Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

2/15/2008
Story by Tyler Cundith

2008 Baseball Preview

Infielders

Johnson County returns a solid defensive left side in 2008, in slick fielding shortstop Doug Otto (Jeff City, MO – So.) and Drew Garwood (St. Joseph, MO - RS Fr). These two guys should anchor the Cavalier infield and serve as defensive captains. David Drahozal (Cedar Rapids, IA – Fr.) will make the move from shortstop to starting second baseman and will be counted on to be solid up the middle. The Cavaliers will also rely on the services of Cody Mohan (Lansing, KS – So.) as one of the better utility men in the conference. Cody has the ability to step in and play any position on the infield as well as anyone. His left handed bat will also be counted on off the bench. First base will be occupied by power hitting transfer and Ouachita Baptist signee Chad Griffin (Baldwin, KS – Sop.). Chad will be counted on to drive in runs and will help provide much of the power in the Cavalier line-up. Another first baseman Brian McCulloch (Kansas City, MO – Fr) will see plenty of action and be counted on to provide power to the line-up.

Outfielders

The outfield will have a new look this year after losing everyone to graduation last season. Jeremy Francis (Emporia, KS – So.) will make the move from starting second baseman in 2007 to patrolling left field in 2008. Jeremy made great strides this winter and is starting to look very comfortable in the outfield. Jeremy is the leading returning hitter from last year’s squad (.361) and will be counted to smash those numbers in the lead-off spot this season. Anchoring the outfield defense in center field will be transfer Parker Amos (Shawnee, KS – So.). He has Kansas Jayhawk experience and his leadership will be counted on in 2008. In right field the Cavaliers will look for John Lenherr (Hutchinson, KS – Fr.) to produce big numbers. John will likely bat third for the Cavaliers and be expected to be an offensive leader all season long. Ashton Phillips (Savannah, GA – RS Fr) and Drew House (Hutchinson, KS – Fr) will provide much needed depth in the outfield. Ashton is the best overall athlete on the team and Drew will provide a left handed bat off the bench when not playing.

Catchers

The catching position is the deepest position for the Cavaliers. Mitchell Mathis (Leawood, KS – Soph) will return for his second season after batting an impressive (.347) a year ago. He will give us a great boost with his bat and has the ability to handle a staff. Andy Chamberlin (Lee’s Summit, MO – So.) will look to compete for a starting spot. Andy has the ability to shut down a running game and should add some much needed power to the line-up. Backing those two up will be Nate Thomas (Earlville, IA – Fr) and Robbie Eisenhut (Topeka, KS – So.). Nate will likely start the season as the starting DH as he proved that he can hit with the best of them this fall. Robbie will compete for playing time and is one of the hardest working players on the field.

Starting Pitching

The starting pitching will be one of the team’s strengths this season. The Cavalier’s return two starters from last season in Kansas University signee Travis Blankenship (Lawrence, KS – So.) and Dustin Holthaus (Topeka, KS – So.). Travis was 6-2 last season and had a 2.91 ERA in his freshman campaign. Dustin Holthaus was 6-3 with an amazing 1.60 ERA. They will both be counted on for valuable innings and their leadership will be important to the young staff. Following the aces of the staff will be talented freshman Brandon Droge (Topeka, KS – Fr), Ryan Garman (Cedar Rapids, IA – Fr), Tanner Neuberger (West Des Moines, IA – Fr), and Raul Guevara (Topeka, KS – Fr). All of these freshmen throw strikes, mix pitches well, and have electric stuff. It should be exciting watching them grow and seeing just how good they can be. Droge is a big lefty who knows how to pitch and is only going to get better. He throws a plus fastball, change-up, and slider. Garman is the bulldog of the staff that refuses to lose. He throws strikes and possesses the best curveball on the team. He is expected to win a lot of games and always keep the game close.

Relief Pitching

As always the relievers will be counted on in several occasions to get the Cavaliers out of jams. Scott Brady (St. Charles, MO – Fr) will serve as the left handed specialist out of the bullpen. He has the ability to get anyone out but is very tough on left handed hitters. He throws 3 plus pitches and looked very good in the fall. The stoppers out of the pen will be Tanner Neuberger (West Des Moines, IA – Fr), Raul Guevara (Topeka, KS – Fr) and Ben Runyon (Alberta, CAN – Fr). Tanner is 6’7 and can really bring the heat. He throws a plus fastball and an outstanding slider. Raul Guevara is a fierce competitor on the mound and is not afraid to attack anyone. He is the guy you want to have the ball in big situations. Runyon has the most electric stuff on the staff and will throw everything at you but the kitchen sink. You will see a lot of strikeouts out of his arm this year. These three guys will be counted on to hold leads and stop big innings. Blake Gosch (Maize, KS – Fr) and Drew Mikkelson (Stilwell, KS – Fr) will be the long relievers for the Cavaliers. Gosch mixes pitches and uses his pin point accuracy to keep hitters off balance. He has the ability to throw any pitch on any count which makes him a very dangerous weapon. Mikkelson was the most improved pitcher in the fall and will be counted on to throw a lot of valuable innings this spring.

Closers

Closers this year will be Jake Smith (Leawood, KS- So.) and Nick Holtgrieve (Independence, MO – Fr). Smith has improved the most from last season as any pitcher to ever wear a Cavalier uniform. He dropped his arm angle and increased velocity and movement. Smith throws a plus fastball and a nasty slider and will be counted on to hold a lot of leads this spring. Holtgrieve will give Smith much needed rest. Holtgrieve is another side arm pitcher who shows plus stuff. He will serve as the set up man and back-up closer when Smith can’t go. Holtgrieve throws strikes and attacks hitters.

Overall

As always, at Johnson County Community College there are high expectations for the baseball program after finishing 2nd place in the Kansas Jayhawk Conference and 4th place in Region 6. Shelley and his staff obviously know what it takes to get to the highest level, and realize that it is a long season. “Our main goal is that we want to be playing our best baseball at the end of the year.” Shelley said, “We may take our lumps early in the year but our players have showed their ability to adapt and adjust quickly.”

The schedule will definitely get JCCC battle tested early. They open up against Longview College who is the preseason number 1 ranked team in the country and then travel to Texas to play tough teams who have played 10 plus games already. “We are going to find out just want kind of club we have right out of the starting blocks.” Shelley said, “We are trying to play the toughest non-conference schedule we can so we are prepared when conference begins.”