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QUICK HITS Q CAMP A MAKES BA SUMMER PROSPECT LIST Illinois State sophomore pitcher Ryan Camp was tabbed as the No. 3 prospect in the Clark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League (CGL) and was one of the top 220 college prospects on Baseball America’s annual summer prospect list. A right-hander from Mapleton, Ill., Camp started the 2009 Joe Branzell All-Star Game for the CGL against the Maryland Collegiate Baseball League All-Stars, and helped the Vienna Senators claim the CGL crown. Camp went 5-0 with a 2.74 ERA in 13 games, including seven as a starter.
KINGSTON COMPLETES COACHING STAFF CURRENT, MOHL AND DURKAC CHOSEN TO HELP LEAD ‘BIRDS IN 2009 10
Illinois State head baseball coach Mark Kingston completed his coaching staff in June by adding Bo Durkac and Billy Mohl, and retaining current Redbird assistant coach Mike Current. Along with Kingston, the first-year head coach who was officially named the Redbirds’ skipper last week, the staff has a combined 933 wins and remarkable .600 winning percentage as assistants. Durkac will serve as the Redbirds’ hitting coach and recruiting coordinator, Mohl will mentor the Redbirds’ pitching staff and Current will assist with hitting instruction and the fielders. “This is an important day for Redbird baseball,” Kingston said. “You cannot have a top-notch program without a first-rate staff. This staff has all the qualities that a head coach could want. These guys work extremely hard, are very intelligent, and truly care about the development of the student-athlete. Our players will love working with these coaches every day.” Durkac brings a wealth of knowledge to the batter’s box after seven seasons of coaching the hitters at Charlotte and years of professional experience spanning the globe. Durkac’s experience helped Charlotte to steady offensive increases each season, including a school-record .333 batting average in 2008. Mohl attacked the strike zone as a pitcher and, as a result, won a lot of games. In three years as an assistant coach, he’s helped his pitching staffs do the same. Mohl struck out 224 batters and walked just 57 while compiling a 25-7 overall record in four years at Tulane. In three years assisting at his alma mater, the Green Wave averaged 454 strikeouts and 187 walks per season and won more than 35 games per year. Current’s hard work and persistent effort have led to steady gains for the Illinois State baseball program in the past four years. Since the Bloomington, Ill., native joined the Redbirds’ coaching staff in 2006, Illinois State has seen its winning percentage increase in each consecutive season. That includes the team’s first winning season and trip to the postseason in eight years during the 2009 campaign.
Bo Durkac | Virginia Tech ‘95 Hitting Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Keys to success: Talent, preparation and execution. It’s not that complicated. Personal coaching philosophy: Everything done in practice must done at game speed. The biggest difference between levels of play - high school to college, college to pro, etc. - is the speed of the game. The sooner a player can adapt to the increased speed of the game, the sooner he will have success. Goal for the hitters: To maximize each player’s ability by developing the body and the mind. Connection to Kingston: He was a senior and I was a freshman at North Carolina. We were both “cage rats” who were constantly trying to improve ourselves. We hit it off then and remained friends ever since, including my being in his wedding 1997.
Billy Mohl | Tulane ‘07 Pitching Coach Keys to success: Success is a bi-product of hard work and perseverance. I believe that what you decide to put in is what you will get in return. There is no easy path that leads to success. As I have told the pitchers, “Each day you don’t feel like working, someone else out there is.” Those who work hard and persevere, will achieve their goals. Personal coaching philosophy: I am a big believer in individualization. What works for some guys, might not work for others. There is a uniqueness about each pitcher that allows them to be successful. However, there are absolutes that must be present in order for each pitcher to maximize their abilities on the mound. They must be 1) functionally strong 2) mechanically sound and 3) mentally tough. By focusing on these things each and every day, we will have success as a staff. Goals for the pitching staff: First and foremost, I want the student-athletes to receive their education and enjoy their
college experience. Baseball, for most people, does not last very long, but a degree lasts a lifetime. It is very important to me that each player leaves here with a degree. Second, I want each pitcher I work with to maximize their ability on the mound and have a chance to play at the next level. Connection to Kingston: I was part of Coach Kingston’s first recruiting class at Tulane. I played for Coach Kingston for four years and coached with him going on three years now. Coach Kingston is why I ultimately entered the business of college coaching. His work ethic, knowledge and passion for the game, and the way he treats each and every player is second to none. Coach Kingston has been a great mentor for me throughout the years and I am very grateful to serve under him as an assistant coach here at Illinois State.
TEAM SELECTS 2009 HONOREES The Redbirds selected the top players of the 2009 season with a vote after the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Wichita, Kan. Senior second baseman Mike Stalowy was voted as the team’s most valuable player in 2009 with freshman right-hander Ryan Camp being tabbed the team’s most valuable pitcher. Ryan Court was voted as the most improved and Collin Salzenstein edged out Stalowy for the Duffy Bass Mr. Hustle Award. Stalowy was voted as team captain by his peers.
