Webster University Athletics

The Gorloks are coming off a season that saw them tie the school record for wins, finishing the year at 37-7.  Webster was ranked #1 in the nation during the season by D3baseball.com and #2 by the American Baseball Coaches Association. It was the first time a Webster team has reached a #1 national ranking.
 
Highlighting the team’s success was graduating senior Taylor Stoulp (St. Louis, MO/St. Mary’s HS), a Second Team ABCA All-American and a First Team D3baseball.com All-American. Joined by Stoulp on the D3baseball.com All-American team was designated hitter and fellow senior, Joe Winckel (Bonne, Terre, MO/North County HS). The Gorloks led the nation in fielding percentage (.975) and had the program’s first ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Winner in freshman Matt Wollnik (SO., Naperville, IL).
 
Webster produced 11 SLIAC All-Conference selections including SLIAC Pitcher of the Year, Isaac Behme (SR., Harrisburg, IL) and SLIAC Newcomer of the Year, C.J. Lee (SO., Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley HS). The Gorloks had five ABCA All Central Region Selections, including Stoulp, Winckel, Behme, Lee, and departing senior Corey Lasky (Vernon Hills, IL/Adlai E. Stevenson HS)
 
The Gorloks went undefeated in conference to win their eighth consecutive SLIAC title. They compiled a 25-0 regular season record and swept through the SLIAC tournament in three games. Webster was the #1 seed in the NCAA III Moline Regional, falling to DePauw, 2-1, and Rose-Hulman, 3-2, in 11 innings.
 
The 2015 version of the Gorloks team will be led by five seniors with two College World   Series experience and are look to lead the team back to Appleton, WI. Most prominently, the pitching staff will be led by four seniors who helped the group reach the top nationally in numerous pitching categories. The offense, that loses six seniors starters, finished sixth in the nation in doubles and fourth in home runs.
 
Head coach Bill Kurich enters his ninth season, compiling a 267-101 overall record, breaking or tying the school record for wins six times (2007-2008, 2010, 2012-2014) and has twice led the team to undefeated seasons in the conference (2009 and 2014).
 
In his first eight years, Coach Kurich has overseen the rise of Webster as a national contender. This is reflected in 2015 preseason polls, as Collegiate Baseball has the Gorloks ranked 8th in the country to start the year. “Our team has put in a tremendous amount of work to get to this point and we cannot wait to start the season. We hope our tough early season schedule will prepare us not only for conference, but for the Regional and World Series as well. Being ranked high in the polls to start the year is great, but it’s about what we can do at the end of the year that counts” stated Kurich. “We have an immensely talented team and the amount of effort our guys put into the classroom, weight room, and on the field is impressive. We’re looking forward to a great year” said Kurich.
 
 
 
Pitching
 
The Gorlok pitching staff is coming off another outstanding year in which they lead the conference in multiple categories including strikeouts per game (9.29), and ERA (2.36), while giving up the fewest hits (172). The team ERA of 2.76 was good enough to finish 12th nationally and the pitching staff’s 2.97 strikeout/walk ratio was the fifth best in the country. The departure of two seniors from last year’s pitching staff will leave innings that need to be filled, but the Gorlok pitching staff will have a great mix of experience and youth that should lead to them being one of the strengths of the team again this year.
 
Four seniors will anchor down the staff this year, led by Behme. In three years, Behme is already the career leader in wins (24) and has his name scattered throughout the record books in a numerous categories at Webster. “Isaac is a true number one. We throw him in the toughest games and he gives us a chance to win every time he steps on the mound. I’m excited to see what he’s going to do in his senior season” said coach Eric Meyerchick.
 
Chris Jansen (Sr., Cicero, IN) returns as well. The left-handeder went 5-1 last year while striking out 59 and walking only 10. “Chris is another guy we consider an ace. His ability to fill up the strike zone with great stuff gave us a chance to win every time he took the mound last year and we expect the same from him this year as well” stated Meyerchick. Dylan Dean Smith (Sr., Albion, IL) is another decorated senior who will lead the staff. The All-Conference and All-Central Region selection was 8-1 with a 2.80 ERA. “Dylan’s versatility and competitiveness were essential to us being successful last season. He’s going to play a major role for us again this year not only on the field, but off it as well as a leader”.

