Kevin Kocks Courtesy CSU Athletics
BSB resumes its fall season series as we conclude the state’s trio of Horizon League schools with today’s feature on the Cleveland State Vikings.
Optimism is in the air on the shores of Lake Erie, and no it is not hopes and wishes that Santa will bring wonderful gifts next week.
It is not the hope and dreams of a Cavaliers championship and retaining LeBron James, surely we know the Browns offer very little in the feel good category, and lets not even mention in Indians.
However there is a baseball team with momentum in their favor, and with a few breaks going their way can turn the corner and bring a winner to Cleveland; the CSU Vikings.
Coming off of a 2009 season which had the Viking finish 21-31 overall and 12-13 in Horizon League play there are plenty of positives in favor Cleveland State.
•The 21 wins are second most since 2001, with the most being 22 a season before in 2008.
•Head Coach Kevin Kocks is now in his fourth season, and has an entire roster of “his players”
•The Vikings will play 2010 home games in a first class facility at All Pro Freight Stadium
•Construction is underway to improve on-campus facilities
•Cleveland State returns two players who were honored on the All-Newcomer team and a potent offense
Buckeye State Baseball was able to catch up with Kocks and allow the man in charge of the turnaround to himself fill us in on the changes taking place at Cleveland State, how fall practice went, who to keep an eye on, and why this season has a strong chance to be one of the most successful in Vikings history.
BSB: First coach we thank you for taking the time to sit down and give insight into your program.
As you are now in your fourth season as the head coach of Cleveland State after taking over for a program that fell on hard times the Vikings finished with a 21-31 record in 2009 with momentum seemingly being built year after year.
What might be different for you and your staff as you enter and approach this season? In laying the groundwork and foundation for a program what stages have you been set, while what still needs installed?
KK: You are correct! When I got here the program was not left in very good shape. But, that is always the challenge and seems to be what we do best and that is to build programs. I do have good support from my superiors and the whole culture here at CSU has changed for the better.
When I first arrived at CSU the image of the program in the community was very negative, so the first step was to change that. We had to change the stadium we were playing in. The stadium where CSU played was simply not acceptable and teams never wanted or enjoyed coming to play us. I found after 3 months of searching and moved the team to a new facility being built in Lorain, Ohio.
Yes, we had to travel to get to it, but I have always had to travel to play home games in my career, it was nothing new. The Pipeyard in Lorain became our home and immediately changed our image about us. Teams now wanted to play us and were happy to play on a fine facility.
After 3 years we have out grown the facility and now have moved to Avon, Ohio and will play at the new $12 million dollar stadium called All-Pro Freight Stadium, home of the Lake Erie Crushers. So in short we have gone from playing on the worst facility to the best facility in the state in just 3 short years. It has impacted us in a major way. Especially recruiting….
Do also remember we are also working on building our own baseball facility on campus in the near future. We are building major momentum. We are excited about that.
BSB: With the surroundings and image of the program being addressed in turning to building the program from a roster position you will be entering a season where for the first time you have seniors that you recruited and have seen progress year to year. How does that feel and what does it bring to the program?
KK: This will be the first year that I do have all but 1 player who we have brought in. 3 years ago I also inherited and academic mess. I could not just run kids out of the program due to new NCAA APR issues. We now are a model program and kids are graduating and we now can start to build.
Some of the young men we have brought in over the 3 years have been here to fill roles. We now can go after the top athletes and have a great shot of landing them!
From a recruiting stand point I like to have freshmen in our program so we can groom them within the style and system we play. We will sign JUCO kids for a quick fix, but it takes a good year to learn and get comfortable within the system. I would rather get 3 to 4 years out of a freshmen versus 1 out of a JUCO kid.
BSB: In looking at the Vikings roster with fall practice behind us, what thoughts do you have after the team practices with an eye for the 2010 season?
KK: We will still be young in a lot of areas and also have some experience in others.
Behind the plate will be Sr. Kyle Shaffer (47 games, 34 starts in 2009, .261 3HR, 14RBI) and Fr. Rob Suitca. They have separated themselves from the others. We should be pretty good in this area. Shaffer will get looks from the next level, Suitca can give us both defense and offense.
At 3B will be redshirt-Soph. Tyler Wynn (41/46, .303-11-55). He has grown up a lot over last year and could have a breakout year.
Up the middle we will rotate Jr. Tom Carter (47/49 .302-4-22) and Soph. Jason Haditsch (9/18, .108-0-1) back and forth. Hopefully this keeps them competitive.
At first base will be a combination of Fr. Brent Casto, (Strongsville HS/Strongsville, OH) and our catchers. Whoever can catch, throw and hit will play.
