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Main StoryGrace Baseball to Begin 2010 Campaign 2/22/10 WINONA LAKE, Ind. -- For the first time in a number of years, the Grace College baseball program posted a 10-win season in 2009, finishing 10-39 (4-18 Mid-Central College Conference). This year the Lancers are returning six starters and will not start a true freshman in the opening day lineup for the first time since Josh Bailey has been the head coach. The Lancers will be looking toward returning starters Nathan Wottring (who led the team in hitting (.403) last season), Josh Petry, Michael Clark and Chris Burdette to help bolster a young lineup. Grace will try to replace some key components from last year’s squad in second baseman Kyle Jansma, who hit .331 last season, third baseman Joel Hershberger and last year’s number two pitcher Brad Heintz, who had Tommy John surgery in the offseason. Four-year players Ryan Eakins and Chay Bailey lead the senior class. “This senior class has persevered through a lot,” Josh said. “We want these seniors to go out on a good note.” Clark is expected to help lead the team this year. He will bat in the middle of the lineup and will also be the number two starter in the Lancer rotation. “We are counting on our big guy in the middle of the lineup to drive in runs after seeing glimpses of that last year,” Josh said. The pitching staff will be led this year by freshman Kier West. He is a left-hander that has an excellent repertoire to go along with a solid work ethic. “He is as good as any pitcher in the MCC, and he will give us a chance to win every time he steps onto the mound,” Josh said. Chris Valentine, a Lakeland Christian product, will contribute to the rotation as a freshman behind West and Clark. The Lancers will also look for freshman Jason Smith to help anchor the Grace bullpen. The outfield will look different this year with redshirt freshman Jeff Himes, a former Warsaw Tiger, manning centerfield for the Lancers. “Himes is a very solid defensive outfielder and can read the ball very well,” Josh commented. Jake Fitzgerald, who was a solid contributor last year as a freshman, will join Himes in the outfield. The Lancers are young and enthusiastic this year. “Enthusiasm is something the Grace baseball program has lacked in recent years. I feel like we can do great things in the next few years,” Josh said. The Lancers will look to gain some valuable experience to add to its youth and enthusiasm. “We are very excited for the season and I believe the sky is the limit for this team and our program,” Wottring added. Grace looks to improve the overall level of play across the board this season. On the offensive side, scoring runs and execution is the focus. “We have thrown a lot at the guys this fall, and they are beginning to see what it takes to win, and it’s exciting,” Josh said. No Grace team has ever won 20 or more games in the history of the program. But the Lancers hope that their talent and work ethic will make up for their youth and translate into a ground-breaking season. “We think that we can hit the 20-win plateau. If we can stay healthy and compete each day, the potential goes up from there,” Josh said. “We believe that we can finish in the middle of the MCC. Our goal is to host a MCC tournament game this year, and we believe we can do that.”
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