bucs return 24 letterwinners from last seasons roster.
>> First-Team All-Conference outfielder Braden Forchic returns after leading the team in batting average (.356), home runs (10) and OPS (1.105) a season ago. He also drove in 26 runs and recoded 14 stolen bases on the year.
>> Fellow outfielder Keven Noriego was second-team SSC selection last year and was third on the team in batting average (.345), second in RBI (46) and first in hits (70). He struck out just 21 times in 203 at-bats.
>> Evan Wickeri was third on the team in hits (64) and sixth in batting average (.325). He was third in the SSC in stolen bases swiping 29 bags in 34 attempts on the year.
>> Last season the Barry pitching staff tossed a 5.16 ERA with 417 strikeouts to 204 walks and allowed 521 hits with opponents hitting .277.
>> A good chunk of pitching will return for the Bucs beginning with starting Frank Gonzalez II who went 4-2 last season with a 4.84 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 61.1 innings.
>> Angel Cespedes went 7-3 on the hill a season ago with a 5.22 ERA in 14 appearances and 13 starts. He fanned 65 hitters in 58.2 innings.
>> Federico Zapata appeared in 26 games out of the bullpen and led the conference with nine saves on the year.
>> Washburn is 0-3 all-time against Barry. Last season the Ichabods were 0-2 against the Bucs losing 6-3 and 9-8 games in Miami Shores, Fla.
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN SHARKS
>> The Sharks 2023 season ended with a 26-23 record and a 15-15 year in the SSC with a sixth place finish in the conference.
>> NSU was picked sixth in the Sunshine State Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
>> Adrian Morales begins his first season as the head coach at Nova Southeastern, it's his first season as the head coach at the DII level.
>> The Sharks offense will look much different with the top four hitters by batting average from a season ago no longer with the team.
>> Kristian Noriega was fifth on the team in average (.280) with a .414 OB% and a SLG% of .395 as a freshman. He had 44 hits with three home runs and 11 stolen bases.
>> The pitching staff for Nova Southeastern registered a 4.60 ERA with 437 strikeouts in 422.1 innings. They allowed 228 walks with 400 hits and opponents hitting .247 on them.
>> Only three pitchers tossed more than 33 innings last season and just one of those arms returns with Frank Elissalt back after logging 67.1 IP with a 4.68 ERA. He struck out 60 batters and allowed 65 hits with an 0-4 record in 14 starts.
>> Ryan Bradarich was fourth on the team in ERA last season (4.58) and is the top returner in that category in 2024. He was 1-1 in 19.2 innings pitched over eight appearances last year. He struck out 19 batters with just six walks.
>> Washburn is 0-2 all-time against Nova Southeastern University each coming in the last two years. Last year the Ichabods fell 12-3 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Feb. 10 with Trevor McCollum picking up two RBI in the game.
PRO BODS
>> Washburn added another member to its history of professional Ichabods with 2023 All-MIAA second-team pitcher Casey Steward being selected in the 19th round with the 583rd pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.
>> Steward became the second Ichabod to have his name called under Douglas and the first since David Gauntt was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 2016 MLB Draft in the 18th round with the 533rd pick overall.
WASHBURN BASEBALL HISTORY
>> The 2024 season will be the 72nd year of Washburn Baseball.
>> The Ichabods have gone 1327-1267-3 in that time.
>> There has been 33 seasons with 20+ wins; 23 seasons with 25+ wins; and 12 seasons with 30+ wins.
>> Washburn has earned 25 All-Region selections and nine All-America awards.
TAKE A LOOK AHEAD
>> The Ichabods will play a four-game series in Jackson, Tenn. against Union University from Feb. 8-10.
>> Washburn returns for its home opener on Feb. 15 against Minot State at 2 p.m. for the first game of the Washburn Classic.
>> Senior day for the Ichabods will be on Sunday, April 21 against Central Oklahoma.
>> The MIAA Tournament first round will begin on campus sites on Friday, May 3 and run until May 5 if needed.
