University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, February 19
Wichita, Kansas
2:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
at
Wichita State
@NCBearsBaseball Starts 2016 Season at Wichita State
2/17/2016 12:43:00 PM | Baseball
Northern Colorado baseball starts its season at Wichita State this weekend
GREELEY, Colo. – The crack of the bat and snap of the glove are back in the air as Northern Colorado baseball starts its 2016 season this weekend. The Bears will head to Wichita, Kansas for a three-game series against the Wichita State Shockers to start the season.
Northern Colorado is coming off a WAC Tournament appearance last season, and looking to grow upon it with the majority of last year's team back.
Series Notes: Northern Colorado | Wichita State | WAC
Leading Off
• Northern Colorado finished last year with a 16-32 record, going 12-15 in WAC play.
• The Bears qualified for its first WAC Tournament last season, making it as the six seed. In the double-elimination tournament the team went 0-2 falling to No. 3 seed North Dakota 7-2 and No. 4 seed Sacramento State 5-0.
• Two players from the 2015 team earned All-WAC honors, including Jensen Park being named WAC Player of the Year. Teammate Brandon Vaughn was the other player, who earned a spot on the second team.
• Cole Maltese and Dan Reese were named to College Sports Madness Preseason All-WAC team. Maltese on the first team and Reese on the second.
• Northern Colorado was picked eighth by the WAC coaches in the Preseason Poll. The Bears are use to out playing their expectations after making it to Mesa, Arizona last season for the conference tournament after being picked last in the preseason.
• UNC had its first player drafted in the MLB draft this offseason since 2011. Jensen Park was drafted in the 32nd round by the Colorado Rockies. He played in both rookie ball and low class-A last season.
Scouting Wichita State
Wichita State is coming off a 26-33 record in 2015, finishing tied for third in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 10-11 record. WSU returns 15 letter winners from last year including six position starters.
Last year the Shockers had plenty of success at home, going 20-14 in those games while struggling on the road with a record of 6-19.
First baseman Ryan Tinkham is a key for WSU this year after finishing last year hitting .333 with 10 home runs and knocking in 46 runs to earn 2nd team All-Valley honors.
In the Missouri Valley preseason poll, Wichita State was picked to finish third in the conference again, including picking up one first place vote. Missouri State and Dallas Baptist were picked ahead of the Shockers.
Series History vs the Shockers
The season opening series will mark the fourth series between the Bears and Shockers. WSU holds a 5-1 advantage against UNC. Northern Colorado's lone win in the series came in the inaugural game between the schools in 2005 with an 8-5 win. All six games between the two teams have been played in Wichita.
Yamane The Man
After missing last year with a foot injury, Ryan Yamane has a few different UNC baseball records within reach. Coming into the 2016 season, he ranks ninth in at bats with 610, 15th in hits (179) and second in walks with 110. Yamane is just 11 walks away from tying the program record of 121 set by Jeff Cheek who played from 1972-75.
Season Openers
Since 1960, UNC is 25-31 all-time in season openers. The team is currently on a six game losing streak on opening day. The last victory came on February 20, 2009 when UNC hosted Montana State-Billings and squeaked out a 7-6 victory.
Moving Runners Over
Senior Jake Ek moved plenty of runners over last year, finishing the season ranked 18th in the nation with 15 sacrifice bunts. Those 15 bunts helped produce nine runs for the team last year.
Looking Back on 2015
Northern Colorado made its first ever trip to the WAC Tournament in 2015 since joining the conference, earning the sixth and final spot in it. The Bears went 0-2 in the double elimination tournament falling to North Dakota and Sacramento State.
UNC had the WAC Player of the Year in 2015 in outfielder Jensen Park. Park a senior finished the season hitting .428 with six home runs and 34 runs batted in. Teammate Brandon Vaughn was also named to the All-WAC team earning a spot on the second team.