The final senior on the mound is leftie Zach Schneider (Sr., Grayslake, IL). Schneider went 4-1 last season in a year after coming back from an injury. “Zach looks to cap his career at Webster on a high note. We expect him to play a major role for us again this year and hope to see him push this staff to another level” said Meyerchick.
 
Jack Bensinger (Los Angeles, CA), Mitch Stefani (Aurora, IL), and transfer Zack Pawlowski (Mundelein, IL) are the juniors on the staff. Bensinger bounced back from an arm injury that sidelined him for the 2013 season. His 1.88 ERA in 24 innings should be a great indicator for how his 2014 campaign will go. “Jack pitched extremely well down the stretch for us and we look for him to continue to get better this season” said Meyerchick. Mitch Stefani looks to improve in his third season with the Gorloks. “Mitch has gotten better each year he’s been here and we expect him to make an impact on our staff” stated Meyerchick. Pawlowski transferred from the College of Lake County. “Zack’s ability to fill up the strike zone and sink his fastball should give us another guy we can count on”.
 
The sophomore class is hoping to build on an impressive season last year. Headlined by Lee’, “CJ’s 5-1 record and 52 strikeouts in 47 plus innings show how great his stuff can be. We think he is just scratching the surface of his potential” said Meyerchick.  Trey Tigart (So., Sikeston, MO) and Matt Goro (So., Wildwood, MO) threw extremely well late in 2014 for the pitching staff and continue to build off that momentum. “Trey came in and had a great fall for us. We expect him to continue and pitch in big spots for us this year” said Meyerchick. “Goro has been a pillar of consistency in his outings for us. He’s a guy we can count on in any situation to throw strikes and make good, quality pitches”.
 
Johnny Lord (So., Naperville, IL), Joe Elfrink (So., Leopold, MO), and Taw Fredrickson (So., Foosland, IL) will all attempt to increase their workload this year. “Johnny has great stuff. He shows more and more flashes of having the ability to get high quality hitters out and we expect him to grow into an important role for us” said Meyerchick. Elfrink returns to the staff with the ability to make a push for innings. “Joe is the consummate teammate and has continued to get better throughout the fall. The strides he’s made bode well for him in 2015” stated Meyerchick. Fredrickson returns to the staff after missing 2014 with an arm injury. “Taw is one of the hardest working guys we have on the team. He’s bounced back well from his injury and should help out on the mound this year” said Meyerchick.

Kyle Uhrich (So., St. Louis, MO) is a transfer from Maryville University. He is looking to make his mark on the mound and in the lineup as a hitter. “Kyle has a big arm and we expect him to push our staff to new heights. We’re looking forward to seeing him on the mound in a Gorlok uniform” said Meyerchick.
 
Four incoming freshmen pitchers will look to make an impact this season. Josh Fleming (Fr., Columbia, IL), Austin Beccue (Fr., Red Bud, IL), Dirk Otterstein (Fr., St. Louis, MO) and Zach Alexander (Fr., Geneseo, IL) are all welcome additions to the team. Fleming had an outstanding senior year at Columbia High School. “Fleming had an outstanding fall for us and he’s a guy we look to lean on this year and in the future. His pitching ability and upside are through the roof.” Meyerchick noted. “Beccue and Otterstein both had great high schoo careers. They showed well throughout the fall and should provide quality innings and depth to our pitching staff” said Meyerchick. “Alexander is a lefty that had a great high school career and we hope to see him continue it for us this year” stated Meyerchick.
 
“We return an outstanding pitching staff this year. Between the guys that we have and the impressive group of additions, we expect the pitching staff to be the strength of this team not only this season, but in future seasons as well. It should be an exciting year on the mound” said Coach Kurich.

