Indiana University Athletics
Lemonis has High Expectations for Sophomore Class
2/17/2016 7:36:00 PM | Baseball
Tori Ziege | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – When Chris Lemonis took over as the head coach of Indiana baseball, he said he wanted to maintain the winning culture marshalled in by the Hoosiers' 2013 College World Series run.
They achieved that in his debut season, becoming the first team in program history to appear in three consecutive NCAA tournaments. But if Indiana wants to carry on that streak in 2016, it will require some new faces to shoulder the load.
The program saw nine Hoosiers depart in the offseason, four of them to the major leagues.
"The pride of the program right now is to continue on that tradition, and we're in a spot right now where a lot of responsibility is going to our younger kids," Lemonis said. "As we transition into that group, seeing that group take on that responsibility is huge."
Though anchored by a veteran starting rotation in senior Kyle Hart, junior Evan Bell and junior Caleb Barager, this year's roster consists largely of freshman and sophomores.
And of those underclassmen, Lemonis will look primarily to second-year players Logan Sowers, Isaiah Pasteur and Laren Eustace, who boast a combined 104 freshman starts between them.
Their development, Lemonis said, is the key to unlocking the Hoosiers' potential this season.
"I keep challenging that sophomore group of how they're growing and doing," Lemonis said. "I think some of those guys will be the difference if we're looking up at the end of the year and having a lot of success."
Sowers, the No. 2 returning hitter behind junior outfielder Craig Dedelow, headlines the pivotal sophomore class. He started in all 59 games of his freshman season, knocking out six homers and driving in 36 runs in the process.
He rejoins the Hoosiers after playing summer ball in the Cape Cod League with the Wareham Gateman.
"Playing in the Cape, you face a ton of good arms," Sowers said. "Experiencing that and coming back in the fall and early in the spring I think the game has slowed down for me a bit, and I feel a lot more comfortable at the plate."
In what Lemonis refers to as an "evolving, maturing offense" the Hoosiers will be largely dependent on Sowers' ability to produce consistent numbers at the plate.
Though Indiana relied heavily on small ball tactics in 2015, scoring runs primarily through bunts and strategic base running, Lemonis said he wants this year's offense to be more balanced with power hitting.
"I would call it blended," he said. "I just think you have to in college baseball now. There's going to be times when you have to win the 2-1 game, but we'd also like to win the 10-8 game."
With the season opener just two days away, Lemonis said his team is still in the process of figuring out who it will be, especially in terms in leadership.
He's excited to watch his team evolve throughout the season into a group that is capable of upholding Indiana's reputation and making a fourth straight postseason berth.
It starts with playing opposite a different jersey.
"I opened my garage door this morning, and it felt like baseball season," Lemonis said. "We've played Hoosiers for nine months.
"We're ready to play somebody else."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – When Chris Lemonis took over as the head coach of Indiana baseball, he said he wanted to maintain the winning culture marshalled in by the Hoosiers' 2013 College World Series run.
They achieved that in his debut season, becoming the first team in program history to appear in three consecutive NCAA tournaments. But if Indiana wants to carry on that streak in 2016, it will require some new faces to shoulder the load.
The program saw nine Hoosiers depart in the offseason, four of them to the major leagues.
"The pride of the program right now is to continue on that tradition, and we're in a spot right now where a lot of responsibility is going to our younger kids," Lemonis said. "As we transition into that group, seeing that group take on that responsibility is huge."
Though anchored by a veteran starting rotation in senior Kyle Hart, junior Evan Bell and junior Caleb Barager, this year's roster consists largely of freshman and sophomores.
And of those underclassmen, Lemonis will look primarily to second-year players Logan Sowers, Isaiah Pasteur and Laren Eustace, who boast a combined 104 freshman starts between them.
Their development, Lemonis said, is the key to unlocking the Hoosiers' potential this season.
"I keep challenging that sophomore group of how they're growing and doing," Lemonis said. "I think some of those guys will be the difference if we're looking up at the end of the year and having a lot of success."
Sowers, the No. 2 returning hitter behind junior outfielder Craig Dedelow, headlines the pivotal sophomore class. He started in all 59 games of his freshman season, knocking out six homers and driving in 36 runs in the process.
He rejoins the Hoosiers after playing summer ball in the Cape Cod League with the Wareham Gateman.
"Playing in the Cape, you face a ton of good arms," Sowers said. "Experiencing that and coming back in the fall and early in the spring I think the game has slowed down for me a bit, and I feel a lot more comfortable at the plate."
In what Lemonis refers to as an "evolving, maturing offense" the Hoosiers will be largely dependent on Sowers' ability to produce consistent numbers at the plate.
Though Indiana relied heavily on small ball tactics in 2015, scoring runs primarily through bunts and strategic base running, Lemonis said he wants this year's offense to be more balanced with power hitting.
"I would call it blended," he said. "I just think you have to in college baseball now. There's going to be times when you have to win the 2-1 game, but we'd also like to win the 10-8 game."
With the season opener just two days away, Lemonis said his team is still in the process of figuring out who it will be, especially in terms in leadership.
He's excited to watch his team evolve throughout the season into a group that is capable of upholding Indiana's reputation and making a fourth straight postseason berth.
It starts with playing opposite a different jersey.
"I opened my garage door this morning, and it felt like baseball season," Lemonis said. "We've played Hoosiers for nine months.
"We're ready to play somebody else."
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