'Roo Baseball 2012 Season Recap

The Austin College baseball team had a tough year in 2012, finishing the season with an overall record of 8-29 and a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference mark of 5-15. The 'Roos did finish the year on a high note, taking two out of three at nationally ranked Trinity University in their final series of the season. 

Several players had outstanding seasons for the 'Roos under second year head coach James Rise, led by junior Tyler Appelquist. In his first season playing first base after having begun his career as a catcher, Appelquist batted .368 with four doubles, two homers and 17 runs batted in and earned 1^st Team All-SCAC accolades for his efforts. 

Also performing well and earning Honorable Mention All-Conference honors were seniors John Schulmeister and Chase Muder. Schulmeister, who started 33 games primarily in center field, hit .318 with eight doubles, two triples, two homers and a team-best 23 RBI and pulled off the most memorable individual achievement of the year when he hit for the cycle, including a walk off home run, and also earned the victory on the mound against LeTourneau. Schulmeister also finished second on the team with 30 strikeouts on the mound. Muder, the starting catcher for 33 games, batted .299 with seven doubles and 10 RBI. 

Junior shortstop Mason Leech also had a big year at the plate, hitting .321 with four doubles, a home run and 11 RBI, and freshman Dylan Day made an immediate impact at the dish with a .343 batting average and 12 RBI in 24 games. 

Senior pitcher Cullen Calabria earned a team-best three victories in 12 starts this season, including hurling three complete games. Calabria also struck out a team-high 32 batters for the year in 61.2 innings of work. Austin Molinaro had a strong year working in relief, going 1-1 with a team-best 3.96 earned-run-average and had 13 strikeouts. 

The 'Roos will have to replace the production of their senior class but return the bulk of the squad as the look ahead to 2013. The 'Roos will be relying on young players like Josh Coughennower, Will Schommer and Blaine Tew, who earned some valuable experience as freshmen this season, in addition to upperclassman like Leech and Appelquist as well as Colt Herron, Travis Gibson and Shane Williams as they look to rebound next year and earn a spot in the SCAC Tournament.