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Baseball: Erstad, Huskers look to make tweaks

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Jan 5, 2010
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Nebraska’s fall baseball roster is almost set with fall ball just five weeks away, and Husker coach Darin Erstad is back at work.

Erstad has determined the needs for the 2016 season. The fall camp will start Sept. 1 and conclude with the annual Red-White Series beginning Oct. 14.

“We need to address our on-base performance,” Erstad said Monday. “We’ve been solid on defense and had good pitching and decent hitting. But we did not run the bases well and, frankly, we’re not getting on base and that’s on me. I will have to take responsibility and get that worked out.”

Erstad, whose teams contended for Big Ten championships in 2013 and 2014, saw the Huskers (41-21) finish eighth last season and be eliminated from the conference tournament quickly.

NU ended up fifth in the conference in hitting, third in pitching, and first in fielding. The Huskers were seventh in on-base percentage (hits, walks, errors, hit by pitch), and eighth in runs scored and RBIs.

“Our plan didn’t work out,” Erstad said. “We have never had a high on-base percentage since we’ve been here and it seems like if we don’t hit our way on base, we won’t get on.”

Erstad suggested some changes will be made to address the issue.

“We don’t second-guess, but we have to make adjustments and in order to put pressure on the other defense, we have to get people on base and run the bases better next year. We hit more homers than the previous season, but you have to get people on to do what we want to do.”

Briefly

* Shortstop Steven Reveles, who missed 2014 with an injury, was granted a medical redshirt and will be able to play in 2016.

* Senior pitcher Colton Howell turned down an offer to sign with the San Diego Padres and will return for his senior year. He was picked in the 27th round if the June Major League Baseball Draft.

“We help as much as we can in talking up the college game and the players get a full picture from the pro side,” Erstad said. “I have always felt that you should have a number (salary) in mind and if you don’t get it, stay in college. If you get your number, then you should go professional.”

* The Huskers will open next season in the Tony Gwynn Classic in San Diego. After that, the nonconference schedule includes games against Kansas State, UNO and Creighton, among others. Erstad said the schedules are somewhat full through 2018, but recent drops for next season have left some work to do before he can announce the complete slate.

* Pitcher Jake Hohensee, the Lincoln East graduate who was 1-0 with a 2.08 earned-run average in 12 appearances last season, had Tommy John surgery and will miss next season.

“He pitched so well, and even when he lost his velocity, he still had a great changeup, but his last appearance, at Illinois, was it,” Erstad said.

* Catcher recruit Jesse Wilkening, who turned down an offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks, will miss part of the fall season as he recovers from a broken hamate bone — outside of the wrist near the pinkie finger. Wilkening set an Indiana high school record for hits last spring.

* Husker pitcher Jake McSteen, who had a solid start to the season, but injured his shoulder and missed the remainder of the year, is still rehabilitating.

* Erstad traveled to Massachusetts to see NU center fielder Ryan Boldt, who played in the Cape Cod League All-Star Game. “Good player and still works as hard as anybody,” Erstad said.

* Nebraska sophomore pitcher Garett King is having a nice summer in the California Collegiate League. King is 4-0 with a 1.24 ERA in 36 1/3 innings, and has 36 strikeouts for the Santa Barbara Foresters.

* Erstad said recruiting is still ongoing. Nebraska recruits include: Angelo Altavilla, a shortstop from Lakeville, Minnesota; catchers Brady Childs from Neosho (Kansas) Community College and Wilkening of Cedar Lake, Indiana; Matt Waldron, who threw a no-hitter to help Omaha Westside to the Class A state title last spring; Mike Waldron, Matt’s twin brother, who will walk on; Ben Klenke, an outfielder from Seward; Cole Klemke, a shortstop from Torrey Pines, California; and shortstop Alex Henwood of Appleton, Wisconsin. The list of pitchers includes Ethan Frazier of Blue Springs, Missouri; and Robbie Palkert of Hopkins, Minnesota. Pitcher Pierce Romero of Santa Barbara (California) Community College signed with the Diamondbacks.

* The Kansas City Royals will hold Husker Night at Kauffman Stadium on Aug. 8. “Worlds of Fun, lots of kids, baseball in Kansas City — although no Alex Gordon this year — and it should be a blast,” Erstad said.

http://journalstar.com/sports/huske...cle_8c907636-1415-5d98-84f8-85dc01bd9a52.html
 
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Nebraska’s fall baseball roster is almost set with fall ball just five weeks away, and Husker coach Darin Erstad is back at work.

