GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – For the first time in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference history, the baseball season will begin in the fall and Cornerstone gets it started Friday at 6 p.m. when they welcome first-year program Lawrence Tech to DeWitt Field. CU will play a trio of WHAC series in which the Golden Eagles face off against LTU, Madonna and Concordia in three 9-inning contests.
What's Next?
Cornerstone opens its 2016-17 campaign with three WHAC series against Lawrence Tech, Madonna and Concordia. CU will get it started on Friday when they face the first-year Blue Devils of LTU. The Golden Eagles and Blue Devils will play one 9-inning game on Friday at 6 p.m. and follow with a pair of 9-inning games on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
New Head Coach
Chuck Lowitzki will make his head coaching debut in the college ranks starting this fall. Lowitzki has been the recruiting coordinator and pitching coach since the Golden Eagles re-started the program in 2012. Prior to coming to Cornerstone, Lowitzki served as an assistant coach at Prairie Ridge (Illinois) for 13 years where he led team to eight Regional titles, five conference titles and a state runner-up in 2010
Experience in the Field
The Golden Eagles will feature many experienced faces in the field and at the plate this year as they return three of their four infielders and two of three outfielders as well as both primary catchers. Anchoring the defense will be third-year starting catcher
Adam Harvey as well as sophomore
Levi Martin who saw significant action last season. Around the infield, sophomores
Aaron Krupansky (SS) and
Joe Corsten (3B) are joined by junior
Jon Stewart (2B) while transfer
Jarod Burton looks to man first base. In the outfield, Lowitzki will have 4
th year starter
Jonny Abbadusky in center and junior
Brady Volmering in right while freshman
Brady Eeles looks to get the nod in left field.
Fresh New Faces on the Mound
Cornerstone had a bulk of its pitchers graduate from 2016 and will look to many fresh faces to take the ball in 2016-17. Leading the way is sophomore
Clay Keltner who came on strong during his freshman campaign last year. Two new pitchers are expected to get immediate roles as starters in
Kyle Herrick (transfer from Alabama A&M) and
Noah Reed (transfer from Olivet Nazarene). CU has a wealth of depth in the bullpen led by
Troy Holstad,
Brett Shure,
Collin Young,
Zach Brog and
Jake Ellis.
Alums Return to Coach
Head coach
Chuck Lowitzki has a whole new staff starting this year along with returning bench coach
Ron Engels. He was able to add four alums to the program on staff as he welcomes in
Tommy Enslen (hitting coach),
Luke Heller (pitching coach) as well as
Travis Gordon and
Seth Ritsema as assistants.
Remaining Fall Schedule
Cornerstone will head on the road for their other two WHAC series this fall as they play at Madonna (October 1-2) and at Concordia (October 7-8)
Series Notes
Cornerstone and Lawrence Tech have not yet met as this will be the first year for the Blue Devils' program. They are under the guidance of head coach Stan Eldridge. He has a vast experience in college baseball and specifically to the WHAC as he has coached at Siena Heights, Concordia and Spring Arbor.
Quick Look to Last Season
Cornerstone posted a 19-33 record last season which included their second straight appearance at the WHAC Tournament. CU had a season high winning streak of seven games and finished with a conference record of 13-18.
New Look to the WHAC
The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference has several new looks as the new season begins. For the first time ever, fall baseball has come to the WHAC. Each member school will play three regular season three-game series which will count toward the year-end record. In addition, each conference series has been shortened from four games to three this year, but all three contests will be scheduled for nine innings. Finally, there are two new additions to WHAC baseball. Lawrence Tech is playing baseball on campus for the first time while Rochester (Mich.) joins the conference as an affiliate member for baseball only.
Baseball Contact:
Aaron Sagraves
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