CMU plays exhibition game against Ontario travel team
The Central Michigan baseball team will have an opportunity to shake off the Mid-American Conference tournament championship loss today.
At 3:05 p.m. CMU will play the Ontario Blue Jays, an 18-under travel team from Ontario, at Theunissen Stadium.
Junior left-handed pitcher Trent Howard said that the team is ready to take the field after more than three months off.
“We have a lot of talent this year and we are definitely excited to get out there,” he said. “This gives us an opportunity to work on things and see what we have.”
The Chippewas are coming off of a 5-3 loss against Kent State in the MAC championship after winning nine of its last ten games to finish the 2009 season.
This exhibition game will give the Chippewas a great chance to look at the younger guys on the team and get a feel for what the lineup could be come opening day in March.
Head coach Steve Jaksa said he likes the feel of a game day atmosphere and looks forward to getting back on the field.
“We can run everything like we would on a game day and it is like a run through for us,” Jaksa said. “We can start mixing older guys with the newer guys; they get a chance to put the uniform on.”
The Chippewas return a strong core from last year’s team that was one game away from the College World Series. CMU returns eight seniors and 14 juniors along with left-hander Dietrich Enns, a first-team All-MAC selection and MAC Freshman of the Year last season.
Enns finished last season with a 7-0 record, a 2.12 earned runs average and 64 strikeouts in just 59 and 1/3 innings pitched.
Today’s game is open to the public and fans are encouraged to get an early look at the 2011 CMU baseball team.
“It is open to the public and there will be people in the stands,” Jaksa said. “That alone will bring some excitement and I think they (the team) will be excited to get out there and play.”
While Howard is projected to start the game, Jaksa plans to use multiple pitchers throughout and keep everyone on a short pitch count.
With senior pitchers Jake Sabol and Bryce Morrow returning, in addition to juniors Enns and Rick Dodridge, the Chippewas pitching staff could very well be its strong suit for the upcoming season.
Nate Theunissen returns for his junior season after leading the team in hits, doubles, home runs, runs batted in and slugging percentage last year. Theunissen was also a first team all-MAC selection.
Fall World Series
CMU will play seven intrasquad scrimmages during the month of October at Theunissen Stadium. The games run Oct. 8-19 and are all open to the public.