Erstad has determined the needs for the 2016 season. The fall camp will start Sept. 1 and conclude with the annual Red-White Series beginning Oct. 14.

“We need to address our on-base performance,” Erstad said Monday. “We’ve been solid on defense and had good pitching and decent hitting. But we did not run the bases well and, frankly, we’re not getting on base and that’s on me. I will have to take responsibility and get that worked out.”

Erstad, whose teams contended for Big Ten championships in 2013 and 2014, saw the Huskers (41-21) finish eighth last season and be eliminated from the conference tournament quickly.

NU ended up fifth in the conference in hitting, third in pitching, and first in fielding. The Huskers were seventh in on-base percentage (hits, walks, errors, hit by pitch), and eighth in runs scored and RBIs.

“Our plan didn’t work out,” Erstad said. “We have never had a high on-base percentage since we’ve been here and it seems like if we don’t hit our way on base, we won’t get on.”

Erstad suggested some changes will be made to address the issue.

“We don’t second-guess, but we have to make adjustments and in order to put pressure on the other defense, we have to get people on base and run the bases better next year. We hit more homers than the previous season, but you have to get people on to do what we want to do.”

Briefly

* Shortstop Steven Reveles, who missed 2014 with an injury, was granted a medical redshirt and will be able to play in 2016.

* Senior pitcher Colton Howell turned down an offer to sign with the San Diego Padres and will return for his senior year. He was picked in the 27th round if the June Major League Baseball Draft.

“We help as much as we can in talking up the college game and the players get a full picture from the pro side,” Erstad said. “I have always felt that you should have a number (salary) in mind and if you don’t get it, stay in college. If you get your number, then you should go professional.”

* The Huskers will open next season in the Tony Gwynn Classic in San Diego. After that, the nonconference schedule includes games against Kansas State, UNO and Creighton, among others. Erstad said the schedules are somewhat full through 2018, but recent drops for next season have left some work to do before he can announce the complete slate.

* Pitcher Jake Hohensee, the Lincoln East graduate who was 1-0 with a 2.08 earned-run average in 12 appearances last season, had Tommy John surgery and will miss next season.

“He pitched so well, and even when he lost his velocity, he still had a great changeup, but his last appearance, at Illinois, was it,” Erstad said.

* Catcher recruit Jesse Wilkening, who turned down an offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks, will miss part of the fall season as he recovers from a broken hamate bone — outside of the wrist near the pinkie finger. Wilkening set an Indiana high school record for hits last spring.

* Husker pitcher Jake McSteen, who had a solid start to the season, but injured his shoulder and missed the remainder of the year, is still rehabilitating.

* Erstad traveled to Massachusetts to see NU center fielder Ryan Boldt, who played in the Cape Cod League All-Star Game. “Good player and still works as hard as anybody,” Erstad said.

* Nebraska sophomore pitcher Garett King is having a nice summer in the California Collegiate League. King is 4-0 with a 1.24 ERA in 36 1/3 innings, and has 36 strikeouts for the Santa Barbara Foresters.

* Erstad said recruiting is still ongoing. Nebraska recruits include: Angelo Altavilla, a shortstop from Lakeville, Minnesota; catchers Brady Childs from Neosho (Kansas) Community College and Wilkening of Cedar Lake, Indiana; Matt Waldron, who threw a no-hitter to help Omaha Westside to the Class A state title last spring; Mike Waldron, Matt’s twin brother, who will walk on; Ben Klenke, an outfielder from Seward; Cole Klemke, a shortstop from Torrey Pines, California; and shortstop Alex Henwood of Appleton, Wisconsin. The list of pitchers includes Ethan Frazier of Blue Springs, Missouri; and Robbie Palkert of Hopkins, Minnesota. Pitcher Pierce Romero of Santa Barbara (California) Community College signed with the Diamondbacks.

* The Kansas City Royals will hold Husker Night at Kauffman Stadium on Aug. 8. “Worlds of Fun, lots of kids, baseball in Kansas City — although no Alex Gordon this year — and it should be a blast,” Erstad said.

http://journalstar.com/sports/huske...cle_8c907636-1415-5d98-84f8-85dc01bd9a52.html

Not holding my breath on any major changes in regards to our approach at the plate and on the base paths. We have heard the "pressure the defense" motto from Erstad since the day he was hired and going on year 5 he really hasn't accomplished what he preaches. Good news on Reveles as I don't know if Edrington will ever be a D-1 caliber hitter. But bad news on Hoensee...I was hoping he would be in the starting rotation next year.
 
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