EMPORIA STATE BASEBALL BEGINS MIAA TOURNAMENT AT #5 CENTRAL MISSOURI

Baseball | 5/12/2021 11:57:00 AM

Emporia State Hornets (17-23, 14-20 MIAA)
at #5 Central Missouri Mules (34-6, 30-3 MIAA)
Thursday May 13, 2021 • 4:00 p.m. • Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field • Warrensburg, Mo.
Friday May 14, 2021 • 2:00 p.m. • Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field • Warrensburg, Mo.
Saturday May 15, 2021 • 1:00 p.m. • Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field • Warrensburg, Mo. (If needed)
Series Record: UCM leads 132-65 • Last Meeting: UCM 15, at ESU 5 (3/20/2021)
Live Stats: esuhornets.com Video Stream: themiaanetwork.com/esuhornets
Radio: KFFX 104.9FM Audio Stream: kvoe.com
Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: Winner advances to MIAA Tournament • May 20-22, 2021 • Joplin, Mo.

TOURNEY TIME
Emporia State travels to Central Missouri to take on the Mules in the MIAA Tournament Opening Round Series in Warrensburg, Mo.

LAST AT BAT
Emporia State's five game winning streak came to an end with a 9-7 loss at Pittsburg State.  The Hornets won the first two games of the series 11-10 and 11-4 on Friday.

THE COACHES
Seth Wheeler is 57-52 in his third season as the Hornets head coach. He is 1-5 against Central Missouri.
Kyle Crookes is 234-98 in his seventh season at Central Missouri. He is 13-8 against ESU.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 17-23, 13-20 in the MIAA and have won five of their last six games. As a team they are hitting .311 with a 6.81 ERA and .955 fielding percentage. As a team they are second in the MIAA in batting average, on base percentage, and steals. Cooper Minnick has an MIAA best .571 stolen base against percentage of 18 runners in 42 attempts, is third in the MIAA with 15 hit by pitch, fourth with a .483 on base percentage and 16 stolen bases, sixth with a .380 batting average and eighth iwth 39 runs. Brady Michel is third in the MIAA with a .401 batting average and sixth with a .478 on base percentage. Blake Carroll is second in the league with seven triples. Jake Barton and Jared Kengott are tied for sixth in the MIAA with 72 strikeouts each. Barton is fourth in the league with seven wins and tenth with 64.0 innings pitched while Kengott is ranked ninth with a .237 opponents batting average.

SCOUTING THE MULES
Central Missouri is 34-6 overall with a 30-3 mark in MIAA play and ranked #5 in the Collegiate Baseball national rankings. As a team, the Mules lead the MIAA in batting at .348, ERA at 3.89 and fielding with a .979 fielding percentage. Dusty Stroup leads the MIAA in slugging percentage, home runs and RBI. Josh Schumacher leads the conference with a .420 batting average and .524 on base percentage while Erik Webb leads the league with 50 runs scored and Micah Evans has an MIAA best 22 steals. Mason Green has a league best 11 wins, ranks second in opponents batting average at .186, third in ERA at 2.45 and fourth with 89 strikeouts. Evan Rathburn is second in the MIAA with seven saves and Conor Dryer is ninth with 62 strikeouts while allowing just 11 walks.

SERIES HISTORY
The Mules lead the series 132-65 with a 16-7 advantage in the MIAA Tournament. The Hornets and Mules have met for the MIAA Tournament title six times in the last 16 years.

LAST AT BAT AGAINST CENTRAL MISSOURI
Emporia State was swept in a three game series by Central Missouri on March 19-20. The Mules won game one 15-1, game two 7-4 and game three 15-5.

UP NEXT
The winner will advance to the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament on May 20 in Joplin, Mo. They will take on the winner of the Opening Round Series between Pittsburg State and Washburn.

WHEELS ON THE BUS
Seth Wheeler is 57-52 in his third season as the head coach of the Hornets. He spent the previous three seasons as the pitching and catchers coach at Emporia State.  The Hornets are 167-104 in his six seasons in the dugout with three trips to the NCAA Tournament and an MIAA regular season championship.
Last year Emporia State was 13-7 overall, 5-1 in the MIAA when the COVID pandemic shutdown all sports. The Hornets had won seven of eight games, including five wins over nationally ranked teams when the season ended.
He began his coaching career with the Junction City Brigade, a collegiate wood bat team, the summer after graduating from Central Missouri. During the school year he was an assistant coach at Butler CC. He was in charge of catchers and base running for the Grizzlies who led the NJCAA in stolen bases with 157 on the season.

