Spring Break
Baseball: Wallsten earns catching job with Panthers
Collin Whitchurch / Assistant Sports Editor
Issue date: 3/10/09 Section: Sports
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Senior center fielder Brett Nommensen, senior second baseman Jordan Tokarz, sophomore pitcher Josh Mueller and senior pitcher Brian Morrell all picked up where they left off in leading the Panthers to an Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship a year ago.
But one emerging star, not slated for a starting gig before this season, has given the Panthers a boost in an area of concern. Freshman catcher Gerik Wallsten, who began the year as a backup, has emerged as the team's starter behind the plate.
Wallsten and the Panthers continue their season-opening 18-game road trip today when they take on Indiana State (9-5) at 2 p.m. in Terre Haute, Ind.
"I think you get the sense everyone likes him in there," Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz said. "He does not make the big boo-boo that (red-shirt freshman catcher Ben Thoma) has made with passed balls."
Catching was a huge issue for the Panthers last season. Junior pitcher/infielder Richie Derbak - who had never caught a game in his life prior to last season - served as the team's primary catcher.
While Schmitz raves about the job Derbak did under tough circumstances a year ago, he is thrilled with Wallsten's presence behind the plate.
"We just have too good of a pitching staff for (errors to happen behind the plate)," he said. "We needed a guy who can catch and (Wallsten) has done that, and when he's been in there, we've done very well."
Wallsten started six of the team's nine games this season and has 50 putouts and zero errors. Additionally, he's 1-for-2 in catching base stealers on the season.
But while Wallsten's defense has been what Schmitz expected out of him entering the season, his bat has been a pleasant surprise.
"He's actually been a great surprise offensively for us," Schmitz said. "He's been getting on base, moving runners over. We're really pleased with what's going on."
The Panthers will turn to red-shirt freshman pitcher Mike Martin to take on the Sycamores. Martin has appeared in four games this season and compiled a 3.86 ERA in 4 2/3 innings. This will be his first start of the season.
Schmitz has liked what he has seen out of Martin this season and said he thinks he gives the Panthers the best shot against Indiana State.
"(Martin) is one of our most improved bullpen guys," he said. "He's a three-pitch pitcher which gives him a better chance starting-wise with some pretty good stuff."
After Tuesday's game, the Panthers travel to Tampa, Fla., to compete in the USF Bulls Classic this weekend.
They will face South Florida, Bethune-Cookman and Oklahoma at the tournament.
Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or at cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.
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