The pieces exist for the 2012 Lewis University baseball team to have the best season since head coach Tim McDonough took over in 2008. However to do so Lewis will have to top last year's squad which won a GLVC Tournament game for the first time since 2002 and appeared in the NCAA Regional Rankings. For that goal to be accomplished the Flyers will need a couple newcomers to step into starting roles and some upperclassman to play like they did in 2011.
 
INFIELD
You'll need a roster to identify Lewis' infield in 2012 as not a single starter returns from 2011. Third base will be a combination of senior Michael Wido (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South), junior Ian O'Connor and freshman Anthony Baldassano (Woodridge, Ill./Nazareth). O'Connor has been a utility player his first two season at Lewis. However he could see his most playing time of his career this year. Wido is a senior with 87 career starts. He started at shortstop as a freshman, split time at second and shortstop as a sophomore but only played three games in 2011 due to an injury.
 
“As the only senior infielder Mike will be on the field somewhere,” McDonough said.
 
Other than third base, that 'somewhere' McDonough refers to could be second base. Sophomore Drew Buddle (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) will also see time at second base. Buddle hit .300 in 20 at-bats last season.
 
“Drew's greatest strength is his energy,” McDonough said. “He has a great baseball IQ and is loud on the field. He can be the quarterback of the infield and I think his enthusiasm rubs off on others.”
 
Lewis has options at first base. Sophomore Kyle Huber (Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech) and junior Michael Schroeder (Crown Point, Ind./North Newton) look to be the initial options for McDonough to start the season.
 
“Michael put up good numbers at Triton last year and is a very consistent hitter,” McDonough said. “He pitches too so that will give Kyle some time at first.”
 
The one spot in the infield where Lewis looks to have nailed down a full time starter is shortstop. Freshman Mike Barajas (Chicago, Ill./Nazareth) from Nazareth Academy has already been named an American Baseball Coaches Association Freshman to Watch.
 
“Mike's is very gifted and he's ready,” McDonough said. “He's earned the spot.”
 
OUTFIELD
The Lewis outfield is the polar opposite of the infield. McDonough can write his leftfielder and centerfielder in pen thanks to a pair of returning all-region players. In left, Andrew Brauer (Bolingbrook, Ill./Montini) looks to be a middle of the order hitter once again. Brauer led Lewis in batting average (.353), total bases (76) and RBI (36). He was second in hits (55), stolen bases (16) and home runs (4). He threw out eight runners from left field.
 
“Aside from being one of the hardest working guys on the team, and we have a lot of hard working guys, Andrew does just about everything well,” McDonough said. “He possess all the tools and when you compile all of his skills, it really sets him apart. “
 
Senior Mike Bolling (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep) will hold down center field for a second straight season. Bolling stole a Great Lakes Valley Conference-best 31 bases last season. His .427 on-base percentage and 37 runs scored led the team.
 
“With Mike leading off a game he really puts the defense on their heels right from the start,” McDonough said. “In terms of his speed and creating runs by himself he is a big key to our offense.”
 
The one outfield spot not tied to any particular player is right field. Junior Zach Stetson (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher), sophomore Ben Albano (West Dundee, Ill./Jacobs), junior Derek Thomas (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) and freshman Kane Lombardo (Forest Park, Ill./Nazareth) are all options in right field.
 
“We're very athletic in the outfield,” McDonough said. “All seven outfielders run sub seven second 60-yard dash times. Whatever combination we use out there will help everybody on the field.”
 
CATCHER
The catching position is a strength for the 2012 Flyers. Junior Brian Norwood (Medinah, Ill./Lake Park) has started since he was a freshman. Now he enters his third year at Lewis with 78 career games under his belt. Sophomore Kyle Thomas (Homer Glen, Ill./Providence Catholic) played 17 games at catcher and 18 at designated hitter last year. His play at designated hitter was rewarded with All-GLVC Second Team selection. He hit four home runs including two in a game against Indianapolis on April 3.
 
