The Anderson University Ravens Baseball Team will be hosting its 2009 Winter Baseball Camps in January. The camps are open to players of all ages. The camps will be held at the Kardatzke Wellness Center on three consecutive Saturdays in January. January 10^th will be our fielding camp, January 17^th will be our pitching/catching camp, and January 24^th will be our hitting/base running camp. Each camp will run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Camp check in begins at 8:30.

If you would like to pre-register for the camps please print and fill out the registration portion of the camp brochure that is located in the AU Baseball Camp link on the left side of this page. More details regarding the camps can be found in the camp brochure. For any further information on the camps please contact David Pressley, assistant baseball coach (dlpressley@anderson.edu).

This years Pitching and Catching Camp will include catching instruction from former professional catcher, Justin Barnes, from the Detroit Tigers system. The pitching portion of the camp will include instruction from current professional pitcher, Adam Bass.

Adam Bass was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks as a pitcher in the 10th round of the Major League Baseball Draft in 2003. The 6’6” right-hander left the Diamondbacks organization to play baseball in Japan in 2007 before returning to the States and playing for the Triple A Portland Beavers of the San Diego Padres in 2008.

The award, given annually to an Anderson University baseball player, was presented at a luncheon of the Anderson Rotary Club at Anderson Country Club.

Jones, a 2004 Anderson High School graduate who will get his diploma at AU this December, is the second winner to come from the Anderson Community Schools system. The first was Highland’s Nathan Willowby in 2005.

“This award acknowledges the warm, special relationship that Anderson University has with Anderson Rotary Club and this community,” said Bill Pitts, who is co-chairman of the award committee. “It acknowledges a player from one of the premier baseball programs, but it’s also our way of saying thanks to Carl Erskine for all he’s done in our community.”

Jones was born and raised in Anderson. He will graduate from AU with over a 3.0 grade-point average.

In four years as a Ravens baseball player he hit over .320. His senior year he hit .368 with a slugging percentage of .571.

Last year he was among those who watched Pete Whiting claim the 2007 award. “I remember thinking it was very cool,” said Jones. “I thought to myself ‘I wonder if I could win that award.’ When October came around I wondered whether I would get a call.”

That call did come and for many reasons. “He has size, speed and a great arm,” said AU coach Don Brandon. “He is a player who puts the team above himself.”

In accepting the award, Jones admitted it meant more because of his upbringing and the name on the trophy. “Since this is my hometown I know what a great honor it is to get this award with Mr. Erskine’s name on it,” he said. “I can only hope to follow in his footsteps in terms of service to people.”

Jones is majoring in Criminal Justice and has applied to both the Anderson and Kokomo police departments. He thanked many people for helping him reach this point in his life, not the least of which was coach Brandon and his coaches.

“I want to thank my family as well for teaching me great life skills,” said Jones. “My family and friends have had a great impact on me.”

Erskine was on hand to present the award.

“We’ve been getting a steady diet on the news of bad things and some that are pretty scary,” said Erskine. “This is one of the good things we have to embrace.”

Erskine was still smarting a bit from the fact that the Los Angeles Dodgers won’t be playing as the World Series opens today. But he had a story to tell directed at Chicago Cubs fans.

“Actually I was rooting for the Cubs for most of the year,” he said. “I heard a story about a Cub fan who was so distraught about his frustration that he asked God if the Cubs would ever win a World Series. God answered ‘Yes, the Cubs will win a World Series! Just not in my lifetime.’”

Anderson Rotary Club President Dana Donahue presented Dr. Carl Caldwell, vice president and dean of Anderson University, with a check for $500 for the school’s general scholarship fund.

“We take these gifts seriously,” said Caldwell. “It will go back out to help out a student.”

<i><b>This story was published in The Herald Bulletin and written by Herald Bulletin sportswriter Rick Teverbaugh

]]> http://www.anderson.edu/w/athletics/2008/jones-wins-erskine-award-for-excellence/feed http://www.anderson.edu/w/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/erskine_thumb.jpg http://www.anderson.edu/w/athletics/2008/three-ravens-named-to-all-hcac-baseball-team http://www.anderson.edu/w/athletics/2008/three-ravens-named-to-all-hcac-baseball-team#comments Thu, 15 May 2008 01:22:27 +0000 jbbates /w/athletics/2008/three-ravens-named-to-all-hcac-baseball-team Anderson University’s Cody Young, Daniel Hiatt and Brad Lantz have been named to the 2008 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball team on Wednesday.

Hiatt batted .388 with seven doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 38 RBI and 54 hits. He led the team in home runs, RBI and hits.

Young batted .341 with eight doubles, six triples, seven home runs, 33 runs scored, 34 RBI and nine stolen bases.

Lantz finished at .336 with eight doubles, two triples, six home runs, 33 RBI and 36 runs scored.

Eric Smith, Stephen Jones and Chris Jarrett were named to the Second Team. Smith batted .367 with seven doubles, two triples, three home runs, 22 RBI and a team-high 39 runs scored. On the mound, he was 6-3 with a 5.45 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 74 innings pitched.

Jones batted .368 with a team-best 12 doubles to go with three triples, three home runs and a team-high 38 RBI. Jarrett batted .333 with nine doubles, a team-high eight triples, three home runs, 26 RBI and a team-best 13 stolen bases.

Honorable mention selections were Brad Schnepp and Kyle Dillon. Schnepp hit a team-high .486 with two doubles, a triple, a home run and 10 RBI. On the mound, he was 3-3 with a 4.18 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched. Dillon was 5-2 with a 4.80 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched.

AU finished the season 24-14 overall and 14-8 in the HCAC.

