As two-time defending Horizon League champions, the Valparaiso baseball program isn't resting on its laurels, as many Crusaders are preparing for next season by spending their summer sharpening their skills in collegiate wood-bat leagues from coast to coast.
Valparaiso placed 19 student-athletes over seven sports on the Horizon League's 2013 Spring Academic All-League Teams, as announced by the league office. The 19 honorees tied for the most from any league institution.
Valparaiso closer Karch Kowalczyk (Peru, Ill./La Salle-Peru) earned another honor for his strong 2013 season on Thursday, as he was named to the ABCA/Rawlings Second Team All-Mideast Region.
Valparaiso senior second baseman Tanner Vavra (Menomonie, Wis./Menomonie [Madison]) became the fourth Crusader in the last four seasons to be drafted in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, as he was chosen in the 30th round by the Minnesota Twins with the 890th overall pick.
Starting pitcher Cole Webb and shortstop Spencer Mahoney were named to Bloomington's All-Tournament Team on Sunday. Webb held #13 Indiana to one run in seven innings, Mahoney went 5-for-12 with a home run in three games.
Governors score a run in five separate innings, end Valpo's season at 32-28. Loss caps off a season that included a second Horizon League championship and an NCAA Regional win for the first time since 1966.
Down 4-1, Crusaders storm back for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to eliminate the Florida Gators. Kyle Wormington earned the win out of the bullpen, and Spencer Mahoney hit his first career home run as Valpo secured its first win in an NCAA Regional since 1966.
Andrew Bain went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Cole Webb threw seven innings of one-run ball. However, Hoosiers plate four in the bottom of the 9th to steal 5-4 win from the Crusaders. Facing elimination, Valpo will play Florida on Saturday afternoon at 2 pm ET/1 pm CT.
Woodson, Webb, Vavra addressed media after practice at Bart Kaufman Field in Bloomington.
Riding a seven-game winning streak, Valpo enters Friday's NCAA Regional tilt versus #13 Indiana looking for its first Tournament win since 1966. Junior Cole Webb (5-7, 3.59) will make his 15th start of the season for the Crusaders as he takes on the Hoosiers and 6'10'' RHP Aaron Slegers (9-1, 1.93).
Valparaiso, Indiana, Austin Peay, and Florida will all meet at Bart Kaufman Field in Bloomington, Indiana this weekend for the NCAA Regionals. Tickets go on sale Tuesday morning.
Valpo will open postseason versus host Indiana. Opening game will be Friday at 7 pm ET/6 pm CT.
Valpo baseball team will learn where it is heading for the NCAA Regionals during the Selection Show Monday morning at 11:00 am. Fans are welcome to watch along with them at Wings Etc.
Dalton Lundeen provided the pitching and Chris Manning supplied the big hit as Valpo tops Wright State 3-0 in Championship Game to cap a dizzying race through the Horizon League Conference Tournament. Crusaders will learn their postseason fate Monday at 11:00am during the NCAA Selection Show.
Valpo scores five in a wild first inning; DeBoo turns in outstanding pitching performance as the Brown and Gold return to the Horizon League Championship Game. Valpo will face winner of the Milwaukee/Wright State game for a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. First pitch is at 11:00am ET/10:00am CT.
Crusaders have Friday off; #3 Valpo will play #1 Milwaukee Saturday morning 11am ET/10am CT.
An 8-2 lead shrivels to 8-7, but Crusaders advance to Saturday's semifinal game versus #4 Wright State/#1 Milwaukee. Five Valpo batters enjoy multi-hit games as Crusaders solve Michelson; Kowalczyk shuts door for his tenth save of the season.
#3 Valpo and #2 UIC duel Thursday morning at 11 am ET/10 am CT in both team's first game of the Horizon League Conference Tournament. The meeting is the 16th between the Crusaders and the Flames in the last 13 1/2 months.
Ten Crusaders recognized by Horizon League for their play in 2013; Karch Kowalczyk named Relief Pitcher of the Year. Valpo tied first-place Milwaukee for most recipients in the League.