 
Infield
 
The 2015 Gorlok infield will be a strong group again this year. The departure of Stoulp, Winckel, and third baseman Ryan Hall leave openings in the lineup that are looking to be filled by a talented group of players.
 
Anchoring the infield will be ABCA Gold Glove shortstop Wollnik and first baseman Jeff Kammer (Jr., Chesterfield, MO) “Having a great player at shortstop is an absolute must for great teams and Matt fits that mold. He only made six errors for us last year. We expect him to continue to get better offensively while being a great defensive player” said Kurich. “Jeff’s potential is limitless. The thump he provides in the middle of our lineup is impressive and we expect him to showcase it again this season” stated Kurich.
 
Connor Hogan (So., New Lenox, IL), Ryan Fischer (Jr., Manchester, MO), and Brett Jungles (So., Naperville, IL) are all looking to make a big impact this season. “Connor had a good freshman year and an outstanding fall. We knew he was going to be an important player for us when he came in. What he brings to us offensively and defensively at third base should see him come up big in spots throughout the season” said Kurich. Second base is looking to be filled by Jungles and Fischer.  “Jungles is a hard worker and has some pop in his bat and can play second base, which you don’t see often.” said Kurich. Fischer transfers in from John Wood CC in Quincy, IL. “Fischer is a guy that can run and steal bases for us offensively. He plays the game the way we like to play it”.
 
A newcomer to the infield, Kyle Uhrich will provide another big bat and the ability to play first base. “Uhrich is a talented player who can drive the ball out of the park. He is going to compete for time at first base and DH, in addition to his time on the mound. We’re excited to see what he can do for us this year and in years to come” said Coach Kurich.
 
Aaron Meyer (Fr., New Haven, MO), Mike Golich (Fr., Aurora, IL), and Graham Smith (Fr., Nicholasville, KY) are the new freshman who will see time on the infield. “Aaron and Mike both had good fall seasons and will provide depth with roles for us this year” stated Kurich. “Graham is a big body that showed flashes of being a powerful offensive threat. He will see time at first base as well as behind the plate as a catcher.“
 
“Our infield has the ability to have a couple of different looks, and as a coaching staff we are excited to see how it plays out throughout the season. We know we’ll be strong up the middle with the returning Gold Glove winner at shortstop and the guys we have put into the mix are all talented enough to pick up right where we left off” said Kurich.
 

Outfield
 
The outfield sees the departure of four seniors but will be anchored down this year by    senior Charlie Gandolfi (Mundelein, IL). Gandolfi has improved offensively each year as a Gorlok and hit .356 during his junior campaign. “Charlie brings the experience of having played in two College World Series and provides a spark at the top of the lineup. His experience will be pivotal in leading us back to Appleton. We rely on him to get our offense going, play a great defensive left or center field, and be a leader off the field” said Kurich.
 
There will be several Gorloks making debuts in the outfield. Blake Thomas (Jr., Troy, IL) transfers in from Lewis and Clark CC. Last season. Thomas led the Trailblazers in hitting and showed ability in the fall with Webster. “Blake had an unbelievable fall and we expect him to be somewhere in the middle of our order. He’s hit at every level and shows no signs of slowing down here” stated Kurich. Dylan Rajkovich (Jr., Orland Park, IL) and Jake Celleghin (Jr., Westfield, IN) are also going to provide competition in the outfield. “Dylan had a great fall for us and did a great job of driving the baseball and providing some power in our order. We’re excited to see what he can do” said Coach Kurich. Celleghin battled an injury in the fall, but is healthy and looks to make an impact this season. “Jake is a dynamic player when healthy and can give our lineup a different look with the way he runs. We are looking forward to seeing him make a difference this year” said Kurich.
 
