2001 Commodore Baseball Preview

Change is in the air at Vanderbilt. A new field is in place. A new stadium is on the horizon. And head coach Roy Mewbourne looks for the 2001 Commodores to bring an improved brand of baseball to Charles Hawkins Field at the McGugin Center.

Led by preseason Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American Karl Nonemaker and six other returning starters, Vanderbilt hopes to climb into contention in the Southeastern Conference.

Nonemaker, a first team All-SEC selection and All-South honoree a year ago as a sophomore, returns along with six other players who registered 40 or more starts in 2000, including fellow outfielder and probable lead off hitter Kevin Geshke, Sean Luellwitz at first base, Scott Vanderhoff at second base, Ulises Cabrera-Valenzuela at shortstop and Ashley Freeman at third base.

"It's definitely the most experience on a team we've had in the last four to five years," Mewbourne said. "There are a number of veteran guys back that have seen through a number of starters throughout the league.

"There's more maturity here right now," Mewbourne said. "There is very good chemistry among the players. They are a very hard working, positive group of players."

And with the addition of 10 newcomers, Mewbourne enjoys more depth at most positions than in recent seasons. Those newcomers will strengthen every position on the field, including pitcher where only one starter from a year ago returns.

"We had to improve our lineup and we have," Mewbourne said. "We've added a couple of players that create more offense for us and improve the number of runs we score and the power with which we hit the ball."

"Those players include freshman Jonathan Douillard, who teams up with sophomore David Wallace, behind the plate; John Kaye, a sophomore left-handed first baseman transfer from Rice; junior college transfer Chris Broadus, who pairs up Vanderhoff at second base; and freshman speedster Worth Scott, who should see playing time in the outfield.

"The newcomers are very important and can have an impact on the success of this year's team," Mewbourne said. "We've added some guys who, offensively and defensively, will strengthen our team by giving us more left-handed hitters and more power at the plate."

Catcher
With the loss of Andy Kropf behind the plate, the Commodores turn to a pair of underclassmen in sophomore David Wallace and freshman Jonathan Douillard. While Mewbourne can't easily replace the leadership of Kropf Ñ 91 starts in the past two seasons Ñ he sees both players as solid contributors at catcher.

"I was pleased with what I saw in the fall from our catching corps," Mewbourne said. "They've shown the ability to block, receive and throw the ball very well. It was tough on Kropf last year because he went through a lot of wear and tear catching as much as he did. This year we'll be able to give both guys some time off."

Wallace started six times behind the plate last season without an error, before breaking his right hand in mid March. Douillard, an 18th-round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners out of high school, batted .385 during his senior season.

First Base
Experience and depth abounds at most positions for the Commodores, and one of the best examples appears to be at first base. Junior Sean Luellwitz has 91 starts at first base since coming to Vanderbilt, including all 54 games a year ago. His .983 fielding percentage was third best among everyday players during the 2000 season.

But Luellwitz will get strong competition from senior Rob Bedwell and transfer John Kaye. Tagged the most improved player coming out of the fall season by Mewbourne, Bedwell looks to battle for his first start at first base since transferring to Vanderbilt prior to the 2000 season. The Jefferson State Junior College transfer started 15 games a year ago Ñ all at designated hitter Ñ while also registering 10 appearances as a relief pitcher. Kaye brings power and another left-handed bat to the lineup. Though most of his playing time should come at the designated hitter position, Mewbourne says Kaye should see some action at first base.

"That's a very good situation. We have a couple of guys that can really play the position," Mewbourne said. "If we go against a left-handed pitcher, we'll be able to place Rob into the lineup. If we face a right hander, we've got Sean, who has a lot of experience and has played well. Plus, John is a very good and powerful hitter who's going to be successful."

Second Base
A healthy competition will unfold throughout the season at second base. Junior Scott Vanderhoff has logged 94 starts at second base during the past two seasons, but newcomer Chris Broadus has the opportunity to earn playing time as well. Vanderhoff brings a steady hand at second base and provides Mewbourne with a solid defensive tandem in the middle of the infield when coupled with Ulises Cabrera-Valenzuela at shortstop. Broadus, who hit .330 with 13 home runs at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community last year, brings offensive muscle to the lineup.

"For the first time in a while we have a battle going on at second base," Mewbourne said. "That's good for competition's sake and allows for each guy to strive to improve. I see both of them getting a lot of playing time."

Shortstop and Thirdbase
Whereas the left side of the infield served as a question mark a year ago, it represents one of the Commodores' strengths heading into the 2001 campaign.

