The Shawnee State baseball team has released their schedule for the 2008 season.  The Bears face four teams in the NAIA Pre-season Top 25 including 2007 NAIA runner-up, Spring Arbor University.  The schedule consists of 50 games with 22 of those being played in Portsmouth as well as another six being played at the VA Stadium in Chillicothe. 

“My philosophy with regards to the schedule is for our team to play a very challenging schedule on a yearly basis.  It not only prepares our team for the rigors of conference play but also affords them the opportunity to experience some of the best teams that the NAIA has to offer,” said head baseball coach Ted Tom. 

The Bears open 2008 at home against West Virginia on Tuesday, February 26.  Spring Arbor, pre-season ranked #3, comes to town on Saturday March 1 for a three-way with St. Francis.  St. Francis sticks around on the 2^nd.  Other non-conference doubleheaders include Cardinal Stritch, OSU-Newark, and Walsh coming to town with a trip to Pikeville College and a single game to end the season at Miami-Hamilton. 

The Bears embark on their spring break trip on March 16 as they travel to Southern Wesleyan in Central, SC, followed by a doubleheader the following day at Shorter College in Rome, GA.  The trip comes to a conclusion with a 3-game series in Daytona Beach, FL versus pre-season #10, Embry Riddle. 

Conference play begins March 28 as Notre Dame makes the trip for an opportunity to play on the turf at the VA Stadium in Chillicothe.  Shawnee will also play Mount Vernon Nazarene and Urbana in doubleheaders at the VA .  Malone will make the trip down to the river for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 5.  Rio Grande, Ohio Dominican, pre-season #12, and Cedarville will have home and home doubleheaders throughout the month of April.  The Bears will travel for conference weekend with a trip to Washington, PA to play Point Park and onward to Canton, OH to compete against Walsh.  Mount Vernon and Walsh are also receiving votes in the pre-season NAIA poll.

Game 1:  Game 1 was highlighted by a 2-run homerun in the 5th inning for the Gray Team by sophomore 1st baseman Brian Ramey.  The game ended with a score of 8-8.  Starting on the mound was Junior College transfer, Brad Stafford, who battled returning All-AMC selection, junior Randall Scott.  The two teams battled back and forth the entire game.  Ramey's homerun put the Gray squad up, but not for long as the Blue team mounted a comeback led by a triple from Drew Howard and hits from Zac Alexander and Steve Kelly.  The game ended with the winning run on 2nd base.  Howard led the Blue Team with 4 hits and 5 RBI's.

Game 2:  The Black Team pulled out a decisive 8-4 win over the Blue Team to go ahead in the series.  The Black Team was led by freshman outfielder Justin Bittinger's multi-hit day.  Justin Gregory took the win lasting 5 innings.  Drew Howard and Zac Alexander each had 2 hits to led the Blue Team as Steve Kelly added a 2-run double.  Adam Hatton took the loss for the Blue Team.

Game 3:  In the final game of the series, the Gray Team put the finishing touches on the win.  Through the first 3 innings, the game was back and fourth knotted at 4, highlighted by a homerun from senior Billy Stump.  In the 4th inning, the Gray Team responded with a 5-run inning.  In the 5th inning, Brian Ramey and Logan Crabtree went back-to-back and three batters later, the same feat was executed by Jeremy Blackston and Justin Gregory.  Matt Mader added a solo shot.  Zac Alexander took the loss for the Blue Team while Josh Guy picked up the win for Team Gray.  Offensively, Blackston led the way for the Gray Team with 4 hits including 2 doubles and a homerun.

The series concluded fall workouts for the Bears.  Shawnee State opens the 2008 season on Tuesday, February 26 at Branch Rickey Park with the first pitch set for 1:00 p.n. against West Virginia Tech.

The Shawnee State University baseball team conducted their annual Alumni game on Saturday October 13 at Branch Rickey Park.  The Alumni team pulled out the 17-14 decision over the current players.  Derek Heming (’03) took the hill for the alumni lasting into the 3^rd inning.  Jeff Tillman (’05) picked up the win for the alumni while Philip Holt suffered the defeat for the current players.  Highlights of the day were Matt Conn (’99) and Pat Looney (’03) hitting back-to-back homeruns for the alums’ while Drew Howard hit a 3-run homer to give the current team an early 3-0 lead in the 1^st inning.  To begin the day, Jared Perdue was the last man standing the HomeRun Derby. 