Two sophomore transfers also look to help the Gorloks return to Appleton after a year hiatus. Alec Bahnick (So., Owensboro, KY) has hopes of locking down the center field position. “Alec fits the mold for our center field position. We always expect to be strong up the middle and he’s no exception. He has the ability to steal bases and hit for a high average while playing great defene. We are going to count on him to provide a spark with Gandolfi and help us score a bunch of runs” said Kurich. Max Fecske (So., North Hollywood, CA) also joins Webster this season. “Max battled through an injury this fall, but is quickly making his way back. A left-handed bat that can run, he’s going to give us a different look when he plays”.
 
Rounding out the outfield are a sophomore and two incoming freshmen. David Williams returns this year and hopes to battle for time at one of the corner outfield spots.  “David is a hard worker who does everything we ask of him.”  Mike Wick (Fr., Bartlett, IL) and Zack Moberg (Fr., Wheaton, IL) both join the program with high hopes. Both players run well and that should help serve them both in an effort to see the field early in their careers. “Mike came in and impressed early on in the fall. As he continues to grow as a player he should become a great top of the order, left handed hitter for us” said Kurich. “Zack came to us in the fall after missing his senior season with a football injury. He continued to get better every day and we hope to see him expand that growth as the season progresses” stated Kurich.
 
“Our outfield, much like our infield, has a mix of guys who can drive the ball for home runs and doubles, and guys who can run and create havoc on the base paths. As the season goes on we will be counting on them to provide versatility to help us win a lot of games” said Coach Kurich.
 
 
Catchers
 
The catching staff sees the departure of Ian Foege who caught the majority of the innings last year. A mix of four guys will be looking to fill the void. That group is led by Zach Allam (Jr., Bloomington, IN). Allam saw time last season, catching in 24 games and starting 17. “Zach did a great job filling in for us last year when Foege went down and we believe he’ll do a great job again this year. He’s grown as a catcher in his time here and throws with the best of them. As he continues to provide leadership behind the plate he’s growing into a tough out in our lineup” said Coach Zack Getsee.
 
Newcomer Ty Hoffhines (Jr., Depew, NY) joins the staff as an experienced catcher. “Ty comes to us from Erie CC. He has some juice in his bat and did a great job receiving during the fall. He should fit right in with our catching staff” stated Getsee.  Adam Naliwajko (Fr., Mount Prospect, IL) sat out 2014 with an injury. He will compete and provide depth on the catching staff.  “Adam missed last season, but it is good to finally see him back. Our pitching staff likes throwing to him and, as he continues to get better offensively, should compete for time behind the plate” said Coach Getsee.
 
Rounding out the catching staff is Graham Smith (FR, Nicholasville, KY). “Graham has done a good job and works hard behind the plate. He will see time at first base as well. His size and ability to drive the baseball make him an intriguing option” said Getsee.  “Our catching staff has done a great job so far this year. They are  a hard working group and exactly what you want as leaders. It’s tough to be a great team if you’re not great behind the plate and our catching staff helps set the tone for our team” said Kurich.
 
 
Schedule Highlights
 
The Webster University baseball team opens its season February 20th in Memphis, TN. They play three games, including a match up with preseason #3 and 2014 national runner up, Emory University. The trip also includes games against Wheaton College (IL) and Millsaps College. The Gorloks return home to play four games against Wheaton College (IL), UW-Osh Kosh, and North Park University. Webster heads down to Florida for the Russ Matt Invitational March 8-13. They face Wheaton College (MA), #13 Marietta College, Rhodes College, #12 UW-Stevens Point, and #19 Eastern Connecticut State.  The Gorloks make a stop in Alabama on the way home for a match up against #18 Birmingham-Southern.

The Gorloks play a twenty-two game SLIAC schedule. For the first time the conference is split into Eastern and Western divisions. The West includes Webster, Fontbonne, Westminster, Eureka, and Iowa Wesleyan. The East includes Spalding, Greenville, Blackburn, MacMurray, and Principia. The top two teams from each divisionl make the conference tournament.  Conference match ups will include three-game series divisional rivals and two-game series against the opposing division. Other highlights include a DH against preseason #9 Concordia-Chicago, and a midweek match-up against NCAA I Illinois State University.