Judson has high expecations again
The Judson University men’s baseball team had itself one heck of a record-breaking party last year.
The Eagles, under the direction of head coach Rich Benjamin, broke the program record for most wins in a season with 42. Seven individual single-season marks were broken as well. Judson received votes in the NAIA national poll and also won 15 games in a row at one point.
So what does the team have in store for an encore? Based on the talent and depth that dots Benjamin’s roster, it could be more of the same.
“This is definitely a better team than we had a year ago,” the coach stated. “Last year we set the school record for wins and I felt we had a couple of holes in the bottom of the lineup and with our pitching depth. This year, our recruiting class took care of those needs.”
Judson has no shortage of firepower back from a year ago.
Junior Brian Brauer (2B, Streamwood graduate) was an NCCAA all-American a year ago, a CCAC first-team pick and was a member of the CCAC Gold Glove team. Fellow junior Johnny Amann (CF) also was an NCCAA all-American choice and an all-conference first-team selection. Amann is a Jacobs alum.
Senior TJ Swank (DH, RHP) is a returning NCCAA all-American and was an all-CCAC second-team pick in 2011.
Returning senior all-conference right fielder Matt McHenry is a returning four-year starter and recently broke the program record for career hits.
Seniors Tyler Ware (NCCAA all-region) and Westminster Christian alum Ben Palmer (NCCAA national player of the week honors last year) return to help anchor the pitching staff.
Benjamin also is high on St. Charles East product Tony Rallo (1B), third baseman Josh Raymond (who hit 17 home runs his senior year at Mahomet-Seymour High School), ECC transfer Craig Lipp (LF, 7-0 on the mound for ECC), Cameron Balough (C), Jake Kane (C), Billy Wright (SS), Elliot Bajda (utility), Cody Love (utility) and KC Wright (utility).
In addition to Ware and Palmer, Swank, Burlington Central product George Heller (TIU transfer and all-CCAC choice), Andrew Bergmann, Ryan Pollock, Lipp, Kevin Carmody (Bartlett) and Jordan Pemble give the Eagles exceptional depth on the mound. Pemble will be the team’s closer.
“I like the fact guys have accepted their roles early on,” Benjamin said. “Those roles could change by the week based on our needs.”
In that vein, Benjamin was particularly pleased with Love’s effort in a recent game. The West Aurora product came off the bench to belt a 3-run homer that helped Judson erase a 5-0 deficit in the ninth inning and win a game 8-5.
“We have a couple of guys coming off our bench that we really like that are going to be future stars for us,” Benjamin noted. “Right now, they are coming off the bench. We have some quality depth that we did not have a year ago.”
Judson was off to a 4-4 start through midweek. The Eagles played a stretch of games to start off the season in the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Two of the four games in Minneapolis were against nationally ranked St. Cloud State.
“We’ve played pretty well so far,” Benjamin said. “It’s tough because we haven’t been outside every day, but we are getting the job done.”
Judson is preparing for its trip to Ormond Beach Fla., where it will play 11 games in an 8-day stretch. That junket opens Saturday against Ashford.
“Everybody pitches on this trip,” Benjamin laughed. “It’s a great opportunity for us to play every day before we head into conference. Our goal is to get in 20 to 21 games before we head into our conference schedule.”
Benjamin feels the CCAC will be a tough loop to navigate through.
“The conference is deep,” he said. “St. Francis, Saint Xavier, Robert Morris, Olivet Nazarene and Judson will battle it out for the conference championship.”
Judson opens conference play March 16 with a 9-inning game at Illinois Tech. The Eagles’ home-opener is slated for a day earlier at Hoffer Field against Wheaton College (1 nine-inning game).
McHenry and Raymond each had 11 hits through the team’s first 8 games. Raymond was tops in RBI with 6. Ware was 2-0 on the mound in 10-plus innings of work. He had 11 strikeouts.