# Indiana State Sycamores baseball

The Indiana State Sycamores baseball team is the NCAA Division I baseball program of Indiana State University, located in Terre Haute, Indiana. It is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 2024. Their first season was 1896. The Sycamores have had 12 All-Americans, 26 Major Leaguers, and more than 2,200 victories. The team's most successful season was in 1986, when the team appeared in the College World Series and finished with a record of 48–21. The Sycamores have appeared in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 1979, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024.
They appeared in the NAIA Baseball World Series in 1958 and won the NAIA "Midwest" District Championship in 1964. In 2013, the 1958 team was honored on the 55th Anniversary of their appearance at the NAIA Baseball World Series.
Past coaches include John Wooden, Bob Warn, former ISU and MiLB'er Paul L. Wolf, Wally Marks and Mitch Hannahs. The Sycamores play their home games at Sycamore Stadium at Bob Warn Field (900).

## Division I NCAA tournament results

The Sycamores have appeared in 13 NCAA Division I Baseball Championships. Their combined record is 16–26; they won the 1986 Mideast Regional and the 2023 Terre Haute Regional; they reached Regional Finals in 1989, 2019 and 2024.
| Year | Result | Games |
| 1979 | Midwest Regional | 0–2 |
| 1983 | Mideast Regional | 0–2 |
| 1984 | Mideast Regional | 1–2 |
| 1986 | Mideast Regional | 3–0 |
| 1986 | College World Series | 0–2 |
| 1987 | Central Regional | 1–2 |
| 1989 | South Regional | 2–2 |
| 1995 | Midwest II Regional | 1–2 |
| 2012 | Eugene Regional | 0–2 |
| 2014 | Bloomington Regional | 0–2 |
| 2019 | Nashville Regional | 2–2 |
| 2021 | Nashville Regional | 1–2 |
| 2023 | Terre Haute Regional | 3–0 |
| 2023 | Fort Worth Super Regional | 0–2 |
| 2024 | Lexington Regional | 2–2 |

## National awards (2)

| Year | Player | Organization |
| 2010 | Ryan Strausborger, CF | Rawlings Gold Glove |
| 2023 | Grant Magill, C | Rawlings Gold Glove |

## All-Americans (17)

| Year | Player | Organization |
| 1963 | Harlan Lautenschlager, IF | NAIA |
| 1985 | John Howes, P | Baseball America |
| 1979 | Wallace Johnson, 2B | CoSIDA NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship |
| 1981 | Marty Martino, 2B | CoSIDA Academic All-American |
| 1986 | Paul Frye, OF | Collegiate Baseball |
| 1989 | Mitch Hannahs, 2B | ABCA, Baseball America |
| 1990 | Chad McDonald, 3B | ABCA, Collegiate Baseball |
| 1991 | Mike Farrell, P/1B | Collegiate Baseball |
| 1992 | John LaMar, OF | ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball |
| 1993 | Casey Whitten, P | ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball |
| 1995 | Todd Tatlock, DH | ABCA, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA |
| 1996 | Dan Olson, OF | ABCA, NCBWA |
| 2014 | Ryan Keaffaber, SP | Louisville Slugger |
| 2016 | Tyler Ward, SP | Louisville Slugger |
| 2021 | Geremy Guerrero, SP | ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball.com, NCBWA |
| 2022 | Randal Diaz, 3B | Collegiate Baseball |
| 2023 | Connor Fenlong, SP | ABCA, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball.com, NCBWA |

## Most Valuable Player
### Conference (reg. season)

* 2012 Jeremy Lucas, C Missouri Valley Conference
* 2023 Connor Fenlong, RHP Missouri Valley Conference
* 2023 Grant Magill, C Missouri Valley Conference

### Conference Tournament (6)

* 1979 Wallace Johnson, 2B Missouri Valley Conference
* 1986 Dave Travis, DH Missouri Valley Conference
* 1989 Larry Russell, OF Missouri Valley Conference
* 1995 Jeff Leaman, 3B/P Missouri Valley Conference
* 2019 Chris Ayers, OF/DH Missouri Valley Conference
* 2023 Randal Diaz, IF Missouri Valley Conference

## All-Conference (113)

Only players selected for the conference first team are displayed; for second team and honorable mention, please consult the Indiana State baseball media guide at www.gosycamores.com