The baseball Bears put the finishing touches to their fall season this week with their 1^st annual Blue vs. Gray Footer & Shake Series.  Game 1 took place on Sunday October 14.  Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday October 16 with the series finale Thursday October 18.  The final two games have 1^st pitch set for 5 PM @ Branch Rickey Park.  Game recaps will be released at the conclusion of the series.

The Shawnee State University Athletic Department announced Monday that Ted Tom has been named head baseball coach.  He is the 5^th career in the 16-year history of the program. 

“Ted is an outstanding baseball guy,” said Shawnee State Athletic Director Jim Arnzen.  “In my 19 years at Shawnee State, I’ve never seen an athlete work harder at his or her sport than Ted.  That work ethic has carried over into his coaching career.  We’re truly excited that Ted is returning to the Shawnee State baseball program.” 

Ted Tom played for Shawnee State from 2001 – 2004.  He was a red-shirt member of the 2000 team that finished 5th in the NAIA World Series.  He was a career .283 hitter with 21 doubles and 52 RBI.  He earned All-AMC honors as a senior. 

“It has always been a goal of mine to be a head college coach,” said Tom.  “I can’t imagine a better place to accomplish that goal than my alma mater.  Shawnee State means a great deal to me, and this opportunity affords me the chance to give back to the program that gave so much to me.” 

Tom graduated from Shawnee State with a degree in Sport Management in 2004.  He spent the following two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at Indiana University where he obtained a master’s degree in athletic administration.   

In 2006 he was named the outfield instructor at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL.  While there, he also served as an assistant coach at the Pendleton School and head coach in the Florida Collegiate Instructional League. 

Shawnee State University Baseball coach Tom Bergan has submitted his resignation effective immediately.  Bergan, a former pitcher in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization, has been the head coach at Shawnee State since 2002.  He served as Shawnee State’s pitching coach for 4 seasons prior to becoming head coach. 

In six seasons at the helm, Bergan guided the Bears to a 118-117-1 record.  Shawnee State was 23-19 (11-7 AMC) in 2007.  Bergan has coached 34 All-American Mideast Conference honorees, 2 NAIA All-Americans, and 3 NAIA All-Scholar Athletes.  

“I want to wish all the athletes and teams at Shawnee State the best in their future endeavors,” said Bergan.  “I have enjoyed my time here, but it is time for me to make change.  Baseball has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and it will be very hard to leave it behind, however, this is what is best for me and my family.” 

“Tom’s dedication and commitment to the Shawnee State Baseball Team and Athletic Department over the last 10 years are greatly appreciated,” said Shawnee State assistant athletic director Jared Shoemaker.  “We hate to see Tom leave, but we certainly understand and respect his decision.” 

A search for Bergan’s replacement will begin immediately.

Six Shawnee State Baseball players have been named to All-American Mideast Conference teams as selected by conference coaches.  Zac Shoaf was named 1st Team All-Conference.  Justin Craft and Bryan Doberdruk earned 2nd Team honors.  Jonathon Venters, Randall Scott, and Corey Fischer were named All-AMC Honorable Mention.

Zac Shoaf, a senior outfielder from Pickerington, hit .301 with 6 doubles and 11 RBI.  He led the team with 36 runs and 17 stolen bases. 

Justin Craft, a junior 3rd baseman/pitcher from South Webster, hit .328 with 15 doubles and 4 homeruns.  He led the team with 43 hits and 26 RBI.  On the mound, Craft posted a 3-3 record with an ERA of 2.86.  He struck out 49 batters while walking just 22.

Bryan Doberdruk, a junior outfielder from Painesville, hit .317 with 6 doubles and 2 triples with 18 RBI.  He scored 26 runs and stole 7 bases. 

Jonathon Venters, a junior pitcher from Xenia, posted a 3-3 record with 1 save and an ERA of 3.14.  He struck out 36 batters and allowed 17 walks.

Randall Scott, a sophomore pitcher from Portsmouth, had a record of 6-4 with an ERA of 5.25.  He recorded 31 strike outs and allowed 15 walks.  He tossed a complete-game no-hitter in a 4-0 win over Urbana University on April 2.

Corey Fischer, a sophomore middle infielder from Xenia, led the team with a .370 batting average.  He had 3 double, 9 RBI, and 14 runs scored.