Yellowjacket Baseball Season Wrap Up (5/23/07)
 

BILLINGS, MT – In just the program’s second season the Montana State Billings baseball team proved to be worthy opponents in the very competitive Heartland Conference finishing fourth in the league with a 16-20 record.  Overall the Jackets ended the season just below .500 at 24-26. 

It is always tough opening the season on the road, but it is part of life if you call Billings, Mont., home.  The Yellowjackets started their campaign with 10 games in Texas.  The team’s first four-game series of the trip came against reigning Heartland Conference Champion University of the Incarnate Word.  The Jackets’ Ben Lewerke (Mason City, IA) lifted the team to a 5-1 victory in game four after MSUB dropped the first three in the series.  Heading down to the border, the Yellowjackets split wins with provisional conference member Texas A&M – International before going 1-3 against St. Mary’s University.

With less than a week between trips, the Jackets headed back to the Lone Star State for games against St. Edward’s and Texas – Permian Basin with a side trip to Goodwell, Okla., to play against Panhandle State.  In the first four-game series, St. Edward’s swept the Jackets in Austin – the only team to do so throughout the season – to drop the Yellowjackets’ record to 3-11.  The Jackets then rebounded with eight-straight wins against Permian Basin and Oklahoma Panhandle to pull to an even 11-11.  The eight-straight were a school record for consecutive victories.  The Jackets also played their longest game in school history in a 4-3 12-inning win over the Falcons.

A quick trip over to Ellensburg, Wash. to face future Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent Central Washington University saw the Jackets split the series with the Wildcats to hold steady at .500.

The Yellowjackets wrapped up their road schedule against Lincoln University.  Taking three games from the Blue Tigers, the Jackets broke away from the .500 mark to move to 16-14.  In the game Jake Samuelson (Helena, MT) powered a grand slam, the program’s first ever, in the seventh inning to earn the dramatic win for the Yellowjackets.  That was March 25.  With MSUB looking to open a 24-game home stand March 31, Mother Nature reared her head forcing the Yellowjackets to cancel eight-straight games pushing back opening day at Cobb Field to April 13. 

After nearly three weeks of idleness, the Jackets finally got the chance to treat the fans to a double-dose of spring baseball.  Playing regularly scheduled games against Lincoln University, the Jackets added four games against NAIA opponent Jamestown College to make up games lost due to the storm.  The four-day eight-game run was rough for the Yellowjackets.  MSUB split wins with the Blue Tigers before going 1-3 against the 2006 Region III Champion Jimmies.

A 5-1 win over the Rattlers put a stop to the Yellowjackets’ five-game losing streak.  With perhaps the team’s toughest eight games remaining to wrap up the season, the veteran squad took things in stride splitting wins with Incarnate Word.  Seth Moir’s (Cody, WY) two-RBI double in the bottom of the sixth tied the game and was won when Moir scored later in the inning. 

In the final four-game series of the season the Yellowjackets shocked St. Edward’s University using late game surges to take two wins from the Hilltoppers.  The Jackets’ Doug Longfellow (Lewistown, MT) used just his second career home run to lift the Yellowjackets to a 9-8 walk-off win delaying the Hilltoppers’ outright conference title one more day.  St. Edward’s clinched the title with a win in game one on Saturday, but the Yellowjackets had the final say in closing out a two-year run in the Heartland Conference.   A fifth-inning grand slam by Josh Wiley (Belgrade, MT) thrust the Jackets into the lead which they held onto for the 10-8 win.  The Yellowjackets finished the season just two-games shy of .500; not bad for a second year program.

“Our successes this year cannot be measured in statistics, awards, or records”, said Yellowjacket head coach Chris Brown.  “The team as a whole took a huge step forward and really set the tone for the years ahead.  They started to do the little things in practice, on their own, and in game situations that really made the difference.”

The Yellowjackets’ 14 seniors played a key role in many aspects for the team.  Whether it was skill, patience, or resilience, the seniors brought much to the diamond for the Jackets that Coach Brown will look to replace.

“Trying to replace the seniors from this year will not be easy,” added Brown.  “They were good players and leaders.  I will look internally for our new leaders.  We have some guys that will be entering their third year in the program and know what it is all about.  I will look to them to fill the seniors’ shoes.”

Kyle Pryor (Billings, MT) was steady all season leading the Yellowjackets in runs (42), hits (49), stolen bases (17), and on base percentage (.474).  Pryor stood atop the conference standings drawing 40 walks, ranking him 19^th nationally for walks per game (.82).  He also ranked in the top four for stolen bases and on base percentage in the Heartland.  Will Crtalic (Billings, MT) finished the season ranked in a tie for third in the conference with his team-leading 14 doubles, while Nick Hoskyn (Oelwein, IA) and Longfellow ranked sixth for stolen bases (14) and seventh for triples (3) respectively.  Freshman Matt Schoonover (Great Falls, MT) was a dangerous factor at the plate batting .378 to lead the Jackets.  His .555 slugging percentage and four home runs also led the Yellowjackets.

Lewerke was the Jackets’ driving force on the mound.  Ranked as high as 10^th in the nation for earned run average in Division II, the southpaw finished his senior season ranked second in the conference with a 2.74 ERA.  Known for throwing pitches that resulted in ground balls, the combination of Lewerke and his defense earned him a 7-1 record.

“Next year we will look to Brian Strom, Jeremy Knowles, James Lester, Cody Clark, Steve Scott, and Mike Cease to be the core of our pitching staff,” said Brown.  “In the field and at the plate we are looking for Schoonover and Moir to pick up where they left off and to keep improving.  I also expect Patch Wirtzberger, Jordan Shine, and Kyle Ailes to step into significant roles next season.”