### All-Indiana Collegiate Conference (35)

| Henry Smith, (P) – 1954 Henry Smith, (P) – 1955 Henry Smith, (P) – 1957 Parker Eaton, (P) – 1958 Gerald Jeffries, (2B) – 1958 Paul Edgerton, (C) – 1958 Bill Gilkey, (OF) – 1958 Jim Bates, (OF) – 1958 Joe Decker, (SS) – 1962 Gary Cunning, (C) – 1962 Paul Gries, (SS) – 1965 | Larry Roesch, (2B) - 1965 Mike Harlan, (OF) – 1965 Randy Miller, (OF) – 1965 Paul Edgerton, (C) – 1965 Randy Miller, (OF) – 1966 Drew Thomas, (P) – 1966 Robert Warren, (P) – 1966 Alan Buell, (1B) – 1966 John Smith, (SS) – 1966 Mike Phillips, (3B) – 1966 Mike Harlan, (OF) – 1966 Steve Hollenbeck, C – 1966 | Drew Thomas, (P) – 1967 Alan Buell, (1B) – 1967 Randy Miller, (2B) Mike Harlan, (OF) – 1967 Mike Phillips, (3B) – 1967 Mike Lecklitner, (OF) – 1967 Steve Hollenbeck, (3B) – 1968 Dave Lecklitner, (C) – 1968 Nick Petrycki, (SS) – 1968 Mike Russell, (OF) – 1968 Drew Thomas, (P) – 1968 Mike Phillips, (1B) – 1968 |

### All-Missouri Valley Conference (87)

| Bill Hayes, (C) – 1977 Jay James, (3B) – 1977 Jeff Brisson, (OF) – 1977 Bill Hayes, (C) – 1978 Greg Baker, (OF) – 1978 Preston Williams, (1B) – 1979 Wallace Johnson, (2B) – 1979 Pete Piskol, (SS) – 1979 Greg Baker, (OF) – 1979 Mark Walberg, (P) – 1979 Pete Piskol, (SS) – 1979 Pat Dumochelle, (C) – 1980 Dave Browning, (DH) – 1980 | Zane Smith, (P) – 1982 Pete Piskol, (SS) – 1982 Mark Walberg, (OF) – 1982 Rob Baker, (OF) – 1983 Brian Dorsett, (C) – 1983 Rod Zeratsky, (DH) – 1983 Tim Barrett, (P) – 1983 Mike Coin, (1B) – 1984 Scott Mann, (OF) – 1984 Rod Zeratsky, (C) – 1984 Tony Collins, (DH) – 1984 Blaise Ilsley, (P) – 1984 Boi Rodriguez, (3B) – 1985 | Bob Zeihen, (OF) – 1985 Tony Collins, (DH) – 1985 Blaise Ilsley, (P) – 1985 Boi Rodriguez, (3B) – 1986 Paul Frye, (OF) – 1986 Mike Eberle, (C) – 1986 Mitch Hannahs, (2B) – 1987 Dan Roman, (SS) – 1987 Mike Eberle, (C) – 1987 Jamie Allison, (OF) – 1987 Mitch Hannahs, (Util) – 1988 Mitch Hannahs, (2B) – 1989 Chad McDonald, (3B) – 1989 | Kurt Olson, (UT) – 1989 Mike Farrell, (DH) – 1990 Dave Doster, (2B) – 1992 Steve Ruckman, (3B) – 1992 John LaMar, (OF) – 1992 Stoney Burke, (C) – 1993 Demetrius Dowler, (OF) – 1993 Casey Whitten, (P) – 1993 Ric Johnson, (OF) – 1994 Jeff Leaman, (UT) – 1995 Todd Tatlock, (DH) – 1995 Ric Johnson, (OF) – 1995 Brad Finken, (P) – 1996 | Dan Olson, (OF) – 1996 Rick Angell, (OF) – 1998 Tony Harden, (P) – 1998 Pete Hennecke, (IF) – 1998 Clint Barmes, (SS) – 2000 Mitch Stetter, (P) – 2000 Jason Frome, (OF) – 2001 Nevin Ashley, (C) – 2006 Ryan Strausborger, 2B – 2008 Ryan Strausborger, UT – 2009 Brady Shoemaker, OF – 2009 Nick Ciolli, OF – 2009 Joe Rodriguez, (SP) – 2009 | Ryan Strausborger, (OF) – 2010 Jacob Petricka, (SP) – 2010 Robby Ort, (OF) – 2011 Jeremy Lucas, (C) – 2012 Rob Ort, (OF) – 2012 Dakota Bacus, (SP) – 2012 Ryan Keaffaber, (RP) – 2014 Tyler Wampler, (SS) – 2014 Andy DeJesus, (2B) – 2016 Hunter Owen, (OF) – 2016 Tony Rosselli, (OF) – 2017 Jake Means, (3B) – 2018 Tyler Grauer, (LHP) – 2019 | Collin Liberatore, (RHP) – 2019 Jake Means, (3B) – 2019 Aaron Beck, (OF) – 2021 Connor Fenlong, (RP) – 2021 Geremy Guerrero, (SP) – 2021 Jordan Schaeffer, (SS) – 2021 Max Wright, (C) – 2021 Lane Miller, (SP) - 2023 Matt Jachec, (SP) - 2023 |

