Baseball News

Lions Add to Baseball Lineup - November 28, 2006
The Finlandia University men’s baseball team has received a commitment from Joe Lambert of Ripon, Wisconsin, to attend and play for the Lions in the spring semester of the 2006-2007 season, Head Baseball Coach Matt Farrell announced today.

Lambert, 6'2", is a recent Ripon High School graduate. A two-year high school varsity letter winner in baseball, Lambert played in the pitching and shortstop positions. As a junior, he was the 2005 East Central Flyway Conference Player of the Year, a member of the First-Team All-Area team, and a member of the First-Team All-Conference Team. That season he recorded eight wins and one loss on the mound. He also posted a 2.23 ERA, 49 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 41 innings pitched. He was as impressive on the offensive end, achieving a .456 batting average, connecting on 29 hits, and stealing nine bases.

During his senior year, Lambert posted even larger numbers. He recorded eight wins and one loss, a 1.76 ERA, 89 strikeouts and 19 walks in 51 innings pitched. At bat, he averaged .420, connected on 24 hits, and stole 13 bases. For his effort, he was selected to the north squad for the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Classic, one of the top 72 senior baseball players in the State of Wisconsin to receive this honor. He was also selected for the second year in a row to the First-Team All-Area and the First-Team All-Conference. He also received a spot on the First-Team All-District.

“Joe will be a wonderful addition to the Finlandia University baseball program,” states Farrell. “He was one of the top all-around high school players in the State of Wisconsin and will make an immediate impact on our team. Joe has a plus-arm, good speed, and hits with power to the gaps. His athletic ability and knowledge of the game will be a tremendous asset to our program.”

For additional information about Finlandia University’s men’s baseball program, please contact Matt Farrell at 906-487-7212 or matt.farrell@finlandia.edu.

Onaway High School Record Holder Added to Line-up - July 26
Finlandia University men’s baseball team has received a commitment from Eric Bentley of Onaway, Michigan, to attend and play for the Lions in the 2006-07 season, Head Baseball Coach Matt Farrell announced today.

Bentley, 6'1" and 195 pounds, is a left-handed pitcher and infielder. While at Onaway High School, he broke ten individual season baseball records and eight individual career records.

During the 2006 season, he accumulated eight wins, three losses, and four saves while on the mound. He had an earned run average (ERA) of 0.80 in 61 innings pitched. He gave up only 36 hits, 17 walks, and struck out 80. On May 4, 2006, he threw a no-hitter versus Pellston High School.

Bentley was just as strong at the plate in 2006. At bat, he hit 0.466 with eight doubles, three triples, three home runs, and nine RBIs. For his effort this past season, he received a place on the First All-Ski Valley Conference team and First All-District Team. Bentley is also an All-Region Dream Team nominee.

“Eric is a hard-throwing lefty with good control and a great curveball,” states Farrell. “He will make a huge impact for us at the NCAA Division III level. He was heavily recruited by larger schools, and I’m elated that Finlandia was the best fit for him.”

Finlandia Baseball Adds Players - June 26
The Finlandia University men’s baseball team has received commitments from Ben Wilson (Salem, WI) and Nolan Laho (Bristol, WI), both of Westosha Central High School (Salem, Wisconsin), to attend and play for the Lions in the 2006-2007 season, Head Baseball Coach Matt Farrell announced today.

Ben Wilson, a pitcher and infielder, is a two-year letter winner in baseball. He has been awarded First-Team All-Lakeshore Conference honors, the Westosha Central team MVP and the “Mr. Clutch Award” for his .433 hitting average with runners in scoring positions.

Last season, Wilson led his high school team in overall batting average with .455. He had 30 hits, six doubles, two homeruns, 19 RBIs, a .520 on-base percentage and a .636 slugging percentage. When on the mound, Wilson recorded a 5-3 record and a 2.47 ERA. He struck out 35 batters and walked 13 in 39-2/3 innings pitched.

“Ben is a versatile athlete that will immediately contribute to our team on the mound and at the plate,” says third-year head coach Matt Farrell. “He’s a good hitter, and he does a nice job of mixing speeds and challenging hitters when he’s pitching.”

