Record Season for Eagles
The Judson University baseball team had a record year as they reached the 30 wins mark for the first-time in the history of the program. Judson also recorded 20 CCAC wins for a program record and finished its best-ever in third place of the CCAC. Along with that, Judson broke nine team records. Judson started the season off slow at 5-10 but worked its way back to above .500 on April 16th with a sweep of Indiana-Northwest for a 17-16 record. From April 4 - 22, Judson won 13 out of 15 games to improve to 21-17. With the 20 CCAC wins, Judson won at least one game in every CCAC series and took three games from Trinity Christian, Trinity International, and Robert Morris.
On May 2nd, Judson broke the school record for wins in a season with an 11-0 win over Indiana-Northwest for its 28th win. The win was a five inning no-hitter by freshman Jeremy Winnan as he collected his first collegiate win. The no-hitter is only the second allowed, known to Judson records, following Reggie Smith's no-hitter in 1976.
Judson then won its 30th game of the year in the final outing of the season, 6-5, over St. Francis (IL) to end the season. Down 4-1 in the bottom of the eighth, they scored five runs for the two-run lead and then Manny Bobadilla threw out the tying run at home in the top of the ninth inning to end the game.
Single Season Records Fall
Three players broke four single season records for Judson in the 2009 season. Seniors Bret Ehrlich and Kevin Fischer along with junior Zach Williams all hold records now. Ehrlich broke two records as he now is the leader for hits (72) and at-bats (178). Fischer stole 30 bases to surpass the record of 20 he tied last season.
Williams then smacked six triples to break current Judson golf coach Chris Watson's record of five set in 2001.
Ehrlich and senior Manny Bobadilla also tied the single game record for home runs with two. There are now five players in Judson's history that have hit two home runs in a game.
As a team, Judson broke nine records. The biggest was the wins record as they won 30 games to move past the 2004 record of 27. They then rewrote all the offensive records in hits (495), at-bats (1,538), runs (313), RBI (274), doubles (80), triples (23), stolen bases (71), and innings pitched (371).
Fischer, Bobadilla Break Career Records
Senior's Kevin Fischer and Manny Bobadilla have now put their names at the top of the career list at Judson. Fischer finished with 50 career stolen bases to break Woody Smith's (70-73) 36-year old record of 36 steals. Bobadilla then edged out Fischer for runs scored by four with 91 while breaking Adam Schwelnus' (02-05) record of 84 from his four-year career.
CCAC Awards
Judson had three players bring home CCAC awards for their play in Heath Groves, Tim Victor, and Zach Williams. Jake Bostwick gained academic honors as he was named to the CCAC All-Academic team.
Groves and Victor were honored on the all-CCAC first-team while Williams was an honorable mention selection. Groves was chosen as a pitcher, Victor as a catcher, and Williams at shortstop. Victor was also named to the CCAC Gold Glove team.
NCCAA Awards
Judson had two players honored this season in the NCCAA in senior's Zach Scipione and Jake Bostwick. Scipione won the NCCAA National Player of the Week, once, and Bostwick was named a NCCAA Scholar-Athlete.
Senior Class Sets Limits High
Judson will lose eight seniors off the 2009 team that set a new foundation for the baseball program. In two years, under Rich Benjamin, Judson has won a school record 30 games, finished 3rd in the CCAC, won the CCAC tournament championship, and went to the NAIA Regional Tournament. In two years, the team has won a combined 48 games. The seniors that will leave the program are Manny Bobadilla, Zach Scipione, Kevin Fischer, Bret Ehrlich, Tim Victor, Nate Haberkorn, Jake Bostwick, and four-year player Trent Golz.
CCAC Stats
Six players finished in the top 10 of CCAC statistics in several categories. Kevin Fischer led the way as he was in five categories. He finished second in stolen bases (30/.60 pg), sixth in runs scored (47/.94 pg), and seventh in hits (63/1.26 pg), walks (27/.54 pg), and on base percentage (.465). Zach Williams was in three categories as he was third in triples (6/.13 pg), fifth in stolen bases (11/.24 pg), and 10th in on base percentage (.463). Bret Ehrlich was in two categories - fourth in hits (72/1.44 pg), seventh in total bases (100/2.0 pg). Finishing in one category is Chris Lucius (4th-stolen bases-17/.34), Jason Egli (3rd-appearances-22), Trent Golz (1st-complete games-7), and Heath Groves (4th-complete games-5).
NAIA Stats
Finishing in the top 25 for NAIA statistics, Judson had four players achieve this accomplishment. Matt McHenry finished the highest in 11th for triples (7/.15 pg). Heath Groves was then 13th for innings pitched (66.2) followed by Zach Williams in 18th for triples (6/.13 pg), and Kevin Fisher 25th in steals (30/.60).