Oct. 11 - TIU Baseball will continue its annual blue/black series beginning Monday on the baseball field at Trinity International.  The series will be 2 out 3 games on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 3:30 pm.

Team Blue, managed by senior RHP Nate Alvarado (Kaneohe, HI), is poised to make a 2009 run at the title.  "I think we have an upperhand on pitching...and we'll take it in two," boldly stated Alvarado.  Blue has TIU's most valuable pitcher from a year ago in senior RHP Owen Leflar (Edmonton, AB, Canada).  Add in senior Drew Wicklund (Zion, IL) and Alvarado, and indeed, the may have the advantage.

Black counters with returner, sophomore RHP David Bauguss (Phoenix, AZ), and newcomer, junior transfer Anthony Mendoza (Yorksville, IL).  Managing is senior SS Phil Sims (Waukegan, IL).  "My team is not going to take our opponent lightly...we're going to be aggressive all series," said Sims.

Which ever way it goes, it promises to be an exciting series.  "This is a great chance for the players to compete, the coaches to evaluate, and the team leaders to lead,"  said TIU Head Coach Tom Raven.  He added, "we have a lot of competition still going on in the pitching staff, so this is a good last opportunity of the Fall to make a strong impression."

The series schedule is as follows:

GAME #1 - Monday, 3:30   (probable starters Bauguss/Black vs. Leflar/Blue)
GAME #2 - Tuesday, 3:30  (probable starters Mendoza/Black vs. Hess/Blue)
GAME #3 - Wednesday, 3:30  (probable starters Curletta/Black vs.Alvarado/Blue)

BLACK:

Aaron Avila
Angel Bruno
JC Castaneda
Brendan Curletta
Paul Grotolueschen
Derek Kopko
Anthony Mendoza
Billy Smith
David Bauguss
Craig Garrison
Phil Sims
Jon Lewis


BLUE:

Nate Alvarado
Ian Anderson
Nate Beckman
Stephen Bradner
Bart Castillo
Derek Chalupa
Greg Hess
Myles Koebel
Owen Leflar
Jon Pelles
Kevin Tenny
Drew Wicklund
Paul Wilson