### Conference specialty (12)
#### Pitcher of the Year (2)

* Geremy Guerrero – 2021
* Connor Fenlong – 2023

#### Defensive Player of the Year (3)

* Tyler Wampler – 2014
* Jake Means – 2019
* Grant Magill – 2023

#### MVC Newcomer of the Year (5)

* Rich Angell – 1998
* Clint Barmes – 2000
* Tim Brewer – 2005
* Collin Liberatore – 2019
* Aaron Beck – 2021

#### MVC Freshman of the Year (2)

* Mitch Stetter – 2000
* Ryan Keaffaber – 2014

## Career leaders
### Batting average

| Name | Average |
| Larry Bird* (1979) | .500 |
| Todd Tatlock (1994–95) | .423 |
| Wallace Johnson (1977–79) | .422 |
| Rob Barker (1981–83) | .399 |
| Pete Piskol (1978–82) | .396 |
| Paul Frye (1984–86) | .383 |
* Bird appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI.

### Hits

| Name | Hits |
| Bob Zeihen* (1985–88) | 290 |
| Mitch Hannahs (1986–89) | 274 |
| Steve Ruckman (1990–93) | 257 |
| Dan Roman (1984–87) | 253 |
| Pete Piskol (1978–82) | 250 |
* Bob Zeihen holds the National NCAA career record for triples (32)

### HRs

| Name | HRs |
| Boi Rodriguez (1985–87) | 48 |
| Dan Frye (1989–92) | 39 |
| Mike Eberle (1984–87) | 37 |
| Tyler Thompson (1995–98) | 32 |
| Dan Olson (1994–96) | 30 |

### Wins

| Name | Wins |
| Mike Gardiner (1984–87) | 30 |
| John Howes (1982–86) | 29 |
| Mike Farrell (1988–91) | 27 |
| Casey Whitten (1991–93) | 27 |
| Paul Quizner (1983–86) | 25 |
| Blaine Ilsley (1983–85) | 25 |
| Randy Keaffaber (1990–93) | 25 |
| Brad Finken (1994–97) | 25 |

### ERA

| Name | ERA |
| Jim Ridenour (1977–78) | 3.03 |
| Casey Whitten (1991–93) | 3.04 |
| Dave Thomas (1977–78) | 3.09 |
| Blaise Ilsley (1983–85) | 3.20 |
| Jim Rasmussen (1977–78) | 3.32 |

### Strikeouts

| Name | Strikeouts |
| Casey Whitten (1991–93) | 299 |
| Mike Gardiner (1983–86) | 296 |
| Brad Finken (1994–97) | 275 |
| Blake Ilsley (1983–85) | 274 |
| Mitch Stetter (2000–03) | 254 |

## Sycamores in MLB

While long-time baseball great Tommy John is an alumnus of Indiana State; he did not play baseball for the Sycamores as he attended classes around his professional baseball schedule. Future New York Yankees-great, Don Mattingly, declined his baseball scholarship from Coach Bob Warn after he was drafted by the New York Yankees.
Bill Hayes had 2 "cups-of-coffee" in the majors but would go on to a long career as a Minor League manager before beginning a 15-year coaching career with the San Francisco Giants, winning 3x World Series Championships (2010, 2012, 2014); in Dec 2014, he was named 1st-base coach for the Giants. Long-time college basketball coach Ron Felling was a 2-year letterman for the Sycamores.
In addition, basketball legend Larry Bird appeared in two games for the Sycamores, in the spring of 1979, following the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Indiana State has placed over 75 Sycamores in the Minors, of which 27 have reached the Major Leagues or Negro Major Leagues. They are by order of appearance:
| # | Player | Primary Team | Career |
| 1 | Junius Bibbs | Kansas City Monarchs | 1933–1944 |
| 2 | Jeff James | Philadelphia Phillies | 1968–1969 |
| 3 | Danny Lazar | Chicago White Sox | 1968–1968 |
| 4 | Bill Hayes | Chicago Cubs | 1980–1981 |
| 5 | Wallace Johnson | Montreal Expos | 1981–1990 |
| 6 | Rick Grapenthin | Montreal Expos | 1983–1985 |
| 7 | Zane Smith | Atlanta Braves | 1984–1996 |
| 8 | Brian Dorsett | Cincinnati Reds | 1984–1996 |
| 9 | Tim Barrett | Montreal Expos | 1988 |
| 10 | Mike Gardiner | Boston Red Sox | 1990–1995 |
| 11 | Tom Gilles | Toronto Blue Jays | 1990–1990 |
| 12 | Blaise Ilsley | Chicago Cubs | 1994–1994 |
| 13 | David Doster | Philadelphia Phillies | 1996, 1999 |
| 14 | Chuck Smith | Florida Marlins | 2000–2001 |
| 15 | Clint Barmes | Colorado Rockies | 2003–2015 |
| 16 | Alex Graman | New York Yankees | 2003–2004 |
| 17 | Mitch Stetter | Milwaukee Brewers | 2007–2011 |
| 18 | Joe Thatcher | San Diego Padres | 2007–2015 |
| 19 | Brian Omogrosso | Chicago White Sox | 2012–2013 |
| 20 | Jake Petricka | Chicago White Sox | 2013–2021 |
| 21 | Colin Rea | San Diego Padres | 2015–present |
| 22 | Ryan Strausborger | Texas Rangers | 2015 |
| 23 | Nevin Ashley | Milwaukee Brewers | 2015 |
| 24 | Sean Manaea | San Francisco Giants | 2016–present |
| 25 | Andy Young | Arizona Diamondbacks | 2020–2021 |
| 26 | Dakota Bacus | Washington Nationals | 2020 |
| 27 | Hunter Owen | Pittsburgh Pirates | 2021 |

