LIVE STATS
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – If experience is a key to success, Augustana baseball should be in for a productive season. The Vikings open the 2011 campaign on Saturday and Sunday with a trip to Golden, Colo., to face the Colorado School of Mines.
The 2011 roster includes eight of nine offensive starters from a year ago and five are seniors. This group averaged almost nine runs a game, hit .352 as a unit, was 11th nationally in home runs, and seventh in stolen bases.
“Experience on offense is certainly a strength of this team,” Viking head coach
Tim Huber said. “Hopefully the older players will help us compete at a high level.”
The Vikings finished strong in 2010, winning their last six games and 11 of 13 down the stretch. The overall record of 34-22 includes a school mark for wins. Augustana placed seventh in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings (21-11), just missing the six-team postseason playoff.
The much-decorated tandem of
Nate Baumann and
Deryk Marks fuels the Vikings' potent offense. Marks hit .433 last spring and led the team in hits (94) and RBI (78). Baumann batted .441 and was the runs leader (79).
Both Baumann and Marks were chosen to the 2010 Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association NCAA Division II All-America second team. And both made the Daktronics All-America second team.
Baumann was tabbed NSIC Player of the Year after leading the league in batting (.476), slugging percentage (.857), and runs scored (55). Marks earned NSIC Newcomer of the Year laurels and led the conference in RBI (54) and doubles (16).
Charlie Dubanoski, an All-Central Region choice in 2010, led the Vikings in home runs (15) while batting .382.
Derek Hansen is coming off a productive season as a true freshman, appearing in 46 games, and batting .368 with 38 RBIs, 12 doubles, and four home runs.
Other regulars returning include All-NSIC choice
Drew Heithoff (.328),
Gates Cook (.331),
Nate Hewes (307),
Nate Alfson (.339), and
Brian Knight (300).
Last summer Heithoff and Baumann helped Eau Claire (WI) capture the Northwoods League championship. Heithoff led the league in batting (.389), on-base percentage (.515), and was chosen to the league's all-star team. It was Eau Claire's first league title and earned the Express top billing in PG CrossChecker's final 2010 rankings of the nation's top summer-league clubs.
Right-handed pitcher and All-Central Region pick
Bret Severtson paced the Augustana mound corps with a 2.66 ERA and a 4-2 record. His seven saves led the conference for the second consecutive year.
Tyson Gau, also a right-hander, was 5-1 with a 5.15 ERA. Gau is among a group of talented sophomore pitchers who combined for 33 starts as freshmen in 2010. He joins Hansen,
Grant Larson,
Sam Gotham,
Bennett Johnson, and
Patrick Carroll.
Huber is also anticipating contributions from transfers
Brendan Phillips, outfield;
Brandon Jasper, infield;
Kye Winter, pitcher/utility;
Brian Voigt, infielder/pitcher;
Jake Kurth, catcher; and
Casey Jacobson, pitcher.
Saturday's double header with CSM will begin at 1 p.m. CST, while Sunday's twinbill is slated for a noon start.
The Vikings are scheduled to make their first home appearance March 26-27 against Minnesota, Crookston in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play at Ronken Field.