“Brian has been through it for two years now,” McDonough said.” We've challenged Brian to become one of the better if not the best catcher in the league this year. Having him and Kyle back there means we should have one of the better 1-2 combinations in the league.”
 
The Flyers have a third option at catcher in Kyle Kapka (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect).
 
“Kyle has the best arm strength on the catching staff and has really improved tremendously giving us even more depth behind the plate,” McDonough said.
 
STARTING ROTATION
Senior Pat Lahey (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) will be the ace of the Lewis staff. The 2011 All-GLVC Third Team selection has been a weekend starter for the Flyers since his freshman season. He enters 2012 with 32 career starts and a career 4.03 ERA over 198.2 innings. Last year he posted a career-best 3.53 ERA and 8-3 record. He picked up the win in Lewis' 6-1 victory over Rockhurst in the 2011 GLVC Tournament; the Flyers' first GLVC Tournament win since 2002.
 
“Pat is an example of a guy who knows how to win on Saturdays in the GLVC,” McDonough said. “He started to turn the corner last year and now we're really counting on him.”
 
Elsewhere in the rotation, Lewis will also be counting on sophomore Tom Helwich (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way Central). In 2011 Helwich made the most of his opportunity as a freshman by compiling a 3.25 ERA over 55.1 innings. He took home a GLVC Pitcher of the Week accolade after giving up just an unearned run to Indianapolis on April 2.
 
“Tommy exceeded expectations last year and he's continued that development,” McDonough said. “He is a guy that can throw multiple pitches for strikes and limits free passes. He is going to put us in a position to win a lot of his starts.”
 
Matt Frahm (McLean, Ill./Olympia) will move from the closer role in 2011 to the starting rotation in 2012. Last year he led Lewis in appearances (19) and earned seven saves with a 1.25 ERA.
 
“Matt has a starter mentality and wants the ball in his hand,” McDonough said. “He's started in high school and as a freshman here so the transition back should be relatively seamless. I think he's really taken to the craft of pitching and how to get hitters out.”
 
The fourth spot has been a battle through camp.
 
“Right now Jim Glasgow (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South), Tom Durkin (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) and Michael Schroeder (Crown Point, Ind./North Newton) are in contention to be that weekend guy,” McDonough said. “The other two will settle in as midweek starters and bullpen swing guys.”
 
BULLPEN
The anchor of the bullpen will be senior Drew Hicks (Pekin, Ill./Pekin). The righty from Pekin, Ill. has 58 appearances with 74.2 innings in three seasons.
 
“Drew was born to be put in jams and get himself out of them,” McDonough said. “He is absolutely fearless and is comfortable pitching with runners on base.”
 
Hick and junior Kegan Banks (Dripping Springs, Texas/Dripping Springs) look to get the ball in late inning situations. Banks is a junior college transfer from Dripping Springs, Texas.
 
“Kegan has some unbelievable stuff and good movement,” Banks said. “He is a three-quarters side arm guy. Everything he throws moves.”
 
Junior Don Cizek (Willow Springs, Ill./Lyons) will throw out of the bullpen for a third straight season.
 
“When we can work a matchup we'll turn to Don,” McDonough said. “He is our left handed option from the pen.”
 
The Flyers are lucky to have some experienced options from the bullpen. However they earned that experience by throwing in their first few years with the program. Lewis has another crop of young arms in the waiting in freshmen Mike Devoe (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove), Dylan Cyseweski and Phil Warner (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North).
 
“I see a lot of good things in our three freshmen,” McDonough said. “I'd love to see one of them grow into the role Hicks will vacate next year.”
 
SCHEDULE
Lewis opens the 2012 season with their annual spring break trip to Florida. All eight games the Flyers play are in-region contests meaning a good start will be critical to the Flyers' NCAA Regional hopes.
 
The opener is set for Sunday, March 4 with a doubleheader with Findlay at noon (ET).
 
Lewis opens the 2012 home slate on March 24 with Missouri S&T. Lewis plays Drury the next day. It will be Drury's first ever visit to Brennan Field.