Baseball preview

Feb. 10, 2005
By Anthony Loconsole
Staff Writer

Spring might seem to be off in the distance but for the St. Ambrose University Fighting Bee baseball team it’s just around the corner.

Since early January the team has been preparing for the 2005 season by working

out at both Lee Lohman and The Batter’s Box, an indoor just minutes from campus. The Fighting Bees are hoping to get back into championship form and reclaim the Midwest Classic Conference title, a feat they’ve accomplished six times over the past eleven years.

Ninth year head coach Jim Callahan said his goals are the same as ever, and winning is the first step towards an even more ambitious goal.

“Our goals remain the same going into every season, you enter the fall each year aiming to win a national title," Callahan said.  "We're just one year removed from winning the conference championship, and I think with the group of ball players we have our chances are pretty good to get the championship back.”

The makeup of Fighting Bee’s has changed since last year, new to the team are a strong group of freshman and several transfer students.  Both will have big shoes to fill, left by 2004 graduates such as Justin Seifken and Brett Hiner.

Callahan will rely on his strong group of returning seniors that include pitchers Sean Johnson and Kyle Hildman, infielders Kyle Gripp and Jake Miller and All-American right fielder Ben Martin to provide leadership and experience to this otherwise young ball club.

Also new to the team this year is pitching coach Christian Jackson.  A former pitcher at New Mexico State, Jackson is excited to transition from player to coach.

“Sometimes I have to take a step back cause I want to jump in, I have to let them do the work," Jackson said.  "I’m really just glad to still be around the game and to be a part of a team that has the potential to do great things.”

While the expectations for this year’s team are very high the Bee’s will have to work extra hard as the competition in the MCC has gotten tougher over the past few years. William Penn will be ranked both nationally and more than likely first in the MCC after advancing to the NAIA World Series.  Mount Mercy has increased its depth by adding catcher Ryan Miller from The Franciscan University, and new to the conference Waldorf will bring a young team that could possibly shake things up.  The game that typically gets marked on many players schedule is anytime the Bees take on Grand View College, a rivalry that has turned fierce over the past few seasons.

Despite returning a solid core of seniors the Bee’s will be a relatively young team, but that doesn’t seem to bother assistant coach Tony Huntley.

“Our young guys are full of enthusiasm and ready to take on the challenge of stepping up their game head on,” Huntley said.  “Being able to have a group of young guys is great because of the strong leadership that comes from our upperclassmen.

It makes the transition smoother from high school to college ball, and as I like to tell all the guys just remember sometimes you win sometimes you lose and sometimes it rains.”

The Fighting Bees begin their season with a trip down to West Palm Beach Florida over spring break and will play their home games at John O’Donnell stadium located in downtown Davenport, the first home game is slated for March 18 at 1p.m. weather permitting.

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