Junior outfielder hit his third home run of the season Saturday in a 3-2 over Youngstown State. For the week, he scored three runs, stole a base, and hit .313 helping the Crusaders win all four of their games.
Wormington induces game-ending double play with bases loaded in the 9th; Crusaders hang on 3-2. Valpo will face UIC Thursday morning at 11:00 am ET/10:00 am CT in Niles, Ohio in the Horizon League Conference Tournament.
Chris DeBoo worked into the eighth inning as he earned his fourth win of the year; Bain, Bynum, Burns all had multi-hit games Friday against Youngstown State. Valpo goes for sweep Saturday at 1:00 pm on Senior Day.
Youngstown State outhits Valpo 12-7, but mistakes on the bases cost Penguins Thursday. Crusader bullpen works three hitless innings to preserve Cole Webb's fourth win of the season.
The 2013 regular season comes to a close at Emory G. Bauer Field this weekend with a three-game set versus the visiting Penguins. Milwaukee has clinched the regular-season title, but seeds #2-#5 still remain up for grabs heading down the final stretch.
Kyle Wormington allowed just one run in 7 2/3 innings of work to give Valpo its 25th win of the season Tuesday. Crusaders conclude the regular season with a conference series against Youngstown State beginning Thursday.
Crusaders first baseman has been a consistent source of production at the plate since arriving from junior college. But self-improvements away from the diamond weigh as greater achievements.
Flames score three in the 7th, two in the 8th in a 5-2 win over Valpo. Next weekend's series versus Youngstown State will dictate what seed Crusaders earn in the Horizon League Conference Tournament.
UIC records eight extra-base hits in 12-5 win over Valpo Saturday afternoon. The loss pushes the Crusaders back into third place in the Horizon League standings. The series concludes Sunday at 1:05 pm at Les Miller Field.
Crusaders manage five hits as Michelson tosses complete game shutout; Valpo and UIC continue series Saturday at 2:05 pm in Chicago.
Valpo (24-23, 10-8 Horizon) will travel down I-90 for its final regular-season road series against UIC (21-25, 8-10 Horizon).The Crusaders enter the three-game set having won ten in a row and eight of their last nine HL games. Currently one game out of first-place but just two games ahead of the rest of the pack, the Brown and Gold cannot afford a setback in the Windy City.
Eight of nine starters record hits, staff allows no earned runs against Chicago State in Valpo's 10th straight win; victory gives Crusaders the longest winning streak in the country.
Kowalczyk's seven saves are tied for first in the Horizon League; his 0.52 earned run average is tops in conference for any pitcher with at least 15 innings pitched.
Valpo benefits from another Panther bullpen implosion, scores four in the 8th to complete sweep 7-6 over Milwaukee; ninth win in a row puts Crusaders at .500 mark, moves them one game back of first-place.
Valpo rides merry-go-round on the basepaths in a five-run 8th inning that gave the Crusaders a 10-7 win to pull within two games of first-place Milwaukee.
Teams combined for 24 hits - all singles - in a tilt that saw all eight runs scored in the first four frames. Wormington threw four shutout innings in relief to earn his third win of the year. Kowalczyk maintained his perfect ERA while notching his sixth save of the season.
Milwaukee (21-16, 11-4 HL) comes to town riding an eight-game winning streak. Valpo (20-23, 7-8 HL) has a six-game winning streak of its own. The first and second place teams meet for a three-game set that could solidify - or muddy - the top spot in the Horizon League standings.
A dicey forecast has caused first pitch between Milwaukee and Valpo to be bumped up two hours.
Mahar tossed three innings in relief for freshman Drew Hasler to get the win before Kowalczyk earned his fifth save of the season in a 5-3 Crusader victory. Tanner Vavra scored the winning run from second on a wild pitch.
Middle of the order goes 9-for-15, knocks in eight runs in rout of Maple Leafs; Ryan Kennedy notches first win of 2013 out of the bullpen. Valpo plays Western Michigan Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Emory G. Bauer Field.
