2017 BASEBALL
BASEBALL PREVIEW 2017
Spring Hill College baseball head coach Frank Sims enters the 2017 season with confidence that his team features its most consistent players in recent memory. “I can’t say we have that one player this year who stands above the rest,” he says. “But this year we have more consistent players who all play at a high level and that will make us a better team in the long run.” Sims also welcomes back 19 veterans including 11 seniors and 13 lettermen. “This is possibly the most experienced team we’ve had in years,” he says. “We not only have depth this year, but we also have experience in reserve and that is a real benefit in the late innings and as the season go along.”
Perhaps the most pressing questions that Badger fans have been asking during the off season is “who will replace Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) player of the Year Alex Jones behind the plate?” Sims does not hesitate in his answer. “Brennan Fontenot (sophomore, Greenwell Springs, La.) will be taking over at catcher,” he says. “He has matured as a player and had a really good summer and fall, so I’m confident in him. Neil Ring (redshirt freshman, Appomattox, Va.), Nicholas Chaiasson (sophomore, Mandeville, La.) and Ben Breymier (senior, Indianapolis , Ind.) will see time back there, too, but Brennan is our man going forward.”
Elsewhere around the infield, Sims will move Michael Druhan (senior, Mobile, Ala.) from right field to first base. “Michael is really a first baseman,” says Sims. “This move is where he needs to be for his future and to make us better.”
Keaton Smith (senior, Meridian, Miss.) will handle the duties at second base while Maverick LaTour (sophomore, Folsom, La.) has solidified his role at shortstop. Transfer graduate student Brandon Harigel (Pace, Fla.) will step into third base for this season. “We were spoiled by having Pete Spradlin at the corner for the past two seasons,” Sims says. “But Harigel is a tough player in that spot and we are glad to have him there.” Brandon Donoghue (junior, Mobile) and Daniel Rodriguez (freshman, Coral Gables, Fla.) will also work their way onto the field as Sims feels comfortable using either player in any situation.
The outfield will see Conner Harrison (junior, St. Louis, Mo.) settle into left field and Ulysses Fluellen (senior, Phenix City, Ala.) take the reins in center field. In right field, Justin Collier (freshman, Mobile) will step into one of the conference’s most difficult outfield roles. “Harrison and Fluellen are proven players,” says Sims. “Collier is learning to deal with challenges of our
right field and he’ll also bat leadoff for us, so it’s a lot for a freshman to learn, but he has done a great job.” Gavin Crimmins (sophomore, Cumming, Ga.), Austyn Jacques (senior, Cummin) and Jacob Brannan (freshman, Mobile) will also see their share of playing time in the Badger outfield throughout the season.
At designated hitter, Sims admits to facing a pleasant problem. “Our DH position is still a toss up to be honest,” he says. “Heading into the start of the year, Hunter D’Armond (sophomore, Grennwell Springs), Hunter Romero (freshman, Covington, La.), Ben Bolton (freshman, ), and Chiasson are all battling for the role, so it might be a rotating position for now.”
The Badger pitching also looks solid with Christian Bahlinger (senior, Mandeville) and Dylan Kiene (senior, Mobile) returning at the two top spots followed by junior college transfer Justin Whitsett (junior, Millry, Ala.) and Jordan Fontenelle (senior, New Orleans, La.). “Our top three are almost interchangeable and Jordan has come a long way in his development over the past few years,” says Sims. “Also look for Austin Barrios (sophomore, Madisonville, La.) to get several starts along with Sean Bretz (freshman, River Ridge, La.) and Luke Yelverton (freshman, Demopolis, Ala.) who will probably get some starts as well as some relief appearances.”
Coming out of the bullpen, Spring Hill looks deeper than it has been in several seasons with William North (senior, Belle Chasse, La.), Steven Saucier (senior, Covington) and Michael Romano (freshman, Covington) standing at the ready.
“D’Armond will also get some innings this year,” says Sims. “He actually came here as a pitcher, so it’ll be good to get him back up and throwing.”
Redshirt freshman Jonathan Williams will work his way into the order as the season progresses after returning from an injury in 2016. “We have a good mix in our pitching this year,” says Sims. “Nobody is the clear Number 1, but we have good consistent pitching that is throwing strikes. We have a lot of experience back along with some very talented young pitchers.”
“We are a solid defense,” Sims states. “We are not a defensive team that is going to light the world on fire, but we make the plays we need to make.” A tough schedule awaits the Badgers in 2017, but Sims believes his team is ready for the opportunity. “We have a tough February schedule,” he says wryly. “If we can get through February with a decent record, we’ll be an alright ball team. With a little luck, we might even win a game or two.”