BEHIND THE PLATE
Catcher Cooper Minnick
Senior • R/R • Leon, Kan./Bluestem HS/Neosho CC
2021: Minnick leads the MIAA in stolen base against percentage, throwing out 18 of 42 would be base stealers. At the plate he is ranked fourth in on base percentage at .483 and stolen bases with 16, is sixth with a .380 batting average, and eighth with 39 runs scored. He has reached base safely in his last 11 games and is currently on a six game hitting streak entering the MIAA Opening Round. He was named MIAA Hitter of the Week on May 11.
2020: In the shortened season, Minnick hit .318 with six doubles and had a .495 on base percentage.
2019: Minnick played in all 48 games, hitting .297 with 52 hits, 13 doubles and six homers. He was named Third-Team All-MIAA and was awarded the Gold Glove for the catching position.  
2018: Redshirted for the Hornets after spending the fall at West Texas A&M.
2017: As a sophomore at Neosho CC, he hit .359 with 21 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, and 69 RBI. He was named First Team All-Conference, First Team  All-Region, 3rd Team All-American, and earned the Gold Glove as a catcher in the Jayhawk Conference.
2016: As a freshman Minnick hit .358 in with eight doubles, a home run, and 29 RBI.

AROUND THE HORN
First baseman Chandler Bloomer
Sophomore • L/R • Ottawa, Kan/Ottawa HS/Barton CC
2021: He is hitting .316 on the year with five home runs and 28 RBI. He is on a seven game hitting streak entering the Opening Round Series.
2020: He played in a shortened 22 game season where he helped Barton CC go 19-3. Bloomer hit .354 with three home runs and 19 runs scored.
2019: Bloomer played in 44 games and helped lead Barton CC to a final four finish at the Region 6 Tournament.

Second baseman Jack Maki
Junior • R/R • Andover, Kan./Andover HS/Butler CC
2021: Maki is hitting .280 in 37 games this season. He has seven stolen bases in nine attempts.
2020: In the shortened 20 game season, he hit .355 with a .488 on base percentage. He had 11 hits and eight walks in 11 games.
2019: He batted .291 with and OBP of .430 at Butler CC. He finished the year with two home runs and seven doubles in 36 games. He had nine appearances on the mound and finished the year with a 4-1 record, 2.49 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 21.2 innings pitched.
2018: He hit .275 with an OBP of .363 as a freshman at ButlerCC. He finished the year with 30 hits, which included five doubles. Maki also pitched 18.1 innings in 13 games recording four saves in his 13 appearances. He was named All-Jayhawk Conference as a Utility Player.

Second baseman Christian Roduner
Senior • R/R • Rossville, Kan./Rossville HS/Colby CC
2021: He is batting .429 with three home runs, 12 RBI and 15 runs scored in 18 games this year.  He has played ten games at second base and also seen action at first base, short stop and designated hitter.  He became the first Hornet to hit for the cycle during the NCAA era when he went four for four with three runs and an RBI against Fort Hays State on May 1.  He was named MIAA Hitter of the Week on May 4.
2020: He had four at bats before season was cancelled.
2019: He had eight hits, eight walks and nine runs scored in 65 plate appearances.
2018: As a sophomore at Colby CC he hit .275 with a .433 on base percentage in 38 games.
2017: As a Freshman at Colby CC he hit .320 with 11 doubles, six home runs, 46 runs, 37 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 52 games, earning first-team All-Jayhawk Conference honors.

Shortstop Kade Graff
RS-Freshman • R/R • Ennis, Texas/Ennis HS
2021: He is hitting .256 in 19 games with 12 starts.
2020: In the shortened 20 game season, he started nine games with a .207 batting average and a .939 fielding percentage
2019: Redshirted at Emporia State.
2018: Voted first team all district short stop as a senior at Ennis HS and batted .519 while receiving District Offensive MVP

Third baseman Bingham Mooney
Senior • R/R • Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs South HS/ Kansas City, KS CC
2021: He is batting .303 with six home runs, six doubles, 27 RBI and 33 runs scored in 34 games with 31 runs scored. He did not have a hit in his first eight games this year but is hitting .347 in his last 26 games.
2020: He scored three runs in eight games of the shortened season due to COVID
2019: Redshirted at Emporia State after transferring from Kansas City, Kansas CC.  
2018: As a sophomore at KCKCC he played in 58 games where he hit .298 with four home runs, 44 RBI, 48 runs, and nine stolen bases. He was named to the all-tournament team in Region 6 playoffs.
2017: As a freshman he played in 25 games where he hit .241 with three RBI, 11 runs scored, and a stolen base.