Horizon League named Chris DeBoo Pitcher of the Week, John Loeffler Co-Hitter of the Week after their work on the mound, at the plate against Wright State this past weekend.
Senior tosses six shutout innings in Sunday's 4-0 triumph over the Raiders; win vaults Valpo into second place in the Horizon League standings.
Crusader offense has largest outpouring of the season scoring in all but two innings; Lundeen improves to a perfect 3-0. Valpo aims for the sweep tomorrow at 1 pm at Emory G. Bauer Field.
Valpo smacks seven extra-base hits; DeBoo throws seven efficient innings in the series-opening victory over the visiting Raiders. The two teams continue play Saturday at 1:00 pm CT at Emory G. Bauer Field.
The Crusaders sit four games back of first-place Milwaukee in the Horizon League standings coming down the home stretch. With only 12 conference games remaining, little room for error exists if Valpo wishes to repeat as regular-season champions.
Second game this week to be cancelled because of rain; Valpo welcomes Wright State to town for weekend series beginning Friday
The game between Chicago State and Valpo has been cancelled due to impending weather. The Crusaders will travel to Muncie to take on the Ball State Cardinals tomorrow at 2:00 pm CT.
Junior from Peru, Illinois threw 3 1/3 shutout innings last week and earned his fourth save of the season in Valpo's 8-6 win Sunday over #9 Arizona State.
After being outscored 31-6 in the first two games of the series, Crusaders put on a hitting clinic to beat their second top-10 team in as many years. Freshman Dalton Lundeen earned his second victory of the season in Valpo's first ever win over a Pac-12 team.
For the second night in a row, a big inning paralyzes the Brown and Gold; Chris Manning collects two hits, scores a run in the 15-3 defeat for Valpo.
Crusader bullpen surrenders nine runs in a lengthy 8th inning as part of a 16-3 loss to #9 Arizona State Friday night; Valpo gets 12 hits in the defeat.
The 9th-ranked Sun Devils welcome the Crusaders for a three-game series at Packard Stadium in Tempe. Junior Cole Webb will put his 1.97 ERA on the line Friday evening versus an efficient Sun Devil offense that ranks in the top 40 in numerous categories.
Valpo scores in each of the first six innings; set season-high in runs and hits in 15-3 rout over NAIA opponent Roosevelt Lakers. Freshman Drew Hasler earned his first career win for the Brown and Gold. Crusaders head to the desert to face Arizona State in a weekend series beginning Friday.
Crusaders hit four Western Michigan batters in their 11th one-run loss of the 2013 campaign Tuesday in Kalamazoo. Valpo returns home for a Wednesday afternoon game against Roosevelt at 2:00 pm.
Valpo squanders chance to move one game back of second place in the HL; falls 4-3 to Youngstown State Sunday.
Crusaders rip thirteen hits in a 6-3 win at Youngstown State; Kyle Schneider has a perfect 3-for-3 day, Mahoney scores two runs in Valpo's fourth HL win. Crusaders go for sweep tomorrow at 1 pm ET/12 pm CT.
Valpo cruises past YSU, picks up a game on the Penguins in the standings. Cole Webb notches first win in Horizon League play. Teams back at it Saturday at 1 pm ET/12 pm CT.
At 2-7 in conference play, now is the time for the Crusaders to make a move against a Youngstown State team that historically they have had success against (.736 win percentage). First pitch Friday is slated for 2:00 pm CT. Video and live stats will be available for all three games this weekend.
Forecast of heavy rain postpones tilt against Maple Leafs; makeup date scheduled for April 29th at 3:00 pm.
Crusaders outhit UIC 10-9, but leave 13 runners on base in their ninth one-run loss of the season. Valpo will take on Northwestern and Goshen in mid-week tilts before traveling to Youngstown State next weekend.
Burns, Manning, and Cribbs all record three-hit games against the Flames; pitching staff limits UIC to one hit in Valpo's second Horizon League win of the season Saturday. Rubber game is at 1:00 pm Sunday at Emory G. Bauer Field.
