What to Expect:

• Introduction of Fighting Scots Baseball(page 1)

• Ryan Sparks Record-Setting Career (page 1)

• Interview with the players (page 2)

• 2017 Home Game Schedule (page 2)

• Overview on upcoming season (page 3)

• 2017 Roster (page 4)

Baseball is a sport adored by many, yet not understood by some. Coined as “America’s pastime,” baseball is something that has brought us together since its beginning in 1839. If you have been a fan your whole life or have only been to one game, baseball is something that brings out joy, competition, entertainment, and pride for your team. That’s what this newsletter is all about. The Monmouth College Baseball team does just that; They compete among 9 other teams in the Midwest Conference hoping to finish in a spot at the top. Through that process, the fans enjoy entertainment watching their games at Peacock Memorial Stadium and gaining joy from the wins and hard fought losses, having pride for the team regardless of the outcome. Even if you don’t know much about baseball, supporting your fellow Fighting Scots is always a good idea.

Around The Horn: Monmouth College

Spring 2017 Edition

Sparks’ Record-Setting Career

In an 8-3 win over Ripon on April 22, senior Ryan Sparks broke 3 different school records. He now holds the career record for hits, doubles and total bases. Sparks has earned the All-Region award in 2015 and All-Conference awards in 2015 and 2016.

Get to Know Your Scots

Jake StarkeyMajor: Elementary EducationGrade: SophomorePosition: Outfield“Something funny from being on the team happened on our Florida trip this past spring break. After our first team dinner, we all got back on the bus and took the bus driver’s microphone and started singing karaoke. We did this until our next stop and I sang Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus.”

Asa StevensonMajor: Business AdministrationGrade: SeniorPosition: Pitcher“Something funny that happens all the time with Coach Betourne is that he gets called the wrong name by umpires since they don’t know him very well yet. This season, an umpire called him Dennis, which isn’t even close to his name {Alan}, so now we all call him Dennis to joke around.

Home Game ScheduleAPR 1 2017 2PM BLACKBURN COLLEGE

APR 2 2017 1:00 PM, 3:30 PM IOWA WESLEYAN

APR 9 2017 1:00 PM, 3:30 PM GRINNELL COLLEGE

APR 14 2017 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM ILLINOIS COLLEGE

APR 29 2017 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM CORNELL COLLEGE

MAY 7 2017 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM KNOX COLLEGE

What to Expect From Your 2017 Scots

The Monmouth College baseball team is ready to enter the second phase under second-year coach Alan Betourne (‘05). The 2016 season was a season of discovery and 2017 is about con-tinuing that journey.

“Practices have been much smoother this year than last, and I attribute that to the familiarity the players have with the system after a year’s experience,” said Betourne. “We’re ahead of pace a little for a couple of reasons. One is that familiarity. We’re able to implement some things in the preseason that we didn’t get to last season. The other is the great spring weather we’ve had. We’ve been outside almost as much as inside. That’s a real benefit, especially for the outfielders to take live fly balls.”

Betourne is counting on his pitching staff to produce plenty of lazy fly balls, and he has a solid nucleus returning as the team vies for its first Midwest Conference crown in more than a decade. Headlining the horses are senior righty Austin Hardy (Basco, Ill./Warsaw) – a two-time all-conference performer who led the team last spring with a sparkling 1.48 ERA – and lanky right-handed brothers Connor McDonald and Tyler McDonald (Tremont, Ill./Tremont). The trio is expected to lock down the top three spots in the rotation, but the bottom three in the order is up for grabs.

A pair of freshmen – Connor Sharp (Aledo, Ill./Mercer County) and Jason DeCicco (Crystal Lake, Ill./South) – along with senior Asa Stevenson (Galesburg, Ill./ROWVA) are the frontrunners to nab a spot in the rotation. Sharp is touted as having a “great” changeup, while DeCicco has “good stuff” and could see some time at first base when he’s not toeing the rubber.

