Men’s Baseball

RECRUITS & DRAFTS

The Black Hawk College baseball team has announced early fall commitments from the 2012 class.

• LHP/OF – Bryson Jibben of Camp Point Central HS
• OF – Alex Reissen of Davenport West HS
• RHP – Brady Hanna of Pleasant Valley HS
• LHP – Kyle Manske of St. Charles East HS

The 2011Fall Black & Gold World Series was won in dramatic fashion! Kendall Hocker hits a walk-off 2RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning in game seven to clinch the series for the Gold Team!

Sophomores Keelan Prince and Trevor Kenyon sign during Division I early signing period in November. Prince (RHP) signed with Western Illinois University while Kenyon (C) signed with The University of Iowa.

Braves get commitment from top prospect
Coach Chavera has announced that pitcher Jake Sharp of Rock Island Alleman HS has committed to play baseball for the Black & Gold next fall. “We are extremely excited to have Jake coming to pitch at Black Hawk. This is simply a small transition step for him in what should be great college career at the next level”, Coach Chavera said.Here is what PrepBaseball Report of Illinois has to say about the news: “Sharp, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound RHP from Alleman Catholic HS, has committed to Black Hawk JC. Sharp, who’s ranked No. 39 in the Class of 2011, was one of the top unsigned arms in the state. As a junior, Sharp posted a 6-2 record with a 1.99 ERA. In 67 innings, he struck out 77 and walked 20”. – Sean Duncan, Editor PBR

Black Hawk pitcher Chris Burgess drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays
Quad-City Times article
Tampa Bay 2011 Draft Selections
Black Hawk pitcher Jason Smith signs with Washington Nationals
Black Hawk’s Smith signs with Nationals

HONORS

Back-to-Back-to-Back Conference Champs!

• Ranked #3 in NJCAA national polls
• Won 21^st (back-to-back-to-back) Arrowhead Athletic Conference title
• NJCAA Region 4 Sectional Champions
• Broke school record with 44 wins this season: Final record of 44-9

SEASON OUTLOOK

2012 Season Outlook
The Black Hawk Braves baseball team will have tough shoes to fill in what became a record setting year for the 2011 team. Last season, the Braves finished with a 44-9 record and won its 21st Arrowhead Conference Championship. The 44 wins broke a school record for wins in a season. The previous record was 39, which was set by the 1997 team. Along with winning the NJCAA Region 4 Sectional Championship, the 2011 team also set a school record of 26 triples in a single season and 6 individual player school records were set as well.

Last season’s team had 7 players earn a spot on the Arrowhead All-Conference Team, 4 players make the 2011 Rawlings Gold Glove Team, 6 players were selected to the NJCAA All-Region IX Team and 1 Brave was selected to the NJCAA All-American Team. The Braves were ranked as high as #3 in the NJCAA National Polls and finished ranked #10. Black Hawk also had its second player drafted in three seasons.

Again, some tough shoes to fill. The good news, most of those shoes will be filled by the same players. The 2012 team returns an impressive 18 sophomores and 2 transfer sophomores. “We are loaded with experience this upcoming season. Twenty sophomores is an unprecedented number in my coaching career”, Coach Chavera said. “Last year’s team was special. They showed tremendous desire through out the course of the year. They were quite disappointed in not making the trip to the World Series. It’s something we talk about in the opening team meeting each year. Having so many returners that experienced the ups and downs of a college season, we should make another strong push in a positive direction for this program”, Chavera added. When asked if the Braves can repeat a 44-9 record, Coach Chavera responded by saying, “I’m not sure, it takes some luck to finish with a winning percentage such as that. I think the win/loss record is irrelevant if you make it to the World Series. That was our focus last season and it really shouldn’t change with so many of the same guys coming back. If we can stay healthy, I like our chances”. Last season, Black Hawk limped into the post season with two starters unable to participate due to injuries. All Region winner, first baseman Mike Budka (broken hand) and All American winner, catcher Kendall Patrick (broken leg).

This fall the Braves begin preparing for, what hopes to be another banner year for the program. Black Hawk started practicing August 20th and will play 20 games this fall, including an Alumni Game (Oct. 1st) and games against The University of Iowa (at U of I) and The University of Illinois at Chicago (at UIC).

Pitching
The Brave’s pitching staff will once again be talented and deep. Returning sophomores Keelan Prince (6-0; 2.94era), Mike Fisher (4-0; 2.25era), Kyle Dermody (5-1; 1.84era) and Josh Keim (6-0; 2.91era) had a combined 21-1 record last season. Transfer sophomore Trent Muilenburg and returning sophomore Alex Ott will be add depth to the rotation. And highly touted freshman Jake Sharp should make a big impact on the starting rotation. “I don’t know if anybody wants it more than Jake”, Coach Chavera said of Sharp. “Jake will no doubt be a Division I pitcher someday. He already has the composure and mound presence of an upper classman”, he added.