Crusaders strand eleven runners, Webb surrenders just two runs in eight innings as UIC takes the opening game Friday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field; series continues Saturday at 1 pm.
UIC (13-13, 3-3 HL) comes to Valparaiso this weekend for a three-game series. It was April 5th last year that the Crusaders began a 24-4 stretch to conclude the regular season. Valpo (10- 17, 1-5 HL) sends Cole Webb (2-4, 1.82) to the hill in Friday's opener.
Dalton Lundeen delivered seven strong innings for Valpo, but the bullpen couldn't keep the Irish off the scoreboard in the 3-1 loss. Crusaders continue Horizon League play Friday at home against UIC.
Down 2-1 for five innings, Valpo puts up a four-spot in the bottom of the 7th inning to take Monday's home opener 5-2 against Purdue North Central. The Crusaders will travel to Notre Dame Wednesday for a showdown with the 24th-ranked Fighting Irish.
Mitch Ghelfi goes 7-for-8 against the Crusaders; Panthers win 7-5 in the first game, 8-2 in the second. Valpo commits four errors in night tilt.
Jake Long tosses third consecutive complete game in a 2-0 Panther win; Crusaders strand twelve baserunners in their third HL loss. Two teams go at it in a doubleheader tomorrow in Chicago.
The Crusaders and the first-place Panthers will clash in Chicago this weekend. Recent weather has led to unplayable conditions at both sites; clubs agreed to a late morning game Friday and a doubleheader Saturday at UIC's Les Miller Field.
Ball State game bumped to April 24th; Crusaders and Milwaukee will play in Chicago on Friday, Saturday
Valpo lets three leads slip through its hands in first game of doubleheader; reserves get seven hits, four RBIs in 5-3 win in second game.
Wright State erupts for twelve hits; Valpo limited to six in 7-2 loss in Dayton. Doubleheader tomorrow begins at 1:00 pm ET/12:00 pm CT.
Originally scheduled to take place in northwest Indiana, Valpo and Wright State will seek refuge from a blustery forecast in Dayton this weekend. A Friday night game and a doubleheader Saturday signal the opening of Horizon League play for the defending champion Crusaders.
Valpo will travel to Dayton this weekend; Raiders will come to town April 26th-28th
Crusaders overcome five errors, rip twelve hits in 9-6 victory over Miami (OH); DeBoo gets first win of season
Cole Webb gives up one run on three hits, but suffers yet another tough-luck loss as Valpo musters just three hits in 1-0 defeat
Valpo wins third in a row behind stingy pitching, balanced offensive attack; Crusaders will face UAB Thursday and Miami (OH) Friday before heading back to Emory G. Bauer Field
Four Crusaders record multi-RBI games, Trevor Haas the latest freshman to notch first career win in 9-2 victory over Yale Bulldogs
Valpo brings eleven batters to the plate in the first inning; Lundeen tosses 7 innings of one-run ball for first collegiate win
Continuous rain throughout Tuesday morning made Chain of Lakes Field unplayable; day-night doubleheader scheduled for Wednesday
Crusaders arrive in Winter Haven with 3-5 record on spring trip; Navy, Yale, Bucknell, UAB, Miami of Ohio await Valpo in RussMatt Invitational
Three Valpo errors, three USF homers in treacherous 7th inning hands DeBoo his fourth loss on season; Crusaders fall to 4-10, head to Winter Haven for five games
Four double plays, five stolen bases fuel 5-2 Valpo victory; Webb throws seven innings, allows one earned run; Vavra has three-hit, three-run game
Wormington concedes two earned runs in 7 2/3 innings, Loeffler homers; Crusaders still fall 3-2 to USF
Valpo commits three errors, allows 16 hits in 9-8 loss in final game at Port Charlotte; Crusaders open series at USF Friday
Kowalczyk knocks in Bain for 7-6 walk-off victory; Crusaders overcome two four-run deficits
Crusaders take lead in 4th inning, cough it up in bottom of 8th; Martin has three-hit day, Manning plates two in 4-3 loss
Cole Webb allows just two runs on five hits over seven innings; bats go cold in 3-1 loss to Northeastern Sunday
Mahar earns first win of season out of the bullpen; four Crusaders record multi-hit game in 5-4 comeback win over St. Bonaventure
Five games in Port Charlotte, three in Tampa versus South Florida, five in Winter Haven make up 17-day, 13-game road trip
A little more than five years after an accident claimed the life of brother and best friend of pitcher Cole Webb, #9 lives on
Chris DeBoo throws seven solid innings, but offense stalls with runners in scoring position in 2-0 series finale loss to Long Beach State
Andrew Bynum hits first home run of year, Cole Webb's quality start wasted in 3-2 loss to Long Beach State
Four infield errors, four walks all part of uncharacteristic sloppy play in Valpo's 7-2 loss to Long Beach State Friday night
Club will get reprieve from winter weather as it looks to raise record over .500. Wormington, Webb, DeBoo slated to take the hill for Valpo against the Dirtbags in Long Beach.