Mike Current | Blackburn ‘05 Assistant Hitting Coach Keys to success: Hard work and proper preparation. If you do these two things, you will maximize your ability. Personal coaching philosophy: Like most coaches, my coaching philosophy is multi-faceted. However, I think that it can be summed up by saying that everything that I do is geared toward helping our players make the most out of their ability. Every player’s needs are different. My job is to make sure that they each get the information that they need in order to develop. Goals for our student-athletes: First and foremost, I want all of our players to have a tremendous experience at Illinois State. I also want to help them accomplish everything they want to accomplish while they are here and prepare them to be successful once they leave. Connection to Kingston: I had never met Coach Kingston prior to him being hired here last August. However, I think that we clicked immediately because we shared similar philosophies and work ethics and had a similar vision for the program.
COURT A FINALIST FOR ISU ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Illinois State third baseman Ryan Court was among the finalists for the male athlete of the year award named for Milt Weisbecker, the former ISU athletics director. Redbird men’s basketball player Osiris Eldridge won the honor. Court emerged as one of the Redbirds’ top offensive contributors after playing in just eight games during the 2008 season. An All-Valley Honorable Mention pick, Court had a .323 batting average, 40 runs and a team-best 41 RBI. He was second on the team with five home runs and hit two game-winning homers on the year. He was named MVC Player of the Week after driving in seven runs in the second game of a doubleheader against Northern Iowa.
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On Deck with Jim Sajewich
r-sr. | rhp | wheaton, Ill. RBI:
It seems like you’ve been here for a while, what is this your seventh or eighth season? (Chuckles) This is my fifth year here, but it feels like I’ve been here for eight. So do you have three degrees you’re finishing up? Nope. I’ll graduate with a degree in economics and a minor in business.
JS: RBI: JS: RBI: MS:
In your time here, what’s been your favorite experience? Probably last year at the (State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament). Getting there for the first time in awhile and playing really well - it was pretty cool.
RBI: JS:
You’ve spent time as a starter and in the bullpen, which is better? When I came here starting, but now relieving. I like pitching less innings but more often. I could be out there one day and then get the call the next day.
RBI:
I hear you and former ISU reliever Eric Theisen have a little thing going about the career appearances record. What’s that about? One day were in the study center looking at the media guide and we got to talking about how our careers were similar with the extra year. I had the single-season appearances record and we mapped it out to see how it might work out. In our estimation, I was always behind him, but I’m within distance of catching him. We exchange texts every once in awhile about it. You’re at 70 appearances and need 16 more to catch Theisen, who is the leader with 86.. Would you consider yourself the Ironman of ISU relievers if you catch him? Perhaps, especially after how many games I threw in my sophomore year (27) - I had a lot ot of innings ess I’m doing too. I may not have the other results, but if I’m being put in there that many times, I guess something right. Are you planning on taking a 22-minute trot around the field like Cal Ripken Jr. if it happens? No. Ha ha. Nothing special planned for it.
JS:
RBI: JS:
RBI: JS: RBI:
I can’t let you go without talking about your size. You played football in high school and might be able to contribute on the offensive line or at QB with your arm, right? I didn’t get any offers but one of my goal’s before I got hurt was to play football here after my four years atter. I was just of baseball, just for the fun of it. I don’t know what I was going to play, it didn’t really matt going to give it a shot. That got dashed when I got hurt my junior year, but I’m not too worried about it.
JS:
RBI:
You’ve been able to meet the new coaches and have worked with the staff during individual dual workouts. What’s the feeling like after the success of last season and the transition? It’s completely different than the previous four years that I’ve been here. The new staff expects more, expects better, expects us to work harder. They’ve definitely instilled a different attitude here - a good attitude. I like it very much so far. I expect big things from us this year.
JS:
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IIMPORTANT DATES September 15 - Fall Practice Begins
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Redbird Baseball Fall World Series
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*Alumni Weekend
Hitting Clinic Fall World Series
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The 2009-10 Illinois State baseball team kicks off fall practice on Sept. 15. The Redbirds opened individual practices on Sept. 24, a week after the fall semester started.
October 9-18 - Redbird Baseball Fall World Series The Redbirds conclude fall practice with the Redbird Baseball Fall World Series. Dates and times for the contests will be announced soon on the baseball page at at GoRedbirds.com.
October 17 - Alumni Weekend Join the Redbirds for a 10 a.m. Redbird Baseball Fall World Series contest and enjoy a hospitality tent before continuing the tailgate at the Illinois State Homecoming festivities. This is your chance to connect with old friends, preview the Redbirds, and take in the football game against Indiana State.
October 18 - Winter Hitting Clinic Begins The first of Illinois State’s two winter hitting clinics begin Sunday, Oct. 18, and runs through Jan. 17. Sign-up today at CollegeBaseballCamps.com or through the camps portal at GoRedbirds.com.