Bear in the Big Leagues
For the first time since 2011, Northern Colorado had a player drafted in the MLB draft last June. Senior Jensen Park was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 32nd round. Before Park was drafted last year, Jarod Berggren was the last UNC player drafted back in 2011.
Making the Grades
Northern Colorado baseball had seven players earn their spot on the WAC All-Academic team for 2015. Those players were Allen Cook, Caleb Kirkman, Cole Maltese, Dan Reese, Reyn Sugai, Zach Heath and Brett Minnick.
Home Grown
Head coach Carl Iwasaki and his staff have done a good job of keeping the home grown talent in the state. 12 of UNC's 32 hail from the Centennial State.
Hawaii Five-0
The Bears have a little Hawaii flair to them with three players plus head coach Carl Iwasaki and assistant Kaiona Correa all coming to Colorado from the islands.
Exceeding Expectations
For the second straight year, UNC is going to have to exceed the expectations of the WAC coaches to make another trip to Mesa, Arizona for the conference tournament. The WAC coaches pegged the Bears to finish eighth in the conference. Last year the team was picked to finish last in the preseason, but exceed those expectations finishing 7th to make it to Mesa.
New Faces
Northern Colorado not only welcomes 11 new players to this year's ball club, but also has some new faces on the coaching staff. Kai Correa moves up to a full-time assistant after being a volunteer last season, while Coach Iwa also brought on Jordan Stouffer and Dane Siegfried as a volunteer assistant and director of baseball operations.
Class of 2017
While the 2016 season is just about to kick-off, UNC has already secured eight new players for its 2017 team. During the early signing period this year the Bears have brought in three infielders, a catchers, two utility players and a pair of right handed pitchers.
On Deck
Northern Colorado will stay in the Sunflower State, heading over to Lawrence to take on Kansas for a pair of games against the Jayhawks on Monday and Tuesday.
In the Hole
The Bears will head to California next weekend, to take on Big West foe Cal State Northridge. The teams will play a double header on that Saturday.
Northern Colorado is coming off a WAC Tournament appearance last season, and looking to grow upon it with the majority of last year's team back.
Series Notes: Northern Colorado | Wichita State | WAC
| Series Information |
| Game 1 | RHP Connor Leedholm (Redshirted 2015) vs RHP Sam Tewes (1-2, 2.42 ERA) | Gameday Central |
| Game 2 | RHP Spencer Applebach (2-5, 9.42 ERA) vs RHP Willie Schwanke (0-2, 3.00 ERA) | Gameday Central |
| Game 3 | TBA vs RHP Chase Williams (3-4, 5.79 ERA) | Gameday Central |
Leading Off
• Northern Colorado finished last year with a 16-32 record, going 12-15 in WAC play.
• The Bears qualified for its first WAC Tournament last season, making it as the six seed. In the double-elimination tournament the team went 0-2 falling to No. 3 seed North Dakota 7-2 and No. 4 seed Sacramento State 5-0.
• Two players from the 2015 team earned All-WAC honors, including Jensen Park being named WAC Player of the Year. Teammate Brandon Vaughn was the other player, who earned a spot on the second team.
• Cole Maltese and Dan Reese were named to College Sports Madness Preseason All-WAC team. Maltese on the first team and Reese on the second.
• Northern Colorado was picked eighth by the WAC coaches in the Preseason Poll. The Bears are use to out playing their expectations after making it to Mesa, Arizona last season for the conference tournament after being picked last in the preseason.
• UNC had its first player drafted in the MLB draft this offseason since 2011. Jensen Park was drafted in the 32nd round by the Colorado Rockies. He played in both rookie ball and low class-A last season.
Scouting Wichita State
Wichita State is coming off a 26-33 record in 2015, finishing tied for third in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 10-11 record. WSU returns 15 letter winners from last year including six position starters.
Last year the Shockers had plenty of success at home, going 20-14 in those games while struggling on the road with a record of 6-19.