OUT IN THE FIELD
Outfielder/Designated Hitter Brady Michel
Senior • R/R • Great Bend, Kan./Great Bend HS/Barton CC/Southern Illinois
2021: He is third in the MIAA with a .401 batting average and sixth with a .478 on base percentage. He has hit safely in his last six games and at one point had a 13 game hitting streak and reached base in 23 straight games. He is batting .420 in 22 starts in the outfield and .375 in 14 starts as the designated hitter.
2020: In the shortened season, Michel started in 19 games while hitting four home runs with a double.
2019: He attended Southern Illinois where he made one start and played in 11 games.
2018: As a sophomore, he hit .329 with 29 doubles, eight home runs, 54 RBIs and seven stolen bases at Barton CC. His 29 doubles set the single season doubles record at Barton CC led NJCAA Division I. He and helped them to a 47-15 record and a trip to the NJCAA World Series. He received First Team All-Jayhawk and Second team All-Region.
2017: As a freshman, he started in 33 games hitting .265 for the year.

Outfielder Blake Carroll
Junior • L/L • Wichita, Kan./Wichita Heights HS/Coffeyville CC
2021: He is second in the MIAA and third in the nation with seven triples on the season.   He is tied for fourth on the Emporia State single season triples list. He is batting .283 with six homers, 27 RBI and five doubles on the year and has stolen nine bases in ten attempts. He has started the last six games in the outfield after starting 27 games at short stop and six games at second base.
2020: He batted .294 through 20 games with three home runs, two doubles, and two triples in the shortened 2020 season at Emporia State. He also plated 13 RBI and had seven stolen bases. Carroll had a 1.000% fielding percentage with one outfield assist.  
2019: As a sophomore he hit .281 at Coffeyville CC with four home runs, 11 doubles, and 14 stolen bases. He was one of the top defenders in the Jayhawk Conference, sporting a .989 fielding percentage which included three outfield assists.  
2018: As a freshman at Coffeyville CC, he hit .270 overall with a .309 conference batting average, which included a .440 on base percentage. Carroll scored 38 runs and had eight stolen bases while driving in 28 runs in his first year for the Red Ravens.

Outfielder Sam Chaput
Junior • L/R • Boisbriand, Quebec/Saint Gabriel HS/Crowder CC
2021: He is hitting .340 with seven doubles, three homers, 26 RBI, 31 runs and ten stolen bases.
2020: In the shortened 20 game season, he started every game and led the Hornets in OPS with 1.041, slugging percentage at .606, with 17 walks, 20 RBIs and six home runs. He finished the season with three doubles, a .288 batting average and .435 on base percentage.
2019: As a sophomore at Crowder CC he played in all 63 games. He finished the season with a .310 batting average, including 16 doubles, nine homers, 57 RBIs, a .425 on base percentage and a .512 slugging percentage. He was named Second Team All-Region 16 as a catcher after helping the team win a region championship.
2018: He played in 41 games both in the outfield and catcher. He hit .296 with seven doubless, a triple and eight home runs. He also totalled 40 RBI, a .602 slugging percentage and a .439 on base percentage.

AT THE PLATE
Designated hitter Javier Pena
Junior • R/R • Kansas City, Kan./Shawnee Mission Northwest HS/ButlerCC
2021: He is batting .246 on the year with eight RBI and 12 runs scored in 22 games.  He has reached base safely in the last 13 games that he has played in.
2020: He took a medical redshirt and did not play in the shortened season.
2019: As a sophomore at Butler CC he hit .342 with a .486 OBP, 12 doubles, and 14 home runs. He also had a team high 44 walks and 53 RBI.
2018: As a freshman he hit .395 with a .482 OBP, eight triples, 17 home runs, 61 RBI and 67 runs. He was named second-team all-conference.

