Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Ian Koch
Larry Dean

Baseball WIU Athletic Communications

Opening Weekend

Baseball opens its 2018 campaign with a three-game series at Middle Tennessee State.

MACOMB, Ill. – The Western Illinois University baseball team opens its 2018 campaign with a three-game series at Middle Tennessee State beginning this Friday. Game one is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
"I am excited to get going with this group," said head coach Ryan Brownlee. "We have had a good preseason of preparation. We have a veteran group on both sides of the ball so I look for us to handle the early part of our season like we have been there before. 
 
"The start of the season is special every year. Every year is a unique journey with that year's team. I have so many great memories, as a player and 20 seasons as a coach, of opening weekend and have not doubt this weekend will be the same. I love our players and really want them all to enjoy every part of the process."
 
2018 Outlook
 
Infield
 
1B – After losing Chris Tschida and Conner Currier to graduation, Bailey Montgomery and Wyatt Meyer will see the most action at first base this season. The junior college transfers join Western from Wabbash Valley and Southeast Community College.
 
2B – Johnathan Fleek was a Second Team All-Summit League selection last year. He finished second on the team with a .325 batting average, while maintaining a .971 fielding percentage. Fleek also added 28 RBIs and went 9-for-17 in stolen bases (second most on the team). He will primarily serve as Western's second baseman, but will also make the switch to shortstop as needed.
 
3B – Mitch Ellis joined Fleek in appearing in all 50 games last season. He batted .310 on the year to rank third best on the team, and managed a .935 fielding percentage. Ellis may also be called upon to play at first base.  
 
SS – Deion Thompson was one of two players to start in all 50 games in the 2017 season. The shortstop batted .209 with six doubles, two triples and two home runs, and recorded a .921 fielding percentage.
 
Outfield
 
LF - Steve McShane played in 35 games and started in 22 of them. He batted .259 with two doubles, and added a pair of outfield assists. 
 
CF – Drue Galassi was named a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American. He recorded a .281 batting average in 42 games (36 starts), and tabbed a .953 fielding percentage with 60 putouts and one assist.

RF -  Justin Fitzpatrick and Grant Hannant will compete at right field. Fitzpatrick appeared in 28 games last season with 13 starts, while Hannant will be making his Leatherneck debut after transferring in from Illinois Central.
 
Pitchers
Right-handed pitcher Ian Koch led last year's team in wins (5), strikeouts (65) and innings pitched (87.0). He and fellow righty Javin Drake return from last year's weekend rotation.  
 
Drake made 13 appearances with 10 starts in his freshman season. He went 3-5 on the year with 42 strikeouts and 22 walks in 55.2 innings pitched.
 
The two recorded ERAs of 4.86 and 6.47, respectively.
 
Often coming on in relief, Pete Minella's 2017 stats included a 3-1 record and a team-leading five saves in 19 appearances.
 
Catchers
Adam McGinnis appeared in 48 games last season as the Leathernecks' regular starting catcher. He signed a free agent deal with the Chicago White Sox in June of 2017, after leading The Summit League in batting average (.355) and on-base percentage (.471), and throwing out 13-of-48 runners in his senior season.
 
CJ Schaeffer will be called upon to take the catching reins this season. He played in 23 games last year and started 17, and primarily served as the backup catcher.
 
----  
 
Overall, Western's 2018 roster features nine freshmen (three redshirt-freshmen), six sophomores, 11 juniors, and six seniors
 
Preseason Buzz
Drue Galassi enters his sophomore season with high marks from coaches around The Summit League, as he was named to the league's preseason "Player to Watch" list.
 
His 2017 stats included a team-leading eight home runs with a .281 batting average. Galassi also ranked second on the team in RBIs (31), while adding 29 runs scored, six doubles, and a triple.
 
A season ago, he became the third Leatherneck in program history to be named a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American. 
 