The Valparaiso baseball team couldn't push across a run after loading the bases with one out in the top of the second, and then surrendered six runs with two outs in the bottom half of the frame as Belmont downed the Crusaders, 7-3, Sunday afternoon in Nashville, Tenn.
Valpo hangs on for 1-0 victory, collects first win of 2013 campaign behind dominating pitching performance from junior
Brookshire stymies Crusaders for five innings; Valpo strands tying run in 9th to end game in 4-3 defeat
Nostalgia of our youth, the anticipation of summer cement baseball as America's pastime
Valpo receives three first-place votes, five Crusaders named to Preseason All-Horizon League Team
Coming off a banner 2012 campaign, Valpo finds itself in uncharted territory. For the first time since joining the Horizon League, the Crusaders open a season as defending champions.
One of the top hitters in Valparaiso baseball history, Jack Todhunter will be inducted into the Valparaiso University Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 16.
A two-sport standout during his time at Valparaiso, Paul Naumann went on to a long and distinguished coaching career, and on Saturday, February 16, he will be inducted into the Valparaiso University Athletics Hall of Fame.
College Baseball Insider picks Crusaders to take 1st place again in Horizon League
Baseball America, Perfect Game present contrasting predictions. BA picks Valpo 3rd, while Perfect Game thinks a repeat is in the cards
Despite life-altering eye injuries sustained in youth, senior infielder sets sights on 2013, beyond
College Sports Madness names Mahoney Field Player of the Year; accompanies five other Crusaders on preseason All-Horizon League First Team
Crusaders one of just a handful of non-BCS schools to be noticed in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll
Nine student-athletes have committed to join head coach Tracy Woodson and the Valparaiso baseball program. Matthew Gatewood, Brady Harris, Mario Losi, Joppi Martin, Emerson Misch, JP Paciocco, Mark Pall, Jake Perry and Chris Ramsey will join the Crusaders for competition beginning in the 2013-14 season.
The Valparaiso baseball team finalized its 2013 schedule on Monday with the announcement of its opponents for the pair of neutral-site events in Florida.
Valparaiso sophomore Michael Morman (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic) and junior Andy Burns (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) were both named to the Chicago Suburban Baseball League's 2012 All-College team, the league announced Thursday. Morman hit .415 for the Crystal Lake Cardinals over the summer, while Burns hit .367 for the Lexington Snipes. Both players redshirted last spring for the Crusaders and are looking to make an immediate impact on the field for the 2013 season.
Team Bain won the deciding game of the best-of-three baseball Fall World Series over Team Wormington on Thursday afternoon, winning in convincing fashion 9-3 at Emory G. Bauer Field.
The Valparaiso University baseball team held game two of its Fall World Series on Tuesday afternoon, with Team Bain defeating Team Wormington by a score of 7-3 to even the series at one game apiece.