Freshmen: Blake Moe, Joe Walsh, Eann Cox, Nate Rauch and Kurt Donner should also battle for starting roles. “We have to replace guys like Chris Burgess (University of Oklahoma), Jason Smith (Washingtion Nationals) and Adam Karger (UNC-Pembroke). Those guys were very successful here at Black Hawk. It will take a lot of work this fall, but at the end of the day, we will have even greater depth off the mound compared to last year’s team”, Coach Chavera said. (RHP Keelan Prince signed with Western Illinois University in the November during the early signing period.)

Outfield
Returners Logan Frye, Charlie Dennehey and Kyle Dermody will make a push to see significant playing time. “Dennehey will play as good as defense at the Center Field position as well as anybody in the country”, Coach Chavera said. “I have seen him make some plays out there that I haven’t seen since my days in the minor leagues. He has made some positive adjustments to his swing that should help him at the plate this season. I think Charlie is going to have a great year”, Chavera added. Sophomore transfer Dain Burress is expected to compete for playing time in the outfield. Freshman Joe Walsh’s bat could get him some time in the outfield this spring.

Infield

Last season, the Braves led the country in Team Fielding Percentage and three of the four infielders are coming back. Returning sophomores Alex Slaby, Kendall Hocker, Mike Budka and Nick Sanders are expected to buckle the infield down this year. Slaby, who played left field last season, will transition to short stop, which he played in high school. He hit .367 with 10 doubles, 4 triples and 22 stolen bases while Hocker hit .365 with 39 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Kendall is a returning 2011 Arrowhead All-Conference selection.

Budka had a tremendous year at the plate. He hit .395 while being selected to the Arrowhead All-Conference team and earning NJCAA 2^nd Team All-Region honors. Mike was also selected to the 2011 Rawlings Gold Glove Team for the NJCAA Region 4/North Central District. “Budka is the best defensive First Baseman that I have seen in our region in my eight years here”, Chavera said. “Mike missed last year’s playoff run with a broken hand. He feels like he missed out and has taken it personal. He works as hard as anybody and he may be the most focused player on our team”, Coach Chavera added.

“The dark horse of our infield in Nick Sanders”, Chavera said. “The other three infielders each hit over .365 last season. Nick struggled at the plate last year and he will be the first one to tell you that. He has worked hard on his physical approach at the plate, but most importantly, his mental approach at the plate. He has learned to apply the things that he and I have been discussing over the last year. Defensively he is a spark plug. He has a knack to make the big play. He may be the best defensive second baseman that I have ever coached”, he added.

Freshman Andrew Dobek and Sophomore Josh Keim should add some depth to the infield.

Catcher

Returners Kendall Patrick and Trevor Kenyon will both patrol home plate and DH. In 2011, Patrick put up some impressive numbers while earning Arrowhead All-Conference and NJCAA 1^st Team All Region honors. He was also selected to the 2011 NJCAA All-American Team. Kendall hit .424 with 11 doubles and 36 RBI. Kenyon was also selected to the Arrowhead All-Conference team while hitting .331 with 9 doubles, 4 triples, five homeruns and 49 RBI.

“I am extremely excited to have these two guys coming back. Both will get some draft looks and they both will play at the Division 1 level”, Coach Chavera said. “Kenyon is one of those hitters that will be as good as he wants to be. He wants to be a great hitter but sometimes he gets in his own way. He is highly aggressive at the plate and goes up to the plate with ‘bad intentions’. He is slowly learning that sometimes you have to simplify things and just look to make solid contact with the ball and not get caught up thinking he has to make something happen every time at the plate. He made big strides with his approach this fall”, Chavera said. “Patrick is another guy that missed the playoffs last year due to a broken leg. Although he is a returning All-American, you wouldn’t know it. He is eager to get the season going and partake in the upcoming playoff run this spring”, Chavera added.

(C Trevor Kenyon signed with The University of Iowa in November during the early signing period.)

The Coaching Staff

Arnie Chavera (Navarro JC, Dallas Baptist University) returns for his eighth season at the helm of the Braves. Pitching Coach, Travis Webb (Parkland JC, University of Tennessee at Martin) returns for his third season and former Brave, Mike Kool (BHC, University of Illinois at Chicago) returns for his second season.

Caleb Rangel joins the staff this fall after having a stellar playing career at Central College (IA) and former Brave Bryan Jordan will officially join the Braves in December after graduation. Jordan played two years at Western Illinois University after transferring from Black Hawk.

MEDIA COVERAGE

Men’s Baseball News