Versatility and Depth Will Drive V-Hawks in 2017
Roster | Schedule | NSAA Preseason Poll
LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University baseball coaching staff brought in an enormous recruiting class of 17 newcomers as they improved depth for the 2017 campaign. Paired with a core of 22 returners, the V-Hawks bulked up the roster with more pitchers and additional versatile position players as they prepare for their 50-game schedule.
Last year, the V-Hawks more than doubled their conference win total as they finished with a North Star Athletic Association record of 11-16. Viterbo finished strong as they won six of their last nine contests to finish with 16 victories.
Viterbo graduated a pair of First Team All-Conference performers, but still have some playmakers in the lineup. Mannie De La Rosa (SR/Bellflower, Calif.) is back for his senior season after tearing up the conference in 2016. The Bellflower, California, native hit .359 in conference with 23 runs batted in. For the season, De La Rosa started 42 games and finished third on the team with a .318 batting average. After a successful freshman year, Adam Lowe (SO/Reynoldsburg, Ohio) also returns to the infield. Lowe recorded 37 hits and scored 28 runs for Viterbo.
Clay Langan (SR/Sparta, Wis.) returns to the lineup after a year off in 2016. Langan started 29 games the season prior. Other position players with some solid experience include Brent Stoughtenger (JR/Mauston, Wis.), Ethan Bell (SR/Jacksonville, Fla.), Noah Bouley (SO/Champlin, Minn.), Austin Schlaker (SO/Oswego, Ill.), and Sam Bachmeier (JR/Eau Claire, Wis.). Stoughtenger had his best season in 2016, recording a .302 batting average and .505 on base percentage, the best on the team. Bell started 22 games and drove in 22 runs while recording a slugging percentage of .431. Bouley will likely see plenty of time in the outfield after playing in 33 games a year ago. The Champlin, Minnesota, native was a perfect 8-for-8 on stolen base attempts and scored 22 runs for Viterbo. Schlaker and Bachmeier each saw action in at least 25 games for Viterbo.
Experienced pitchers Colton Andresen (JR/Genoa City, Wis.) and John Costello (JR/Camp Douglas, Wis.) will look to lead the rotation for the upcoming season. Andresen struck out 17 batters in 33.1 innings pitched while walking just six. Costello made 11 appearances, picking up three wins and finishing second on the team in earned run average.
Wyatt Cook (SO/Shullsburg, Wis.), Tyler Fischer (SO/McFarland, Wis.), and Brian McGill (SO/Brooklyn Park, Minn.) will also see plenty of innings in their second year of action. Each saw action in 10 games in their freshman seasons, combining for over 90 innings. Freshman Max Verdegan (FR/Cameron, Wis.) out of Cameron, Wisconsin will look to make an immediate impact on the rotation while classmate Austin Stibbe (FR/Minneapolis, Minn.) will have a handle on late inning situations.
In total, interim head coach Brian Lewis will rely on 11 upperclassmen and 28 freshman and sophomores to shoulder the load this year. Lewis has 16 pitchers on his roster this season, an improved depth from the last few years. "Our freshman and sophomores are going to see a lot of action," commented Lewis. "Seniors will be heavily dependent on but the majority of innings played will have to be underclassmen. That is just the dynamic of our roster."
In the 2017 NSAA Coaches' Preseason Poll, the V-Hawks were predicted to finish eighth with 39 total poll points. Bellevue was chosen as unanimous favorite with 10 first place votes and 100 total poll points.
"We want to improve on the win total in the conference and overall," Lewis stated. "We have a lot more depth all around the field at every position than we did last year. We think that depth will help us achieve the goal."
Viterbo will open the season this weekend as they head to Joplin, Missouri. The V-Hawks will face Grand View University at 12:00 pm on Friday, February 17 in the season opener.