Ulises Cabrera-Valenzuela came on the scene at shortstop a year ago after transferring from Cypress Community College and established himself as one the team's stars. As a starter in all but one game last year, he finished second on the team in batting (.353) and hits (67) while leading the team with a .477 on base percentage. His 76 assists also ranked in the SEC's top 10.

"He's a very steady player and brings a lot of intensity to the team," Mewbourne said. "He's one of the guys who helps lead the team. He'll voice his opinion, which is good, but he'll do it in a way that comes off more of a positive than a negative."

Senior Ashley Freeman developed into a fixture at third base a year ago, ranking as the third-best player in the league at his position by the end of the regular season with a .918 fielding percentage. Known as a gap hitter at the plate, Freeman hit a team-high 22 doubles, fifth-best in the conference and posted a team-high 15-game hit streak.

"He's a consistent hitter and a great fielder," Mewbourne said. "I look for him to have a better year this year because he knows more what he's facing in the league."

Freshmen Cesar Nicolas and Eric Billings will relieve Cabrera-Valenzuela at shortstop at times throughout the season. Nicolas helped lead his high school to three state titles. Billings has a solid bat, hitting .450 as a senior.

Junior John Prothro could step in at third base but may see more action in the designated hitter slot. A position in which he started 18 times a year ago.

Outfield
Much of the same experience and play-making abilities present in the infield are duplicated in the outfield. Headlined by Karl Nonemaker, along with seniors Kevin Geshke and Adam Blue, the Commodore trio averaged more than 47 starts last season. Nonemaker, a starter in every game he's played at Vanderbilt, finished in the conference's top 10 in batting average (.393), hits (88), RBI (56) and on base percentage (.457).

"He simply plays the game. He hits to all fields. He bunts. He drags. He steals. He slaps at it. He turns on it. He does the whole deal," says Mewbourne, who points out the junior could play some at left field as well as center this year.

Geshke's gift of speed will parlay into a familiar role for the outfielder again this season Ñ lead-off hitter. He led all Commodore base runners with 16 steals in 19 tries last year. Blue, tabbed with the strongest arm among outfielders, led the Commodores with nine home runs. Blue will also serve as a designated hitter.

The four players responsible for relieving the outfielders include junior Kyle Flubacker, sophomore K.C. Dyer and freshmen Ronald Hatcher, Worth Scott and Paul Stemple. Scott's speed, fundamentals and left-handed bat may separate him from the other potential outfield substitutes.

Designated Hitter
Look for John Kaye and Adam Blue to share time at designated hitter. Kaye, also a backup first baseman, will see action in the lineup as a left-handed batter. Blue, who will be called upon against right handers, tied for the second-most multiple RBI games last year with 11.

Starting Pitching and Bullpen
Much like last season, Vanderbilt begins a new campaign with a limited number of returning starters. Damon Yee, the Commodores' second-best strikeout pitcher all-time, and Andy Beal are gone. Only Chris Maultsby returns as a starter from last year when he notched a 1-4 record and a 6.16 ERA, in 61.1 innings.

Joining Maultsby on the mound will be newcomers Steven Faulkner, Dean Bennett and returner Jeff Little. The right hander Faulkner, posted a 10-2 mark, 1.79 ERA and 147 punchouts in 100.1 innings at Volunteer State Junior College last season. Bennett, a 33rd-round selection by the Oakland Athletics coming out of Blue Mountain Community College as a right hander, earned a 3-4 record, 3.96 ERA and 30 strikeouts last year.

The right-handed Little started seven times in 22 appearances a year ago, earning a 4-2 mark and 6.67 ERA in 54 innings.

"Chris should be the best he's been since coming to Vanderbilt this season after having surgery over the summer," said Mewbourne, who also says the newcomers should make a quick impact on the team. "Steven and Dean have already been through a bit of war. They will be able to make the adjustment and learn how to handle certain situations."

The bullpen will log several innings again this season according to Mewbourne. Left handers include, Bedwell, Childress, Scott and sophomore Jay Smith. Right handers include Adam Blue, freshman Robert Ransom, junior Brooks Rutledge, and sophomore Matt Vaughn.

Taylor Childress registered the lowest ERA on the Commodore staff last season at 1.02 though he pitched 17.2 innings in 11 appearances. He struck out nine and posted a 2-0 record.

"I look for Bedwell, Blue, Vaughn and Childress to pitch more for us then they did last year," Mewbourne said. "They've got to step up and help us."