COACHING STAFF
Frank Sims - Head Coach
Frank Sims became the head coach of Spring Hill College (SHC) with just three weeks remaining in the 1985 season and has since won 822 games at the helm of the Badgers. Over his 35 years as a collegiate head coach, Sims has accumulated 858 total victories. Sims holds the record for most career victories at Spring Hill and his tenure with SHC includes 23 20-win seasons, six 30-win seasons, two 40-win seasons and four conference championships. Spring Hill appeared in the NAIA Regional Tournament four times in his reign and Sims has been honored as a Conference Coach of the Year on five occasions with the latest time being the 2014 Independent Collegiate Athletic Association (ICAA) honor in NCAA Division II. During Spring Hill’s 2015 NCAA Division II transition season, the Badgers rang up a perfect 16-0 mark in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and a 26-14 record overall. In 2016, the Badgers once again topped the SIAC with an 18-3 conference record and a 29-16 mark overall. Sims was inducted into the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Hall Fame in January 2017. Before joining the Badgers in 1985, Sims was the head coach at Milton College (Wis.) where he compiled a 36-10 record and reached the NAIA Regional Tournament during the 1982 season. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at his alma mater Eastern Illinois University where he received his B.S. in Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) in 1977. After a successful three-year stint as the head coach at Sparta (Ill.) High School from 1976-80, Sims became a graduate assistant coach at Morehead State University (Ky.) in 1980-81 and later completed his M.A. in HPER at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater where he served as a graduate assistant coach from 1982-85.
Born and raised in Charleston, Ill., Sims grew up on a farm with seven brothers and sisters. He graduated high school in 1970 and attended Lake Land Junior College before pitching for the University of Iowa. In 1973, he was a member of the Hawkeye’s co-Big Ten championship team. He and his wife, Dana, have four children (Drew and his wife Caitlin; Sarah and her husband Charlie Anderson; Kelsey and her husband Tyler Welch; and their youngest son, Brian) along with two grandchildren.
Andy McCall - Assistant Coach
Andy is in his third season as the assistant coach at Spring Hill after spending three years as a Graduate Assistant. As a player, he enjoyed a four-year career in the Badger outfield (2007-10) where he hit .335 during his career and still owns the school’s single season record for triples. During his senior season, he hit .353 with six triples and 44 RBI. McCall was a two-year starter with 81 career RBI.
McCall graduated from De Smet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, Mo., and in 2005 he helped lead De Smet Jesuit to the State Finals. At SHC, McCall works with the hitters and outfielders and plays a key role in recruiting while also overseeing the strength & conditioning program. He also served as an assistant coach with the Laramie (Wy.) Colts of the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League during the summer of 2012. In the summer of 2013, McCall was chosen to be the head coach of the Socastee Sharks in the Beach Collegiate League located in Myrtle Beach, S.C. He led them to a league best 21-7 record to win the regular season BCBL title. McCall coached the Mobile Pirates of the Deep South Collegiate League during the summer of 2014.
Blake Beavers - Graduate Assistant
GENERAL FACTS
Name of School: Spring Hill College
City/State/Zip: Mobile, AL 36608
President: Christopher Puto, Ph.D.
Founded: 1830
Enrollment: 1,496
Nickname: Badgers
School Colors: Purple, white
Home Facility: Stan Galle Field
Capacity: 1,000
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Conference: Southern Intercollegiate
Athletic
Division: West
Athletic Director: Jim Hall
Alma Mater: Grinnell College, 1995
Compliance: Chad LeBlanc
Faculty
Athletic Representative: Steve Almquist, Ph.D.
