The Decatur Pride return for 2010 with a revamped pitching staff and other new additions, adding both youth and depth to the roster.
With the retirement of David Scott and Bobby Ginger, and a season ending knee injury last month to T.J. Dobson, only Brent Stevenson remains from last years 4 man staff. Stevenson, who was 3-0 with a 1.11 ERA at last years ToC, will provide leadership and a big game mentality to the younger players on this year’s squad.
New additions to the Pride pitching staff include 2007 ISC MVP Karl Gollan. Although still one of the younger pitchers in the ISC, Gollan is a proven veteran who has excelled at the top level of the sport for more than 10 years and brings a double bonus with his arm and potent bat to the Pride line-up. The Pride is also pleased to announce that 2008 USA Jr. Men’s National Team pitcher Jim Hartman will be joining the team. The 19 year-old Hartman posted a 2-1 record at last years ToC with the Sioux Falls Sox and is considered one of the top young pitching prospects in the United States.
Outside the circle, the Pride will again be a mix of veterans and talented young players.
Behind the plate for the Pride will be one of the top young American catchers, Camden Decker, who comes to the Pride after spending the last few seasons with Aurora. Decker will also see time in the outfield when the pitching staff is being handled by one of the Pride’s other two veteran catchers, Mike Hopkins and Greg Morganthaler.
Future Hall of Famer David Boys led the Pride in nearly every offensive category last summer with a .427 batting average, including 25 home runs and 61 RBI’s in 58 games and will return for another season as the Pride shortstop.
The 2009 ISC II All World Father/Son tandem of Rick Minton and 19 year old Drew Minton will also both be back. Drew will cover the area his Dad did for so many years with the great Pride teams of the past and Rick will move over to 1st base where he will share duties with the Pride’s 2nd leading hitter last year, Doug Williams.
Blake Martin and Larry Moffett will be at 3rd base and utility man Paul Carlton will also see time in the infield during the year. New Pride player JD Arnold will split time between shortstop and 2nd base. Arnold, a Decatur native, was the shortstop for two-time Class A National Champion Vandalia Guaranteed Air Freight prior to that team’s folding at the end of last season.
Robbie Tirpak, Ty Morganthaler, Dean Lambert and the final new addition in the team, Casey Spears, will patrol the outfield. Spears, a recently graduated Division I center fielder, was the 2009 MVP of the Kelso Klassic when he strung together 15 consecutive hits and set a tournament record for the most hits ever in the event.
The Pride is supported this year by a Board of Directors that will oversee the fundraising and development of the team, along with setting the vision for the future. Those members consist of:
Steve Martin – Business Manager
Phil Jones – Fundraising Director
Wayne Carter – Publicity/Advertising Director
Donna White – Volunteers Director
Mike Martin – Statistics
Pat Dawson – Board Member (President of Miles Chevrolet and Crown Toyota)
Roger Oliver – Board Member (Owner of Van Horn Hybrids)
The Pride home schedule will be highlighted by the return of the Decatur Shootout, which has been announced as an ISC Qualifier. In addition to the Pride, teams entered in this year’s event include Aurora Dolan & Murphy, The Bar of Appleton, Marshall, MI Lightning, Belleville Stallions, Pete’s Blues of Mascoutah, IL, Kelso, MO Fastpich, and Villa Grove Log Cabin. We hope to be announcing a title sponsor at some point in the very near future.
One of the most attended events of 2009 will also return to Borg Warner Field this summer. Van Horn Hybrids will again sponsor a Hall of Fame/Old Timers Night at the ballpark on July 10th. Last season more than 30 Illinois ASA Hall of Fame Members and former players from the 1940’s to the 1990’s were introduced and honored prior to the game in front of nearly 1,000 fans. We expect an even larger contingent this year based on the popularity of last year’s event. Following the ceremony, the Pride will play a doubleheader with Jefferson City, Missouri.
In addition to the above, the Pride will look to compete in both the ASA Men’s Major Nationals in South Bend and the ISC in Midland along with other tournaments throughout Illinois and the Kelso Klassic in Missouri in 2010.
Scott Standerfer
standerfer(at)mchsi.com