As an outfielder, Nolan Laho was a three-year letter winner at Westosha Central. He has two honors under his belt: a Second-Team All-Lakeshore Conference selection and the “Mr. Gloveman Award.” Last season, Laho posted big numbers with no errors, 12 put-outs and two assists earning him the “Mr. Gloveman Award.” At the plate, Laho had a batting average of .310. He posted five doubles, two homeruns, 17 RBIs, a .429 on-base percentage, and a .500 slugging percentage.

“Nolan is another solid all-around player who will contribute right away,” states Farrell. “He hits the ball hard, has a strong arm, and excels defensively in the outfield.”

“I feel fortunate that two of the best players from one of the best high school baseball conferences in all of Wisconsin have joined the Finlandia team,” concludes Farrell. Westosha Central High School finished 13-9 last season and missed the Division 1 WIAA state tournament by just one game.

Finlandia Baseball Athletes Receive Honors - June 15
Three Finlandia University men's baseball student-athletes received national All-Independent Team honors from the Association of Division III Independents today.

Darryl Sage (Warren, MI) was placed on the Second All-Independent Team as a catcher. A junior, Sage finished first or tied for first in ten different offensive categories. Overall, he recorded a 0.417 batting average in his 27 games played, a 0.667 slugging percentage and a 0.976 fielding percentage. He had 35 hits and ten RBIs in his 84 opportunities at bat.

“Darryl is an explosive offensive threat with his bat,” says third-year head coach Matt Farrell. “He is a defensive wizard behind the plate, also. We are blessed to have a player with his skills and leadership abilities.” Sage was named the team's co-captain for the 2007 season.

The second honor went to freshman Bryan Westerberg (Escanaba, MI). Westerberg was named to the Second All-Independent Team for his role as a designated player. He tallied 28 hits on his 69 at bats, drove in 18 runs and accumulated 41 total bases.

“Bryan stepped into our lineup as a freshman and led the team in RBIs,” states Farrell. “He posted the best-ever freshmen offensive numbers at Finlandia despite missing the final five games of the season with a separated shoulder.” Westerberg had a hitting percentage of 0.406 this past season.

The final Finlandia player rounding out the lists is Shawn Wickersheim (White Lake, WI). He earned a spot on the Second All-Independent Team as a utility player. Wickersheim played in the pitcher's position and recorded three wins on his seven games on the mound. When not on the mound, he was placed in the outfield. Wickersheim led the team with ten doubles, and in 11 offensive categories finished in the top three.

“Shawn is our most versatile player at Finlandia. He has played almost every position in his two years here,” says Farrell.

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 19 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition in seven sports in 2005-06. The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. Visit www.d3independents.org for additional information

FU Baseball adds to lineup - June 1, 2006
The Finlandia University men’s baseball team has received a commitment from Sean Senkbeil of Redford Township, Michigan, to attend and play for the Lions in the 2006-2007 season, Head Baseball Coach Matt Farrell announced today.

Senkbeil, a transfer from Henry Ford Community College, played for Redford Union High School in Redford Township, Michigan. As a three-year varsity letter winner in soccer and baseball, he was a part-time starter in each sport as a sophomore and a starter his junior and senior seasons. During his junior year, he was a First-Team All-Conference selection in soccer and a Second-Team All-Conference selection in baseball. For his efforts, he was named the captain of both teams his senior year.

In baseball, Senkbeil played a standout final season at Redford Union High School. He was a member of the First-Team All-Mega Conference, First-Team All-District, First-Team All-Area, and First Team All-Observer Newspaper. He also took home the Most Valuable Player Award and the Stu Rose Award (leading hitter on team). Of 81 at bats, he had 40 hits, 24 runs, one home run, 28 RBIs, 14 walks and ten strikeouts. He averaged .494, with an on-base percentage of .626. He also tallied 24 stolen bases.

“Sean will give us a threat from the left side of the plate,” states Farrell. “He has a sweet stroke, good speed, and a desire to succeed. I anticipate Sean stepping in and making an immediate impact on our offense and defense.”

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