Athletic Department Phone: 251-380-3485
Athletic Department Fax: 251-460-2196
Sports Information Director: Jim Stennett
Alma Mater: Mississippi State, 1990
SID Phone: (251) 380-4468
SID Email: jstennett@shc.edu
Athletic Web Site: www.shcbadgers.com
Twitter: SHCBADGERS
Facebook: SHCBADGERS
Instagram: SHCBADGERS
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Frank Sims
Alma Mater: Eastern Illinois, 1977
Record at school/years: 822-823-3 (31 seasons)
Career record/years: 858-833-3 (32 seasons)
Office Phone: (251) 380-3486
Assistant Coach: Andy McCall/6th season
Graduate Assistant Coach: Blake Beavers/1st season
Athletic Trainer: Brian Gronewold, ATC
Office Phone: 251-380-3493
TEAM INFORMATION
Overall Record Last Year: 29-16
Conference Record/Finish: 18-3 SIAC
No. of Players returning/lost/new: 19/11/11
2016 RESULTS
Date
Opponent
Result
Feb. 6 Shorter University (DH) Home L, 3-11; W, 18-8 (8)
Feb. 7 Shorter University
Feb. 10 University of Montevallo
Feb. 13 University of North Alabama (DH)
Home W, 3-1
Home L, 4-11
Home W, 6-3; W, 6-5
Feb. 14 University of North Alabama Home L, 7-4
Feb. 17 University of Alabama in Huntsville (DH) Home W, 12-3; L, 7-9
Feb. 19 at University of Mobile Univ. of Mobile W, 11-0 (8)
Feb 20 at University of Mobile (DH) Univ. of Mobile L, 3-9; W, 9-0
Feb. 24 University of West Florida Home L, 2-3
Mar. 1 Mississippi College
Mar. 2 University of West Alabama
Mar. 5 *Lane College (DH)
Mar. 6 *Lane College
Home L, 0-5
Home L, 6-12
Home W, 10-1; W, 22-2
Home W, 14-1
Mar. 9 at University of West Florida Pensacola, Fla. L, 5-6 (10)
Mar. 13 *Stillman College (DH)
Home W, 7-1; W, 14-1
Mar. 14 *Stillman College Home W, 5-4
Mar. 16 at Loyola University (La.) (DH)
Westwego, La. W, 6-5; L, 0-7
Mar. 23 at University of Montevallo Montevallo, Ala. L, 3-13 (8)
Mar. 25 *at Miles College
Birmingham, Ala. L, 3-6
Mar. 26 *at Miles College (DH) Birmingham, Ala. W, 4-1; L, 0-1
Mar. 29 at Mississippi College Clinton, Miss. W, 8-6
Apr. 2
*at Kentucky State University (DH) Frankfort, Ky. W, 17-2; W, 12-6
Apr. 3 *at Kentucky State University Frankfort, Ky. W, 9-6
Apr. 6 at University of North Alabama Florence, Ala. L, 2-11
Apr. 9
Apr. 10
Apr. 12
Apr. 16
*LeMoyne-Owen College (DH)
*LeMoyne-Owen College
Loyola University (La.)
*at Tuskegee University (DH)
Apr. 17 *at Tuskegee University
Home W, 23-0; W, 14-8
Home W, 21-2
Home W, 10-5
Montgomery, Ala. W, 13-0; W, 8-0
Montgomery, Ala. W, 13-3 (7)
Apr. 19 University of Mobile Home W, 8-5
Apr. 22
Apr. 23
*Albany State University Home W, 7-2
*Albany State University (DH) Home L, 3-8; W, 12-3
Apr. 26 University of West Florida Home L, 1-4
* SIAC game(s) (DH) - Doubleheader
2016 SIAC FINAL STANDINGS
Team SIAC Overall East
Albany State 12-6 14-35
Paine 13-7 27-20
Claflin 11-7 21-23
Benedict 7-9 25-16
Clark Atlanta 8-12 12-31
Morehouse 5-15 17-27
Team SIAC Overall West
Spring Hill 18-3 29-16
Stillman 16-5 27-23
Miles 12-5 32-17
Kentucky State 8-12 14-29
Tuskegee 6-12 13-29
LeMoyne-Owen 5-13 8-33
Lane 0-15 3-32
2016 FINAL STATS
LOB - Team (351), Opp (337). DPs turned - Team (38), Opp (38). CI - Team (1), A Jones 1, Opp (1). IBB - Team (1), M Druhan 1, Opp (3). Picked off - U Fluellen 2, T Smith 1, W Floros 1, J Malkoff 1, M Latour 1, B Fontenot 1, C Harrison 1. (All games Sorted by Earned run avg)
PB - Team (5), A Jones 4, G Webb 1, Opp (5). Pickoffs - Team (9), A Jones 5, J Billings 2, W Parrish 2, Opp (8). SBA/ATT - A Jones (25-30), D Kiene (12-12), C Bahlinger (4-6), B Fontenot (4-6), A Pierson (3-5), W Parrish (3-4), J Billings (4-4), H Roig (3-3), S Saucier (0-1), J Fontenelle (1-1), A Barrios (0-1).
2017 SCHEDULE
Feb.
Feb.
Feb. 12
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb. 24
Feb.
Mar.
Mar.
Mar.
Mar.
Mar. 19
Mar.
Apr. 1
Apr. 2
Apr. 5
Apr. 8 *at Tuskegee University (DH)
Apr. 9 *at Tuskegee University
Apr. 12 at University of West Florida
Apr. 14
Apr. 15
Apr. 19
Apr. 22 *at Kentucky State University (DH)
Apr. 23 *at Kentucky State University
Apr.
Apr. 39 *Clark Atlanta University (DH)
*SIAC game(s) (DH) - Doubleheader