First baseman Ryan Tinkham is a key for WSU this year after finishing last year hitting .333 with 10 home runs and knocking in 46 runs to earn 2nd team All-Valley honors.
In the Missouri Valley preseason poll, Wichita State was picked to finish third in the conference again, including picking up one first place vote. Missouri State and Dallas Baptist were picked ahead of the Shockers.
Series History vs the Shockers
The season opening series will mark the fourth series between the Bears and Shockers. WSU holds a 5-1 advantage against UNC. Northern Colorado's lone win in the series came in the inaugural game between the schools in 2005 with an 8-5 win. All six games between the two teams have been played in Wichita.
Yamane The Man
After missing last year with a foot injury, Ryan Yamane has a few different UNC baseball records within reach. Coming into the 2016 season, he ranks ninth in at bats with 610, 15th in hits (179) and second in walks with 110. Yamane is just 11 walks away from tying the program record of 121 set by Jeff Cheek who played from 1972-75.
Season Openers
Since 1960, UNC is 25-31 all-time in season openers. The team is currently on a six game losing streak on opening day. The last victory came on February 20, 2009 when UNC hosted Montana State-Billings and squeaked out a 7-6 victory.
Moving Runners Over
Senior Jake Ek moved plenty of runners over last year, finishing the season ranked 18th in the nation with 15 sacrifice bunts. Those 15 bunts helped produce nine runs for the team last year.
Looking Back on 2015
Northern Colorado made its first ever trip to the WAC Tournament in 2015 since joining the conference, earning the sixth and final spot in it. The Bears went 0-2 in the double elimination tournament falling to North Dakota and Sacramento State.
UNC had the WAC Player of the Year in 2015 in outfielder Jensen Park. Park a senior finished the season hitting .428 with six home runs and 34 runs batted in. Teammate Brandon Vaughn was also named to the All-WAC team earning a spot on the second team.
Bear in the Big Leagues
For the first time since 2011, Northern Colorado had a player drafted in the MLB draft last June. Senior Jensen Park was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 32nd round. Before Park was drafted last year, Jarod Berggren was the last UNC player drafted back in 2011.
Making the Grades
Northern Colorado baseball had seven players earn their spot on the WAC All-Academic team for 2015. Those players were Allen Cook, Caleb Kirkman, Cole Maltese, Dan Reese, Reyn Sugai, Zach Heath and Brett Minnick.
Home Grown
Head coach Carl Iwasaki and his staff have done a good job of keeping the home grown talent in the state. 12 of UNC's 32 hail from the Centennial State.
Hawaii Five-0
The Bears have a little Hawaii flair to them with three players plus head coach Carl Iwasaki and assistant Kaiona Correa all coming to Colorado from the islands.
Exceeding Expectations
For the second straight year, UNC is going to have to exceed the expectations of the WAC coaches to make another trip to Mesa, Arizona for the conference tournament. The WAC coaches pegged the Bears to finish eighth in the conference. Last year the team was picked to finish last in the preseason, but exceed those expectations finishing 7th to make it to Mesa.
New Faces
Northern Colorado not only welcomes 11 new players to this year's ball club, but also has some new faces on the coaching staff. Kai Correa moves up to a full-time assistant after being a volunteer last season, while Coach Iwa also brought on Jordan Stouffer and Dane Siegfried as a volunteer assistant and director of baseball operations.
Class of 2017
While the 2016 season is just about to kick-off, UNC has already secured eight new players for its 2017 team. During the early signing period this year the Bears have brought in three infielders, a catchers, two utility players and a pair of right handed pitchers.
On Deck
Northern Colorado will stay in the Sunflower State, heading over to Lawrence to take on Kansas for a pair of games against the Jayhawks on Monday and Tuesday.
In the Hole
The Bears will head to California next weekend, to take on Big West foe Cal State Northridge. The teams will play a double header on that Saturday.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballTuesday, May 05
Tuesday, May 05
Tuesday, April 21
Tuesday, April 14
