After a rocky start to its season, the CMU baseball team will finally
get a chance to showcase its ability to the home fans, as the Cardinals
of Saginaw Valley State invade Theunissen Stadium today for the 1999 home
opener.

Over the weekend, the Chippewas improved their record to 4-13 by winning
three of five games in the Akron Invitational, following a tough stretch
of games in the South. Now, with the Mid-American Conference season on the
horizon, the Chippewas will look to contain Saginaw Valley and its potent
offense.

"They’re good, they’re very offensive oriented," Central coach
Judd Folske said. "They’ll pull the trigger. They had a 27-2 win over
Alma. Plus they’ve got quality pitching."

To combat the Cardinal offense Folske said the Chippewas will use a multitude
of pitchers.

Adam Bolthouse, 0-1 record, 3.68 earned run average, and Chad Pleiness,
1-1 record, 8.64 ERA, need the most work, according to Folske, and will
see significant action on the mound. Dan Schell, Eric Kipling, Wayne Hesselink,
Kevin Smoot and Phil Roberts will also be ready for duty, if needed.

Central will also need to bring the bats if it wants to keep pace with
the Cardinals. With only three players hitting over .300, the big concern
for Folske will be producing runs.

"Hopefully our offense gets on track," he said. "We’re
just not getting RBI’s. We’re leaving too many guys on base."

Jake Sanborn has been the most consistent from the plate to start the
season. Sanborn is second on the team with a .314 average, has two home
runs and has 12 RBI.

First baseman Matt Keim has provided the Chippewas with power in the
lineup. After entering the season with only five career homers, Keim has
stepped up and banged four out of the park, including three at last weekend’s
Akron Invitational.

With its first 18 games coming on the road, Central will welcome a game
in the friendly confines of Theunissen Stadium. A dose of warmer temperatures
can’t hurt either, as the Chippewas look to take advantage of its home field
with a large crowd.

"We’ve been on the road for 18 games, so we’re anxious to be home,"
Folske said. "I don’t worry about the weather, because the weather
doesn’t bother me and it doesn’t bother the players, as long as it’s dry."

CMU lost to Michigan on Tuesday, 7-3.

Once again the Chippewa bats went cold with only six hits.

Hudson Whitmore went 2-4 with 2 RBI and Sanborn knocked in the other
Central run.

Mike Fawcett, Kevin Smoot and Sage Jackson saw action from the mound
for CMU. Fawcett took the loss, dropping to 1-3 and Jackson pitched two
scoreless innings, striking out three while giving up three hits. The loss
drops the Chippewas to 4-14.

E-mail the author: Chris DobrowolskiLIFE Sports Writer