The baseball Gorloks hope of reaching the NCAA III World Series ended as Webster University lost to Piedmont College (GA), 2-1, in an elimination game in the South Regional at USA Stadium in Millington, TN, on May 20. A two-out triple in the 8th to give the Lions their first lead of the game overshadowed a strong pitching performance by Webster starter Steven Dooley (SO, Florissant Valley CC).

Dooley went nine innings, allowing five hits and two runs, while striking out six. Dooley entered the contest with a gaudy 5-1 mark, and gave the Gorloks the quality start they were looking for. Webster took a 1-0 lead in the third as Paul Kienker (SR, St. John Vianney HS) drove in Tom Henke (JR, Forest Park CC), who had singled with one out and reached second on a force play at first. The Lions tied the game with a run in the fifth, and the score remained even until Piedmont broke the deadlock in the eighth.

For his complete game effort in the round one, 11-1 win, over number-one ranked Christopher Newport University, freshman Zach Schneider (Warren Township HS, IL) was named to the 2011 NCAA South Regional All-Tournament Team.

The Gorloks finished the season 32-13 and have a bright future despite the loss of four key seniors. Kienker, Anthony Genna (Lyons Township HS, IL), Nathan Shelton (Northwest HS), and Craig Schaefer (Carterville HS, IL), all starting fielders, to graduation. Genna was the SLIAC Player of the Year, Shelton and Schaefer made their marks in the Webster record book, and Kienker ended his career with 22 hits in his final 52 at-bats, hitting .331 his senior season.

Webster can look forward, despite these losses, with a pitching staff that will boast quality experienced veterans, along with a crop of freshmen that give it outstanding depth. Junior David Mueller (Westminster Christian Academy, 6-3, 3.66 ERA), Dooley (5-2, 2.56 ERA), junior Jason Gray (North Central CC, MO, 5-0, 1.75 ERA), freshman Zach Schneider (Warren Township HS, IL, 7-4, 1.86 ERA), and freshman Dylan Dean Smith (Edwards County HS, IL, 4-0, 2.54 ERA) are among those pitchers returning in 2012.

The offensive cupboard is not empty either, as Henke (.360, 4 HR, 31 RBI), Cody Stevenson (SO, Centralia HS, IL) who was tied for 1st in NCAA III with 43 SBs entering the tournament, and Joe Gerace (FR, Oak Park-River Forest HS, IL) who batted .372 with 3 HR and 31 RBI in only 94 at-bats, are among those returning in 2012.