## Coaching leaders

| Years | Coach (Alma Mater) | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct. | Notes |
| 1976–2006 | Bob Warn (Southern Illinois) | 1,070 | 745 | 5 | .598 | 1986 College World Series, 7 NCAA bids, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1995 Conference Titles |
| 2014–2024 | Mitch Hannahs (Indiana State) | 355 | 214 | 1 | .624 | 5 NCAA bids; 2023, 2024 Conference Titles |
| 1938–1941, 1956–1967 | Paul Wolf (Indiana State) | 140 | 113 | 5 | .552 | 1958 NAIA World Series, 4-time Coach of the Year, 1957, 1958, 1964, 1966 Conference Titles |
| 2010–2013 | Rick Heller (Upper Iowa) | 132 | 96 | 0 | .583 | 2012 NCAA tournament, 2012 MVC Coach of the Year |
| 1968–1975 | Jim Rendel (Earlham, {Ind.}) | 129 | 141 | 0 | .478 | |
| 1929–1931, 1934–1937, 1942, 1946–1947, 1949–1955 | Wally Marks (Chicago) | 108 | 81 | 2 | .571 | 1930, 1946, 1948, 1949 Conference Titles |
| 2007–2009 | Lindsay Meggs (UCLA) | 77 | 79 | 0 | .493 | 2009 Coach of the Year |
| 1924–1928 | Art Strum (Wisconsin-LaCrosse) | 41 | 16 | 0 | .719 | 1924 Conference Title |
| 1918–1923 | Birch Bayh (Indiana State) | 40 | 13 | 1 | .750 | 1919, 1920, 1921, 1923 Conference Titles |
| 1913–1917 | Alfred Westphal (unknown) | 24 | 24 | 1 | .500 | |
| 1932–1933 | Jack Hannah (unknown) | 18 | 8 | 0 | .692 | |
| 1948 | John Wooden (Purdue), (Indiana State)* | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | |
| 1912 | Bert Wiggins (unknown) | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | |
| 1910 | Jesse A. Wood (Indiana State) | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | |
| 1896-1909; 1911; 1918; 1944 | Others | 50 | 59 | 0 | .460 | |
| 1896–present | All-time | 2,189 | 1,595 | 15 | .578 | |
* - John Wooden was a Graduate Student while he coached the baseball team

### Coaching honors
#### Conference Coach of the Year (10)

| Coach | Year(s) | Conf |
| Paul Wolf | 1958, 1963, 1966, 1967 | Indiana Collegiate |
| Bob Warn | 1979, 1983, 1984 | Missouri Valley |
| Lindsay Meggs | 2009 | Missouri Valley |
| Rick Heller | 2012 | Missouri Valley |
| Mitch Hannahs | 2023 | Missouri Valley |

## Hall(s) of Fame

* 1985 - Wallace Johnson (Player) - Indiana State University Hall of Fame
* 1987 – Paul Wolf (Coach) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
* 1988 – Don Jennings (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
* 1989 – Howard Sharpe (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
* 1990 – Bob Warn (Coach) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
* 2000 – Bob Warn (Coach) – Iowa Western Hall of Fame
* 2002 - Junius "Rainey" Bibbs (Player) - Indiana State University Hall of Fame
* 2002 – 1986 Baseball Team (College World Series participant) – Indiana State University
* 2002 – Bob Warn (Coach) – Indiana State University Hall of Fame
* 2002 – Paul Gries (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
* 2003 – Bob Warn (Coach) – American Baseball Coach's Association
* 2007 – Brian Dorsett (Player) – Indiana State University Hall of Fame
* 2008 – Brian Dorsett (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
* 2011 – Junius "Rainey" Bibbs (Player) – Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
* 2021 - Sean Manaea (Player) – Indiana State University Hall of Fame
* 2022 - Steve Ruckman (Player) - Frontier League Hall of Fame