Eagles anxious to get on the diamond and play ball
By Reggie Stiteler
Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2008 4:55 PM CST
Mt. Shasta News
Having addressed last season's defensive flaws, coach Billy Heffinger anxiously waits out the weather to debut his improved College of the Siskiyous' baseball squad.
“We want to make a statement right away,” Heffinger says. “We're not just a pushover win anymore.”
Last year Siskiyous went through their ups and downs to finish with a 7-30 record. “The biggest thing was our defense,” Heffinger said. “At times we couldn't make the routine plays and we had a revolving infield.”
But for all the losses the in '07, eight sophomores went on to continue their baseball careers, two of them receiving full rides to Division I colleges and three moving on to D-II.
“The wins and losses were not good,” Heffinger said. “But moving on sophomores was very successful.”
The second year head coach, who played for the Siskiyous in 1996-97, says he has addressed last season's defensive weaknesses this past off season, having more than the scant five weeks to recruit he had a season prior.
“The biggest thing in recruiting this year was to find defensively sound players who can play good for 6 or 7 innings without the wheels falling off,” Heffinger said.
The 2008 Eagles are a mix of returning sophomores, transferring sophomores and what Heffinger calls a solid freshman nucleus.
With Heffinger preaching his philosophy of speed - one of his goals is to lead the conference in stolen bases - the Eagles are looking to build off the success of other COS athletic programs and win the GVC.
Returning for the Eagles in 2008 is first team all-GVC player David Deutschmen, who played first base and outfield last season. He is slated to play center field and hit leadoff for the Eagles in 2008.
Deutschmen was sixth in the state junior college ranks in stolen bases last season, swiping about 25 while hitting for a .320 average.
Pitcher Kenny Licea also returns, but as a closer rather than 2007's starting pitcher.
“He's a max effort guy,” according to Heffinger. “He had an outstanding Fall for us. We are expecting a big year from him in pressure situations.”
Utility middle infielder Scott Jarvis and relief pitcher Steve Merritt also return.
The Eagles' number one starting pitcher is sophomore transfer Andrew Swenson.
“He is very consistent, good mechanics, locates and can change speeds,” Heffinger said.
When he is not pitching, Swenson will also take the field as a corner infielder to keep his potent bat in the middle of the lineup.
Transferring from Southwest Oregon, Swenson has a few D-I scholarship offers on the table, according to his coach.
Behind Swenson in the pitching rotation is a trio of freshman hurlers.
Right-hander Jerris Van Hess brings great control and a nasty change up to the mound. When he hits his spots, Heffinger says Van Hess is “almost unhittable.”
Left-hander Shawn Nicolaides and right-handed “workhorse” David Brauhn round out the Eagles' initial four-man rotation.
Right-hander Aaron Jorgensen of Yreka and lefty Robbie Perron are freshmen long relievers who will have opportunities to pitch their way into the lineup.
“What's nice is the freshman will produce,” Heffinger says. “We have a good nucleus going into the future which we did not have last year.”
Pitching coach Tom Rosemeyer will play a big part in their development.
“The different styles of our pitching staff will help each other out,” says Heffinger. “That allows us to put guys in positions to be successful.”
Arriving at the plate is big hitting transfer Eric Savage, an infielder who hit .350 last season at Linn-Benton Community College. He gives Siskiyous “big contact, a lot of RBI's, doubles, and he won't strike out a lot,” according to Heffinger. “I'm real happy with him coming down here.”
Freshman utilityman Kyle Paul opens the season as Siskiyous cleanup hitter. He'll be one of the catchers along with freshmen Justin Anderson and Kyle Conner.
“Overall we're more of a contact team than power team,” Heffinger says. “Our park is so big we stress line drives into the gaps.”
Despite the high elevation of their home field, there are no Coors Field effects with baseballs flying out of the park as there are in Major League Baseball's franchise in Denver, Colo., according to Heffinger.
So the Eagles have a different strategy: speed.
“I want to have over 100 steals,” Heffinger says. “(I tell the guys), you better be ready to run. They enjoy the opportunity.”
Other transfers include, right handed pitcher Collin McClaughry who comes along with Swenson from SWOCC.
McClaughry will start out in middle relief and have opportunities to start. “He's got a ton of upside,” Heffinger says.
Smooth-handed sophomore middle infielder Kyle Dziedzic is also expected to help solidify the Eagles' defense.
Freshmen Bobby Mapes and Deric Hemmele will man the corner outfield spots.
“It's going to take all 30 guys to be successful,” Heffinger says, emphasizing the need to keep a positive environment and work together.
The Eagles anxiously await the opportunity to get out of the gym and on to the playing fields.
To this point, the first seven games (road trips the past two weekends in Marysville and Oakland) have been cancelled due to rain.
Siskiyous looks to make up their games against Laney in Oakland today on their way to Taft College where they play four games this weekend.
Hefflinger's gang makes their home debut in Weed on Sat. March 8 against Lassen.
That is, of course, if the recent snow storms so common this winter let up by then.
