Special Thanks to the Argus/Dispatch

By Shannon Heaton, Staff sports writer

A year ago, the Western Big 6 Conference baseball title wasn't decided until the final week of the season.

Don't be surprised if the 2003 Big 6 race follows suit.

As Moline coach Derek Lindauer puts it, ``(On) Saturdays, everyone's the same.''

Those doubleheaders, which begin on April 19, will quickly separate the wheat from the chaff in the Big 6.

``Every school has a chance to beat each other every Saturday,'' Rock Island coach Andy Campbell said. ``It is going to be important to win at home, because all away conference games are tough.''

Most everyone connected with the league puts the Maroons, Rock Island and Galesburg in the top three positions in the conference.

What'll keep Moline up there is pitching. Headed by seniors Andrew Porter, Brandon Engle and Scott Shattuck, the Maroons (23-11 in 2002, 6-4 and tied for second in the WB6) have quality at the top of their rotation and depth behind.

Offensively, Moline will be paced by Porter, Engle, senior outfielder Jeff Fobert and junior outfielder Blake Boster, whose speed should jump-start the Maroon offense this year.

``Pitching and team speed will be a strength,'' Lindauer said. ``Hopefully our offense will pick up. Cutting down on strikeouts will determine our success.''

Senior pitching, too, is a hallmark for the Rocks (26-8, 6-4 in 2002), with seniors Chase Stephens, Justin Morelock, Grant Snyder, Tom DeBroeck and Chris Watters.

``We like our team because of our senior pitching,'' Campbell said. ``We like our pitching depth and enthusiasm the team brings to practice every day.''

Despite losing 11 lettermen, there is still plenty of talent in the Rock Island cupboard offensively, with seniors Tyler Wentler and Denver Schmitt already putting together multi-hit games this season.

Galesburg coach Arnie Gonzalez thinks the battle within the Big 6 is going to make for a fun season.

``We're excited to get things going, but we know it'll be a tough road because of a very solid conference, from top to bottom. They all have good, dedicated coaches,'' Gonzalez said of his fellow league competitors. ``Our biggest asset is being senior-strong. They gained valuable experience last season.''

Leading the way for the Silver Streaks (9-14, 3-5 in the Big 6 a year ago) is returning all-conference outfielder Marlon LaViolette, who should spark the Galesburg offense.

``We have some pretty decent athletes, good speed at the top of the order and strong kids in the middle,'' Gonzalez said.

First-year Alleman head coach Chris Lemon admits that the adjustment of moving from the sophomore head job up to the varsity hasn't been too onerous so far.

``Baseball-wise, truthfully, there hasn't been an adjustment yet,'' Lemon said. ``These are the same kids I've coached the last two years. When we start playing games, that's when the adjustments will come.''

And, the Pioneers -- who have dedicated their season in memory of former varsity coach Bob DeDoncker, who passed away last fall -- will have a new look as they try to defend their title, from the BD's on the back of their hats to the faces in the lineup.

``We're missing seven starters and our top four pitchers from last year,'' Lemon said of his new-look Alleman squad. ``The biggest jump in coming up from sophomore ball to varsity is that most varsity teams can put nine good guys out there. Sophomore teams, that doesn't always happen. At the varsity, even the eight and nine hitters are pretty dang good.''

Junior Dylan Cross, an honorable mention WB6 selection last year, and senior Chris Morlok are the Pioneers' lone returning starters from a year ago.

``I think we'll be very competitive,'' Lemon said. ``We're going to be young, competitive and fun to watch. It's a talented group, but it's untested right now.''

After a 5-23 season in 2002, UT coach Jason VanHoutte is focusing more on having his young charges work on individual accomplishments first and foremost.

``We haven't talked about team goals yet, but we have challenged them individually to close the gap,'' VanHoutte said of his Panthers, who return only three seniors that saw spot duty a year ago. ``Other players in the conference are a lot more experienced, and we want our guys to close the gap in terms of personal abilities.''

Juniors Richie Moller and Kyle Dirck and sophomore Mark Ramos are the Panthers' most experienced returning players.

``It's pretty similar to last year,'' VanHoutte said of the team's youth. ``We're probably more inexperienced this year than last. Last year we played a lot of seniors and sophomores.

``We're just kind of going through a period where we're getting low numbers. The guys we have are pretty good at listening and learning, and that's the big thing with the inexperience we have.''

Geneseo (13-18, 3-8 in the NCIC) expects to move up quite a bit in the 2003 conference race with all but one pitcher back and several of the team's top hitters returning.

``Our strength is going to be our depth,'' Leafs coach Darin Pardoe said. ``We have to replace our infield from last year, as all four spots have graduated, so that's a concern.''

Seniors Brent Kincaid, Kurt Krapfl and Nathan Beuster all started several games on the mound for Geneseo last year. Outfielders Erik Norin, Jeremy Raschke and Justin Gray provided speed at the top of the lineup. Beuster plays solidly in the outfield when not on the mound.

Expect the power in the middle of the lineup to come from senior Derek Welge and juniors Kyle Brudos, Nick Raschke and Brandon Martins. Junior catcher Brent Werner might be Geneseo's best all-around talent.

``Our main goal right now is to win conference -- that's what all the kids' work in the off-season was for,'' Pardoe said. ``These kids have spent a lot of time in the offseason preparing for this spring. How well we are able to handle adversity will also be key.''