Designated Hitter/First Baseman Ryan Krolikowski
Senior • R/R • Grand Island, Neb./Grand Island HS/Cloud County CC
2021: He is hitting .275 with two home runs and 14 RBI in 16 games with eight starts. He is hitting .303 in his eight starts and is one for six as a pinch hitter, although that one hit was a double that nearly tied the game in the ninth at Northeastern State.
2020: During the shortened 20 game season Krolikowski started in 11 games and hit .286 with 10 hits and four RBI.
2019: As a Junior he had one hit but it was a two run home run against Missouri Southern.
2018: As a sophomore at Cloud County CC he hit .364 with an OBP of .452 and finished the year with 64 hits, 14 doubles, six home runs, 53 RBI, and 22 walks as he earned Second-Team All-Conference honors.
2017: As a freshman he hit .304 with an OBP of .401 and finished the year with eight doubles, four homers, 33 RBI and 20 walks.

ON THE MOUND
Right-handed pitcher Jake Barton
Senior • R/R • Omaha, Neb./Skutt Catholic HS/IWCC/JCCC/Stephen F. Austin
2021: He is sixth in the MIAA with 72 strikeouts while ranking fourth in the league with seven wins and tenth with 64.0 innings pitched. He is 7-4 with a 5.06 ERA. He is ranked ninth in Emporia State history with 203 career strikeouts. He was named MIAA Pitcher of the Week twice - first on March 9 after a one hit shutout of Northwest Missouri and then on March 20 following a four hit shutout of Rogers State.
2020: Started six games in the shortened season, going 3-3 with 52 strike outs in 34.1 innings.
2019: Started 14 games for the Hornets and went 5-4 with a 2.81 ERA in 83.1 innings. Recorded 79 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .216 batting average.
2018: Medically Redshirted at Emporia State University
2017: Medically Redshirted at Stephen F. Austin University
2016: As a sophomore, transferred to Johnson County CC where he logged 72.2 innings in 14 starts. He was 8-1 with a 3.72 ERA and six complete games. He struck out 83 with just 21 walks.
2015: As a freshman at Iowa Western CC, he led the team with 15 appearances. He threw 24.0 innings with a 1.50 ERA and 17 strikeouts.  

Right-handed pitcher Jared Kengott
Junior • Addison, Texas/Dallas Jesuit HS/Southern Illinois
2021: He is sixth in the MIAA with 72 strikeouts and is ranked ninth with a .237 opponents batting average.  He is 3-6 on the year with a 5.76 ERA.  He took a no hitter into the fifth inning in his last start and ended up allowing two runs on three hits with ten strikeouts in 7.0 innings in the 11-4 win at Pittsburg State.
2020: Kengott converted to a pitcher at ESU and went 2-0 a 3.00 ERA, 28 strikeouts, and a .200 opponent batting average in 30 innings pitched. He received Pitcher of the Week with seven strikeouts in 7.0 shutting out innings against Missouri Southern on March 4.
2019: Redshirted at Southern Illinois.
2018: As a sophomore he hit .292, with five doubles, one home run, and eight RBI. He finished the last month of the season hitting .341 including a walk-off double against Bradley.  
2017: As a freshman at SIU, he went 1-10 at the plate but had a .357 on-base percentage.

Right-handed pitcher Drew Repp
Senior • Topeka, Kan./Shawnee Heights HS/Barton CC
2021: He is 2-2 with a 6.53 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 12 starts with 60.2 innings pitched.
2020: In the shortened 20 game season, Repp has the record of 5-1 in his ESU career and contributed with 28 IP and 24 strikeouts
2019: He was 3-0 with a save and had 20 strikeouts in 28.1 innings out of the bullpen.
2018: As a sophomore at Barton CC he had a 6.00 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 16 appearances.
2017: As a freshman he had a 4.13 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 14 appearances with a 3.43 ERA in conference games.

