4/2/2009
Blazers Not Rebuilding
Marquette Baseball
Reprinted with permission from The News Dispatch

Nick Dettmann
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - What a year to take over the Marquette baseball program.

Gone are nine seniors, many of whom were the key components in every aspect of the game - offense, defense and pitching, and head coach Eric Brauer, who led the Blazers to a 67-21 record in three seasons, including 24-6 last season.

In are just 11 players and a first-year head coach.

But that doesn't change the outlook and goals of the 2009 version of the Blazers' baseball team.

"I'm very excited. I'm very optimistic," new coach Bob Pitts said. "... We've got a lot of expectations. We've got to keep our confidence high."

For all of the 2008 season, the motto with the Blazers was "State or Bust." It was bust.

The Blazers lost a 3-1 heartbreaker to Triton in the South Central Sectional semifinals.

"It was very frustrating," Pitts said. "That's all we thought about. It was disappointing."

And while they knew they were going to lose the nine seniors, nobody knew they were going to lose Brauer until the season ended.

Shortly after the loss to Triton, Brauer announced he was leaving to become the baseball coach and athletic director at Chicago Christian Academy. Those were the same two positions he held at Marquette.

While looking to fill the position, Marquette first-year athletic director Troy Campbell said filling the baseball position was a top priority. Campbell and the school decided to keep Pitts and promote him to head coach.

"I'm thrilled," Pitts said after accepting the position in July. "When I was working with Eric, I was hoping to take over the program for Eric (someday). It was the idea to stick on and keep the program running.

"... I'm looking forward to it, it's something I've wanted to do."

Pitts, who's brother Bill is also a coach on the team, was an assistant for the past two seasons under Brauer.

Brauer gave high recommendation for Bob Pitts to become the coach.

"I really respect coach Brauer," Pitts said. "Great coach; great guy. We worked so well together. I felt I could be his assistant for a long time."

Pitts was sad to see him go. But he had a career here and liked the opportunity of getting a chance to run his own program.

Pitts played four years of high school baseball at Carroll just outside of Lafayette, Ind. He also played two years at Ancilla College and two years at Purdue University-North Central.

Pitts is a general manager for Culver's Restaurant when not working with the baseball team and has a dual degree in marketing and management.

Leading this year's cast of players will be three seniors: Andrew Nash, Cole Tribble and J.J. Lutz.

Connor Lombard also figures to play a big role, taking over behind the plate after Jack Bobillo anchored that spot for the past few seasons.

"He's been stepping up," Pitts said of Lombard.

It's after them where the question marks are with just 11 players scheduled to be on the varsity roster. That will be a huge weakness, Pitts said, especially if the injury bug bites.

"Our depth is very limited this year," he said. "(But) we've got a great core of kids. I'm optimistic."

However, Pitts believes the pitching rotation will be safe with as many as six players of the 11 on the roster capable of pitching.

"We're going to be real strong this year," Pitts said. "We've got good, strong arms."

Contact sports writer Nick Dettmann at ndettmann at ndettmann@thenewsdispatch.com or 874-7211, Ext. 447.