To be the best, you have to beat the best. Naturally, everyone is looking to take down the champ and show that they deserve the top spot.
As they say, heavy lies the crown, and the reigning kings of Atlantic 10 baseball are about to find out how heavy that burden is for the first time ever.
After years of competitiveness, but not greatness, the Saint Louis Billikens baseball squad finally broke through last year and captured the coveted A-10 tournament crown, earning the right to compete for the NCAA Division-I championship.
The team may have suffered defeat in regional play against the University of Louisville, but in the A-10, they still remain supreme. Fourth-year head coach Darin Hendrickson knows that the Billikens are not going to sneak up on anyone.
“We better be ready. I do not know if they understand that. I have been harping on them hard. You’re going to have a bull’s-eye on your back now,” Hendrickson said about his team.
The spotlight began to shine even harder on the Billikens when it was announced that the A-10 coaches had picked them to finish fourth in the league, their highest preseason projection ever. With all the hype and accomplishments, it can be easy to get distracted.
These Billikens will not let it happen.
This year’s team returns six starting position players from last year’s championship squad and brings back seven others who saw significant playing time. Led by senior Jon Myers, the Bills boast a lineup with seasoned veterans who can swing the bat and play solid defense.
Myers, an all-conference selection last season, absolutely crushed opposing pitchers last year, hitting for .365 average and blasting 16 home runs along the way. He and graduated first baseman Danny Brock formed one of the most intimidated 3-4 combinations in the country last year, but with another season under his belt, his numbers should continue to rise.
SLU returns another five position players who saw action in over 50 games last season. Mike Levine was fourth on the team in batting average, posting a solid .296 average, and Steve Fernandez was not too far behind with a .293 average.
Despite the solid hitting numbers, something the Billikens have one through nine in their lineup is just a valuable of a commodity: depth. As a matter of fact, when asked what the starting nine would be for this weekends upcoming tournament, Hendrickson replied, “More like starting twelve.”
“We plan on playing a lot of guys. We have a lot of guys who can hit lefty; we have a strong bench, a lot of versatility. We can make defensive replacements late in the game and on days the wind is blowing out, we can play more offense. We have a good mix, and versatility is something that not many people have,” Hendrickson said.
In addition to the wealth of experience returning on offense and defense, the Billikens bring back some big-time arms in both the starting rotation and the bullpen.
Sophomore Alex Alemann, a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America selection last season, is the ace of the staff. Last season, he posted a 906 record with a 4.71 ERA, but reached his season peak during conference play, in which he posted a 6-2 record with a 2.93 ERA. As a result, Alemann is the definitive No.1 starter heading into the 2011 season.
“I think he deserves the nod for sure,” Hendrickson said. “He needs to get better and work a lot harder, but he has matured. He is way advanced for a sophomore.”
SLU also boasts a deep bullpen this season, a rarity in college baseball. Big right-hander Andres Wiltz led the team in ERA last season, working mostly out of the bullpen. Jerry Mancuso also pitches, in addition to his starting role in the outfield.
What truly sets this bullpen head and shoulders above most others though is perhaps the most important relief-pitching role in the game of baseball—the closer.
A true closer is hard to come around in the college ranks. Closing pitchers are often developed in the minor leagues after players realize they might not have what it takes to start. Sometimes, a strong-armed position player will switch to pitching if his hitting is not sharp enough and end up as a closer. Famous closers such as Eric Gagne and Trevor Hoffman both followed these routes.
SLU’s closer Travis Parker, took a redshirt last season after transferring from a community college but will have the role from the get-go this year.
“We have a true closer in the sense of the word in Travis Parker,” Hendrickson said.
The Billikens kick off the 2011 campaign competing in a tournament hosted by Texas Pan-American. The Bill’s opponents include the University of Illinois- Chicago and the host Texas Pan-Am.
No matter how talented the Billikens are this year, the reality is that they are lacing up their cleats for the first time for live competition this season. A distinct disadvantage of playing baseball in the Midwest is the cold, snowy winters that prevent teams from getting onto the field as much as, say, a team from California would. Even if there are indoor practice facilities available, it is tough to simulate the outdoor conditions of a baseball game.
What places SLU at an even greater disadvantage is the fact that they lack an on-campus indoor practice facility. Despite the hardships, Hendrickson applauds the grittiness of his team for doing whatever it took to prepare for their season.
“All Midwest teams struggle with indoor facilities and indoor weather. That is why I applaud our kids. They are unbelievably relentless. Practicing indoors is not fun, especially when you lack a true facility, and you are bouncing around a lot,” Hendrickson said.
The Bills began their competition in Texas on Feb. 18, and then head to Lawrence, Kan., on Feb. 25, to take on Iowa and Kansas.
The Billikens kick off their home slate March 2 against SIU- Edwardsville.