Seniors Dayton Ince (Kewanee, Ill./Kewanee) and Victor Jacobsen (East Anchorage, Alaska/East Anchorage) will get the reps behind the plate. Ince has the inside track after hitting a solid .353 a season ago, although rookie Mike Dato (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) is also challenging for play-ing time.

While Sparks – a two-time all-conference honoree who hit .377 last season and led the team in home runs – will see the most action at second base, two “very good” freshman are biding their time and learning from the veteran.

Last season’s “super utility guy,” sophomore Matt Inness (Abingdon, Ill./Abingdon), and fresh-man left-handed hitter Tyler Ulfig (Taylor Ridge, Ill./Rockridge) are battling for time at short-stop, which could be determined by the type of lineup Betourne wants to play.

The Scots have more experience at third, where Nic Stevens (Bloomington, Ill./LeRoy) played a year ago. He could share time with Hardy, but senior Chase Smith (Delavan, Ill./Dela-van) has also moved into a contender for the hot corner.

It’s also a crowded outfield, where sophomores Harry Sanchez (Tampa, Fla./Sickles) and Jake Starkey (Morton, Ill./Morton) – who led the team in steals as a freshman – figure to start in left and center, respectively. Grant Myers (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) and his .354 average has the early lead in right.

After producing the first winning season since 2011, the Scots are expecting even more this spring.

story by Dan Nolan

2017 Roster

1 Matt Inness Abingdon, Ill. / Abingdon-Avon3 Christian Lett Springfield, Ill. / Rochester4 Jake Starkey Morton, Ill. / Morton5 Austin Hardy Basco, Ill. / Warsaw7 Matt Mullen Highlands Ranch, Colo. / Rock Canyon8 Dayton Ince Kewanee, Ill. / Kewanee9 Chase Smith Delavan, Ill. / Delavan10 Mike Dato Oswego, Ill. / Oswego11 Harry Sanchez Tampa, Fla. / Sickles12 Ricardo Uriostegui Chicago, Ill. / Von Steuban Metro Science Center13 Tyler McDonald Tremont, Ill. / Tremont14 Ridge Greenman Alpha, Ill. / AlWood15 Ryan Sparks Mattoon, Ill. / Mattoon16 Bryson Sheppard Charleston, Ill. / Charleston17 Alex Sheetz Monmouth, Ill. / Monmouth-Roseville18 Corbin Holladay Providence, Utah / Mountain Crest19 Campbell Quirk Canberra, Australia / Marist College Canberra20 Connor McDonald Tremont, Ill. / Tremont21 Andrew Hardy Basco, Ill. / Warsaw22 Brian Hoel Elmhurst, Ill. / Hinsdale South23 Asa Stevenson Galesburg, Ill. / ROWVA24 Victor Jacobsen East Anchorage, Alaska / East Anchorage25 Tyler Ulfig Taylor Ridge, Ill. / Rockridge26 Grant Myers Rock Island, Ill. / Rock Island27 Jason DeCicco Crystal Lake, Ill. / South28 Nic Stevens Bloomington, Ill. / LeRoy29 Logan Spangler Green Valley, Ill. / Midwest Central30 Josh Fuchs New Berlin, Ill. / New Berlin31 Ryan Kavanagh Chatham, Ill. / Glenwood32 Arturo Monroy Chicago, Ill. / DePaul College Prep33 Conner Sharp Aledo, Ill. / Mercer County34 Zach VanWassenhove Kewanee, Ill. / Wethersfield35 Wes Anderson Heyworth, Ill. / Heyworth36 Brendan Elens Gardner, Ill. / Gardner-South Wilmington37 Brett Fordyce Abingdon, Ill. / Abingdon-Avon40 Lucas Smith McLean, Ill. / Olympia41 Seth Cunningham Pontiac, Ill. / Pontiac Township42 Cesar Silva Avalon, Calif. / Avalon44 Jake Weaver Omaha, Neb. / Bellevue East47 Mason Smith Wildwood, Mo. / Lafayette