IN THE PEN
Left-handed pitcher Jarrett Seaton
Junior • L/L • Omaha, Neb./Millard West HS/Barton CC
2021: He is 1-2 with two saves in 17 appearances out of the bullpen. He has struckout 31 while walking 18 in 33.2 innings.
2020: In the shortened 20 game season he went 1-1 with three saves to go along with a 3.57 ERA and was top 10 in the conference in ERA, opposing batting average, saves, hits allowed and runs allowed.
2019: As a redshirt sophomore at Emporia State, he finished with a 3-1 record in his first season coming back from injury.
2018: As a sophomore  at Barton CC he appeared in six games before suffering a season ending injury. He had a 2-3 record with a 3.67 ERA in 27 innings with 23 strikeouts.
2017: As a freshman he appeared he posted a 10-2 record with a 4.46 ERA in 13 games. He threw 70.2 innings with 58 strikeouts. He was named First-Team All Conference, and All Region, and was named Pitcher of the Year in the Jayhawk West.

Right-handed pitcher Coleton Crisp
Senior • R/R • Whitewater, Kan./Whitewater-Remington HS/Barton CC
2021: He has a team high 18 relief appearances with 33 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. He is 1-4 with a team high three saves and a 5.28 ERA.
2020: In the shortened season, Crisp was 1-1 with a save in seven appearances with an 8.68 ERA. He had 11 strikeouts and just 2 walks in 9.1 innings.  
2019: He transferred to Barton CC as a sophomore and had 23 appearances with a 1.96 ERA and 42 strike outs to six walks in 46.0 innings. His record was 3-5 with two saves.
2018: As a Freshman at Allen CC, he went 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA and a save in 12 appearances. He had 28 strikeouts in 24.0 innings.

Right-handed pitcher Zachary Ebert
Junior • R/R • Topeka, Kan./Washburn Rural HS/Johnson CC/Kansas State
2021: He has 14 appearances with five starts on the year and is 0-4 with an 8.16 ERA. He has 40 strikeouts in 28.2 innings or 12.7 K/9IP with just 15 walks.
2020: He made one relief appearance at Kansas State going one inning without allowing a hit or a run with a strikeout and a walk on March 11 against South Dakota State.
2019: In two seasons at Johnson County CC, posted a career record of 18-6 with 212 strikeouts in 165.1 innings and a 3.65 ERA. He became just the fifth pitcher in Jayhawk Conference history to reach 200 career strikeouts. He was 12-1 with 107 strikeouts in 84.1 innings and a 3.20 ERA. He earned First Team All-Region VI and All-KJCCC honors.
2018: In his freshman season he made 14 starts with eight complete games. He went 7-5 record with 105 strikeouts in 81 innings. He was named Second Team All-KJCCC.

Right-handed pitcher Malachi Crone
Sophomore • R/R • Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock Homeschool/Garden City CC
2021: He has two saves in ten relief appearances.  He has 13 strikeouts in 15.2 innings pitched with a 10.91 ERA.
2020: In the four games he started in the spring of 2020, Malachi struck out 15 batters over 19 innings posting a 2-0 record. He held a 2.84 ERA allowing only 14 hits.
2019:Malachi made Second-team All-Conference in his freshman season at Garden City CC where he appeared in 13 games with 11 starts. He was 6-2 with a 4.76 ERA, 56 strikeouts and 14 walks in 64.1 innings.  

OFF THE BENCH
Outfielder/Left-handed pitcher Noah Geekie
Sophomore • R/L • Strathclair, Manitoba/Barton CC
2021: He has played in 39 games with 34 starts in the outfield and two appearances on the mound.  He is batting .262 with three home runs, five doubles, 19 RBI and 24 runs.
2020: He played 21 games and finished with a .346 batting average, four doubles, a triple, and a home run in his shortened sophomore season at Barton CC
2019: He led Barton with a .339 batting average along with 74 hits, 16 doubles, three triples, and two HR in 59 games. He was named First-Team KJCCC All-West and Second-Team All-Region VI.

Outfielder Quinn Cherry
Junior • R/R • Pawleys Island, S.C./Harrison (Ark.) HS/Crowder CC/Nicholls State
2021: He has 18 starts in 21 games and is batting .215 with three home runs, nine RBI, 14 runs and six stolen bases.
2020: He spent the fall at Nicholls State and then entered the transfer portal in the spring.
2019: As a Sophomore at Crowder, he hit .284 with 47 runs scored, 15 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 50 RBI, 24 walks, and five stolen bases in as many attempts.
2018: As a freshman, he hit .303 with 41 runs scored, nine doubles, two triples, 11 homers, 50 RBI, 13 walks and 45 strikeouts, and two stolen bases in three attempts.