Freshman Bryce Yoder (Spencerville, Ind./Eastside) worked two scoreless innings in relief to earn the win and senior Billy Cribbs (Rochester, Mich./Rochester) went 2-for-3 with three RBIs to lead Team Wormington to a 9-5 victory over Team Bain in the opening game of the Valparaiso baseball program’s Fall World Series Monday afternoon.
Valparaiso baseball alumni and friends of the program gathered on a beautiful, sunny day for the annual golf outing Saturday, Sept. 29th at The Course at Aberdeen in Valparaiso, Ind. Following the outing, many gathered at Inman’s to join in a bowling event.
The Valparaiso baseball program's fall prospect camp has been canceled due to a scheduling conflict and will not be re-scheduled.
Three-game series at Long Beach State and at five-time national champion Arizona State and 19 home games at Emory G. Bauer Field highlight the 2013 schedule for the Valparaiso baseball team, as released this afternoon by head coach Tracy Woodson.
Valparaiso junior outfielder Chris Manning (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro) was named among the top 30 baseball prospects from the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League by Perfect Game USA this week. Perfect Game, which is considered to be one of baseball's largest scouting service, has provided detailed top prospect lists and reports from 25 summer collegiate baseball leagues around the country.
The Valparaiso University baseball program will hold their annual Parents/Alumni/Friends Day on Saturday, Sept. 29 with a golf outing in the afternoon and bowling in the evening.
Valparaiso senior infielder Tanner Vavra (Menomonie, Wis./Menomonie [Madison]) has been named one of five winners of the second annual Tom Walter College Baseball Inspiration Award, as announced by College Baseball Insider. The Tom Walter Award was established to recognize examples of inspiration in college baseball.
Valparaiso senior infielder Tanner Vavra (Menomonie, Wis./Menomonie [Madison]) has been named one of ten finalists for the second annual Tom Walter College Baseball Inspiration Award, as announced by College Baseball Insider.
Rising senior infielder Tanner Vavra (Menomonie, Wis./Menomonie [Madison]) capped his stellar 2012 summer baseball season with the Alexandria Beetles of the Northwoods League by claiming a spot on the league’s postseason All-Star team, as well as a share of the batting title, as announced by the league office on Sunday.
Valparaiso University director of athletics Mark LaBarbera announced today that men’s soccer head coach Mike Avery and baseball head coach Tracy Woodson have both agreed to extensions after leading their respective teams to Horizon League championships during the 2011-2012 school year.
Six members of the Valparaiso University baseball team have recently earned All-Star honors in their respective summer baseball leagues. Rising senior Tanner Vavra, junior Sean Kennedy, junior Chris Manning, redshirt sophomore Michael Morman, redshirt junior Andy Burns, and senior Tyler Weddington have each earned mid-season recognition.
Valparaiso University alum Jon Gulbransen(2008-2011) joined his former teammate Tyler Deetjen (2009-2012) by signing a professional contract with the Gary SouthShore RailCats on Tuesday evening.
Valparaiso University’s Kevin Wild (Brown Deer, Wis./Brown Deer H.S.) has been named an Honorable Mention All-American by CollegeBaseballInsider.com for his stellar 2012 season.
Three former Valparaiso University baseball players are off to solid starts with their professional teams in 2012. Kyle Gaedele (2009-2011) is playing for the Fort Wayne Tincaps, the Class A affiliate of the San Diego Padres while Bryce Shafer (2008-2010) is playing for the Boise Hawks, the Class A short-season affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. In addition, Tyler Deetjen (2009-2012) has joined the Gary SouthShore RailCats over the last week and has made two appearances for the independent league team.
Head coach Tracy Woodson has announced six more additions to the Valparaiso University baseball roster for the upcoming season. This group brings the total number of newcomers to 13 for the 2013 campaign.
Valparaiso University’s Tyler Deetjen (Saint Charles, Ill./East H.S.) has signed a minor league free agent contract with the Gary SouthShore RailCats of the American Association, an independent professional baseball league.