The Summit League Preseason Poll
In its best finish since the 2014 season, WIU baseball wrapped last year's campaign ranked fourth in The Summit League. The team recorded 12 conference victories, including a pair of series wins over Fort Wayne and another over Omaha.
 
The preseason coaches' poll picked the Leathernecks to finish fourth in conference standings. Oral Roberts, the reigning tournament champions, was selected to repeat, and South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Western, Omaha and Fort Wayne rounded out the standings, in order.
 
Schedule
Western will kick-off its 2018 season with a 14-game road trip that begins Feb. 16 at Middle Tennessee State.
  • The Leathernecks first five series will be on the road: MTSU (Feb. 16-18), Murray State (Feb. 23 -25), Evansville (March 2 – 4), Indiana State (March 10 – 12), Indiana (March 13-14)
  • Western will play host to North Dakota State in its home and Summit League opener (March 16-18)
  • Competition will also see WIU travel to Iowa (May 1) before welcoming the 2017 Big Ten Tournament champions to the Alfred D. Boyer Stadium on May 15
 
Head Coach Ryan Brownlee
With 89 wins under his belt, the fourth most in program history, head coach Ryan Brownlee begins his sixth season with the Leathernecks. He has coached 16 All-Summit League selections and eight All-Tournament picks. His first Leatherneck win was a 7-5 victory over No. 1 Arkansas on Feb. 17, 2013, which also marked the program's first decision over a top-ranked program. 
 
Scouting the Opposition
MTSU finished its 2017 season with a record of 24-31, which included a 10-20 mark in Conference USA play. Top returners include First Team All-Conference Aaron Acker and 2016 Freshman All-American Blake Benefield. 
 
Series History 
Middle Tennessee State leads the all-time series, 3-0. The team's last faced each other in 2015. 
 
On Deck
The Leathernecks will travel to Murray State for a three-game set that begins Friday, Feb. 23.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Javin Drake

#44 Javin Drake

P
6' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
Mitch Ellis

#10 Mitch Ellis

INF
6' 1"
Senior
B/R
Justin Fitzpatrick

#7 Justin Fitzpatrick

OF
6' 1"
Junior
R/R
Johnathan Fleek

#3 Johnathan Fleek

INF
5' 7"
Senior
R/R
Drue Galassi

#13 Drue Galassi

OF
6' 2"
Sophomore
L/R
Ian Koch

#23 Ian Koch

P
6' 4"
Junior
R/R
Steve McShane

#39 Steve McShane

OF
5' 8"
Junior
R/R
Pete Minella

#26 Pete Minella

LHP
6' 2"
Junior
L/L
CJ Schaeffer Jr.

#5 CJ Schaeffer Jr.

C
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Deion Thompson

#24 Deion Thompson

INF
6' 1"
Junior
R/R
Grant Hannant

#18 Grant Hannant

OF
6' 1"
Sophomore
L/L
Bailey Montgomery

#8 Bailey Montgomery

UTIL
5' 10"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Javin Drake

#44 Javin Drake

6' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
P
Mitch Ellis

#10 Mitch Ellis

6' 1"
Senior
B/R
INF
Justin Fitzpatrick

#7 Justin Fitzpatrick

6' 1"
Junior
R/R
OF
Johnathan Fleek

#3 Johnathan Fleek

5' 7"
Senior
R/R
INF
Drue Galassi

#13 Drue Galassi

6' 2"
Sophomore
L/R
OF
Ian Koch

#23 Ian Koch

6' 4"
Junior
R/R
P
Steve McShane

#39 Steve McShane

5' 8"
Junior
R/R
OF
Pete Minella

#26 Pete Minella

6' 2"
Junior
L/L
LHP
CJ Schaeffer Jr.

#5 CJ Schaeffer Jr.

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
C
Deion Thompson

#24 Deion Thompson

6' 1"
Junior
R/R
INF
Grant Hannant

#18 Grant Hannant

6' 1"
Sophomore
L/L
OF
Bailey Montgomery

#8 Bailey Montgomery

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
UTIL