Senior Eric Smith earned the victory in his final game as a Raven, allowing six hits and three runs over 8.1 innings of work, striking out nine and walking two. Senior Brandon Meadows pitched the final two outs in the win.

Senior Stephen Jones led the offense with four hits, two runs and three RBI, including a pair of doubles. The final senior, Ryne Foster, finished with a hit and two RBI - both on sacrifice flies.

Cody Young also had two hits in the game and David Addington added a double and two runs scored. Chris Jarrett tied a school record with four walks, scoring three runs.

AU won seven of its final eight games, but needed Rose-Hulman to defeat Transylvania on the last day of the season to make the four-team HCAC post-season tournament field. However, Transy rallied from behind to beat Rose 5-3 ending the Ravens’ season.

The Ravens finished 24-14 overall and 14-8 in the HCAC, good for fifth place in the conference standings.

The victories keep alive the Ravens hopes of making the HCAC post-season tournament. The Ravens trail Transylvania by one game for the final spot in the four-team field with one game remaining. An AU victory at Bluffton on Sunday combined with a Pioneer loss to Rose-Hulman would clinch a spot in the tournament.

In the first game, Brad Schnepp tossed a four-hit shutout, walking two and striking out seven to earn his third victory of the season. Schnepp also had two hits and two RBI, including his first career home run at the plate.

Stephen Jones led the Raven offense with three hits, two runs and an RBI, including a home run. Eric Smith also had three hits, two runs and two RBI, including a double and Chris Jarrett had two hits, two runs and four RBI, including a grand slam.

Daniel Hiatt had two hits, three RBI and Cody Young added two hits.

In the second game, Hiatt led the Ravens with three hits, two runs and three RBI, including a triple and a home run. Schnepp had three more hits and an RBI.

Smith had two hits, two runs and Brad Lantz added an RBI double. David Addington had the Ravens 34th triple and scored a run.

Kyle Dillon earned the victory on the mound, allowing four hits and one earned run in 7.1 innings of work, walking one and striking out eight. Brandon Meadows pitched a shutout inning of relief and Smith got the final two outs of the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

AU (23-14, 13-8 HCAC) finishes the regular season at Bluffton on Sunday. The game will be carried live on the internet broadcast at 4:30 p.m.

Stephen Jones led the Ravens with an RBI single in the eighth inning. Four other Ravens had a hit in the game with Eric Smith scoring the lone run after walking to open the eighth inning.

Smith took the loss on the mound, allowing eight hits and three earned runs in eight innings while striking out one and walking one.

AU (21-14, 11-8 HCAC) travels to Bluffton on Friday. The game will be carried live on the internet broadcast at 4 p.m.

In the first game, Cody Young led the Ravens with three hits, three runs and four RBI, including a double and a home run.

Brad Schnepp and Brad Lantz each had three hits, two runs and Justin Decker had two hits, two runs and four RBI, including a double and a triple.

Stephen Jones had two hits, three RBI and David Addington had two hits and two RBI. Brandy Roundtree had a grand slam and five RBI and Chris Jarrett added a home run and three runs scored.

Kyle Dillon earned the victory on the mound, allowing six hits and two runs in seven innings while walking four and striking out five.

In the second game, Eric Smith led the offense with four hits, two runs and four RBI, including two doubles and a triple.

Young had three hits, three runs and four RBI, including a triple and a home run. Addington had two hits, four runs and four RBI, including a triple and Daniel Hiatt had two hits, three runs and three RBI, including a home run.

Jarrett had two hits, three runs, two RBI and Schnepp added two hits, two runs and an RBI, including a double. Ryne Foster added a two-RBI double.

Aaron Vogel improved to 3-0 on the mound, allowing nine hits and three earned runs over 5.1 innings while striking out two. Brandon Meadows, Jake Donnelly and Shane Nevers combined to allow only one hit, one walk, no earned runs and two strikeouts over the final 3.2 innings of relief.

AU (21-13, 11-7 HCAC) travels to Rose-Hulman on Tuesday. The game will be carried live on the internet broadcast from Terre Haute at 6 p.m.

Daniel Hiatt led the Ravens with four hits, two runs and three RBI, including a pair of home runs as the Ravens hit five in the contest.

Stephen Jones had two hits, two runs and three RBI, including a home run and Chris Jarrett had a triple, home run, two runs scored and three RBI.

Justin Decker had two hits, two runs and two RBI, including a home run and Eric Smith had two hits, two runs and three RBI. Brad Schnepp and Brad Lantz added two hits each.

Schnepp earned the victory on the mound, allowing six hits and five runs while walking three and striking out four.

AU (19-13, 9-7 HCAC) travels to Defiance for a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.

Eric Smith led the Ravens with two hits, two runs and two RBI, including a home run. The senior also tossed a complete game, allowing eight hits and two runs while walking two and striking out nine.

Brad Schnepp had two hits and two RBI and Chris Jarrett had a hit and two RBI. Brad Lantz added two hits and Cody Young a triple and two runs.

AU (18-13, 8-7 HCAC) hosts Defiance on Friday. The game will be carried live on the internet broadcast from Raven Park at 4 p.m.

In the first game, Chris Jarrett led the Ravens with a double, triple and an RBI. Eric Smith had two hits and a run and Brad Lantz and Brad Schnepp each had a double and an RBI. Cody Young extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single.
In the second game, Jarrett led the offense again with three hits and an RBI. David Addington had two hits and a run, including a triple. Stephen Jones added an RBI double.

AU (17-13, 7-7 HCAC) travels to Manchester on Tuesday at 4 p.m.