The Yellowjackets shattered nearly every team record set in the inaugural season.  The obvious was the nine more wins posted by the team over the 2006 record.  The Jackets’ pitching staff finished the season ranked third in the conference with a 5.56 ERA.  At the plate, MSU Billings hit 13 more doubles, two additional triples, and a whopping 12 more home runs than in the preceding season.  The team also scored 31 more runs and drove in 35 more RBIs than in 2006.

The Jackets’ ERA was lowered from 7.98 in 2006 to a 5.56 in 2007.  Mike Cease’s (Deer Lodge, MT) team and conference-leading six saves ranked him 35^th nationally, while Strom was ranked third in the conference for shutouts (2), and fifth for opponent’s batting average (.262).

The Yellowjackets were also successful in catching multiple honors and awards.  Schoonover was named the Heartland hitter of the week, while his pitching counterparts picked up four pitcher of the week honors.  Lewerke was twice named to the honor with Strom and Cease also garnering the award.

Six Jackets were selected to the All-Heartland Conference team.  Lewerke, Schoonover, and Pryor were first team selections with Cease, Samuelson, and Hoskyn named to the second team.  Lewerke was also named to the Daktronics Division II All-South Central Region second team.  He was just one of only three selected from the Heartland Conference.

Excitement is brewing for MSU Billings as the Yellowjackets will make the change to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference July 1.  The Jackets’ baseball team will compete against Central Washington, St. Martin’s, Northwest Nazarene, and Western Oregon University in conference play.

“Our goals and expectations will not change heading into the GNAC,” said Brown.  “We have the expectation that we still step into the league and be in the mix from the start.  As a program, we look to continue taking steps forward and establishing a tradition that everyone involved in the Yellowjacket Baseball program can be proud of.”

Heartland Conference Team Rankings
Batting – 5^th (.273)
Pitching – 3^rd (5.56 ERA)
Fielding – 5^th (.946)

Heartland Conference Individual Rankings
Earned Run Average
          Ben Lewerke, 2^nd (2.74)
          Brian Strom, 8^th (4.88)
          Kyle McBride, 14^th (7.93)
Batting Average  
          Matt Schoonover, 5^th (.378)
Doubles
          Will Crtalic, t-3^rd (14)
Triples
          Doug Longfellow, t-7^th (3)
Stolen Bases
          Kyle Pryor, t-4^th (17)
          Nick Hoskyn, t-6^th (14)
Walks
          Kyle Pryor, 1^st (40)
On Base Percentage
          Kyle Pryor, 3^rd (.474)
Wins
          Ben Lewerke, t-5^th (7)
Saves
          Mike Cease, 1^st (6)
Shutouts
          Brian Strom, t-2^nd (2)
          Ben Lewerke, t-4^th (1)
Opponents Batting Average
          Brian Strom, 5^th (.262)
          Ben Lewerke, 8^th (.282)

Heartland Conference Individual Awards
Player of the Week Pitchers
Ben Lewerke (Mar. 19, 2007, Feb. 19, 2007)
Brian Strom (Mar. 12, 2007)
Mike Cease (Mar. 5, 2007)
Player of the Week Hitters
Matt Schoonover (Apr. 9, 2007)

All-Heartland Conference First Team
Ben Lewerke
Matt Schoonover
Kyle Pryor

All-Heartland Conference Second Team
Mike Cease
Jake Samuelson
Nick Hoskyn

Daktronics Division II All-South Central Region Second Team
Ben Lewerke

School Records, Individual Single Game
Runs – Will Crtalic (4 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State)
Stolen Bases – Kyle Pryor (3 vs. Central Washington)

School Record, Team Single Game
Doubles – 5 vs. Lincoln University
Triples – 2 vs. Incarnate Word
Homeruns – 3 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State
Walks – 9 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State
Consecutive Victories – 8 (Mar. 5, 2007-Mar. 17, 2007)
Consecutive Games w/at least one run – 32 (Mar. 5, 2007-Apr. 28, 2007)

School Records, Individual Season
(1^st place records set in 2007)
Batting Avg. – Matt Schoonover (.378)
Runs – Kyle Pryor (42)
Total Bases – Matt Schoonover (66)
Doubles – Will Crtalic (14)
Homeruns – Matt Schoonover (4)
Slugging % - Matt Schoonover (.555)
Fielding % (infield) – Jake Samuelson (.995)
Fielding % (outfield) – Nick Hoskyn (.950)
On Base % - Kyle Pryor (.474)
RBIs – Seth Moir (26)
Stolen Bases – Kyle Pryor (17)
Walks – Kyle Pryor (40)
Pitching
Victories – Ben Lewerke (7)
Saves – Mike Cease (6)
ERA – Ben Lewerke (2.74)
Strikeout Ratio – Steve Scott (8.07)

School Records, Team Season
(1^st place records set in 2007)
Wins – 24
Batting Avg. - .273
Runs – 241
Doubles – 60
Triples – 10
Homeruns – 18
RBIs – 207
Pitching
Innings Pitched – 352.2
ERA – 5.56

Miscellaneous Records
(1^st place records set in 2007)
Consecutive Games Hitting Streak – Matt Schoonover, 9 (Mar. 17, 2007-Apr. 14, 2007)
Longest Game (Time) – 3:31 vs. Texas – Permian Basin (Mar. 6, 2007)
Longest Game (Innings) – 12 vs. Texas – Permian Basin (Mar. 6, 2007)
Shortest Game (Time) – 1:30 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State (Mar. 9, 2007), Texas – Permian Basin (Mar. 5, 2007)