Alleman Pioneers

-- Coach:Chris Lemon, first year (at varsity level).

-- 2002: Finished 23-11, 8-2 (1st place in Big 6); lost to Chillicothe IVC in regional final.

-- Returning letterwinners: Seniors: Ty Schmidt (SS/P), Chris Morlok (3B/OF), Luke Maloney (C), Pat Dusenberry (INF/OF), Chris Moss (P); Junior: Dylan Cross (P/1B).

-- Promising newcomers: Juniors: Nate Just (P/1B/OF), Ryan McGinnis (CF), Tim Lemon (INF), Steve Klingaman (C), Eric Spriet (OF), Brandon Luloff (P/OF), Andrew Layer (OF); Sophomores: Jeremy Hauer (P/OF), Ben DeRoo (INF/P), Matt Ebner (2B).

Galesburg Silver Streaks

-- Coach: Arnie Gonzalez, 4th year.

-- 2002: Finished 9-14, 3-5 (5th place in Big 6); lost to Quincy in regional first round.

-- Returning letterwinners: Seniors: Drew Swanson (P), Davy Fields (P), Mike Yoemans (INF), Blake Butkovich (INF), Chris Smith (INF), Steve Hoosen (P-INF), Marlon LaViolette (OF, all-WB6), Geoff Dehler (OF-P).

-- Promising newcomers: Seniors: Jamie Dickerson (INF). Juniors: Jason Johnston (C-INF), Joe Peachey (C-OF), Brett Peterson (P), John Simkins (P-OF), Danny Deutsch (INF-OF).

Geneseo Maple Leafs

-- Coach: Darin Pardoe, 4th year.

-- 2002:Finished 13-17, 3-8 in NCIC; lost to Rock Island in regional first round.

-- Returning letterwinners: Seniors: Nathan Beuster (OF/P, HM all-NCIC, HM all-metro), Andrew Dewey (OF), Brent Kincaid (OF/P), Kurt Krapfl (INF/P), Erik Norin (OF), Derek Welge (1B); Junior: Brent Werner (C).

-- Promising newcomers: Seniors: Jared Billiet (INF/P), Shane Dolieslager (INF/P); Juniors: Kyle Brudos (INF/P), Kyle Colgan (OF), Kyle Coomes (INF/P), Justin Gray (OF), Drew Heilman (OF/P), Brandon Martins (INF/P), Jason Parrish (C), Jeremy Raschke (OF), Nick Raschke (INF/P), Andrew Sigwalt (OF), Aaron VanVooren (INF/P).

Moline Maroons

-- Coach: Derek Lindauer, 11th year.

-- 2002:Finished 23-11, 6-4 (tied for 2nd in Big 6); lost to St. Charles East in Sweet 16.

-- Returning letterwinners: Seniors: Andrew Porter (P, all-WB6, all-metro), Brandon Engle (P), Jeff Fobert (OF, all-metro), David Krismanits (P/1B), Austin Minor (2B, all-metro), Jake Bevans (C, HM all-metro), Scott Shattuck (P), Kyle Carlson (P), Carlos Garza (2B).

-- Promising newcomers: Juniors: Blake Boster (OF), Austin Vallejo (OF), Chris Drish (1B), Josiah Lorentzen (P), Alfredo Tovar (P), Chad Greim (3B), Mike Jones (C), Bobby Nees (2B), Nick Schroeder (C). Sophomore: Justin Yount (SS).

Rock Island Rocks

-- Coach: Andy Campbell, 5th year.

-- 2002: Finished 26-8, 6-4 (tied for 2nd in Big 6); lost to Moline in sectional semifinal.

-- Returning letterwinners: Seniors: Tom DeBroeck (P/OF), Luke DePron (OF), Andrew Guentner (OF), Justin Morelock (P), Denver Schmitt (OF), Grant Snyder (P/INF), Chase Stephens (P/INF, HM all-metro), Chris Watters (P), Tyler Wentler (INF).

-- Promising newcomers: Senior: Chris McFarland (C/OF); Juniors: Drew Dasso (P), Nick Davis (OF), Bret Gadient (P), Derek Goetzl (INF), Bret Larson (OF), Zach Norris (INF), Kirk Rylander (OF), Adam Schiltz (C), Brad Spence (P); Sophomores: Zac Simpson (INF), Andrew Tarnow (C).

-- Campbell says: ``The guys have worked hard in the off-season and are a joy to be around every day.''

United Township Panthers

-- Coach: Jason VanHoutte, 3rd year.

-- 2002: Finished 5-23, 1-9 (6th in Big 6); lost to Rock Island in regional final.

-- Returning letterwinners: Seniors: Corey Hynes (INF), Matt Ward (INF), Ryan DeRudder (INF); Juniors: Richie Moller (INF-P, all-metro), Kyle Dirck (OF). Sophomore: Mark Ramos (INF-P).

-- Promising newcomers: Juniors: Steven Crew (P), Chris Fleming (OF), Brian Wils (OF), Nic Young (C), Brett Nowack (OF); Sophomores: Chris Doran (INF-P), Adam Kinney (INF), Jacob Stice (OF), Nick Lampe (INF-P), Codie Gant (INF). Freshman: Corey Taylor (C).