In the outfield we will have Sr. Ryan Franks (30/34, .380-2-20) in leftfield. Franks along with Shaffer will be our leaders. Sophomore Alex Johnson, (38/51, .307-4-32) who should have been the freshmen of the year in our conference last year, will probably lock down centerfield. The battle will be in rightfield. Vinnie Marquard a freshman from St. Elucid/St. Edward HS, Jr. Travis Miller (20/27, .228-1-15), Fr. Dylan Schwegler (Aliquippa, PA/Hopewell HS) and maybe Shaffer can handle it.
Our pitching staff will be untested. Yes, we lost second-team All-Horizion League Josh Hungerman and 4 other seniors on the mound and we also asked a couple of other arms not to come back. So we have a new look this year.
What we do have this year is much better arm strength. We have replaced Hungerman with new arms. We do have a mix of upperclassmen and freshmen. The returning players include juniors Anthony Sambula (3-4, 6.29 ERA, 58.2 IP, 32 K’s in 2009), Cody Bates, and Joey Gradney. Sophomores Nate Blankemeyer (0-2, 9.60, 15.0, 8), and Nate Dick (4-1, 4.13, 32.2, 11) joined by senior Jimmy Cowhy (1-2, 6.64, 39.1, 26). All will be counted on to show the way with being familiar with the mound at this level.
We have 7 freshmen, 2 have really separated themselves from the rest. Tim Clark (Vermillion,Vermillion HS) and Kris Hall (Strongsville) will see plenty of action in there first year. Brandon Cooper (Eastlake, OH), Pat Shedlock (Mentor, OH/University HS), Chris Snopel (Clinton, Canton Central Catholic) , Schwegler will see time as needed. Tyler Smith (Wadsworth) will red-shirt.
We do have depth and we will need all arms to grow up as fast as possible. The big factor is our arm strength is so much better and we have kids who believe they can win. We did not have that in the past. So it is good to get the past out and the new in! Miller will close for us this year and could end up being one of the best in our league.
BSB: As attention turns to the upcoming season nearly just two months away, overall what is the tone of the baseball program, and what thoughts and impression are being carried into the new season?
KK: We have really good team chemistry and have a lot of excitement with being in a new facility.
When I came here, I came with the same objective I have wherever I am at and that is for our young men to get degrees and win championships. Our saying is simple: see the vision, believe in the vision, be a part of the vision.
We now have a program that is headed in that direction. I keep telling everyone, don’t take us for granted, we are ready to break out. What ever images you have had about CSU, you can come see for yourself that it is now for real
Filed under: Division I | Tagged: Cleveland State
This coach is arrogant and insane. He did not inherit half of the issues hes talking about. I know of three kids he recruited that were academic problems and are not on the team anymore. The previous didnt recruit those kids he did
He’s not arrogant or insane, he’s just confident. I played for CSU the past 4 years, and with him for 3 of the years. People just assume that he’s arrogant because he actually has confidence in his team. The image of the team, on and off the field, has completely changed from my freshman year until now. The team GPA is now around a 3.0 and we actually have some respect from other teams in the Horizon League, which we didn’t have before. I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do this coming season in the Horizon League and wish them the best of luck.
The image hasnt changed in the high school coaching community. He talks a good game but they havent won anything. Even when you where there those teams didnt beat anyone and did about the same as the previous years. Why dont you talk about the guys he brought in that where academic nightmares and arent on the team anymore.
Well actually they’ve won 20 games or more the last 2 seasons, which they haven’t done since 2000 or 2001, so I’m pretty sure they are improving. And I didn’t talk about the guys that were ineligible because he can’t control what a player is going to do off the feild. A recruit may have straight A’s coming out of high school, but you don’t know what they are going to do once they get away from home. They may be a great athlete, but some kids just can’t handle their free time the way they should. I don’t see how you can really blame that on a coach when it’s a players fault for not getting the grades. Like you said, they aren’t on the team anymore, which means he doesn’t keep kids that have academic problems. They’re released from the program and the problem is solved.
If read right you would see i said they didnt beat anyone. he downgraded the schedule alot just like this season they play balwin wallace,notre dame and case. When i talk about grades im refering to his notion that he took over a mess. If anything the last coaching staff didnt take many academic risk. You can ask people on staff atthe school and they will tell you this guy is an arrogant wind bag that just talks a good game but cant back it up.
I did read it right and I don’t dissagree with you about the schedule, it has been pretty weak. We beat Louville a couple years ago, who was ranked 13th at the time, but other than that, you’re right about not really beating anyone big. But that’s just a part of rebuilding, it doesn’t happen overnight. Theres no reason to play big time teams right now when the team is still really young and have no experience playing at that level. But I agree and think they should at least have a couple big teams on the schedule.
Cleveland State will score runs. The question is whether they will stop the other team from scoring. If their bullpen does a serviceable job, then they will contend for the conference championship.
Cleveland State Baseball is awesome
From what I can tell, so far, the man is trying to improve the program. He has scored a couple of good recruits lately. A few I was surprised he got. This next few years will tell.
Ryan Franks should be a great leader and lead the team to a surprising year!