Baseball Quick Facts
 
General Information
 
  • Institution:  Mid-Continent University
  • Location:  99 Powell Road East, Mayfield, Kentucky 42066
  • Founded:  1949
  • Enrollment:  1,800 +
  • Mascot:  Cougars
  • Home Field:  Cougar Field on southwestern edge of campus
  • Capacity:  500
  • School Colors:  Navy Blue and Gold
  • National Affiliations:  NAIA/NCCAA Division I
  • Conference:  TranSouth Athletics Conference
  • President:  Dr. Robert J. Imhoff
  • Athletics Director:  Larry Lampkins (llampkins@midcontinent.edu)
  • Department Phone:  270-247-8521, ext. 255
  • Department Fax:  270-251-8952
 
Coaching Staff
 
  • Head Baseball Coach:  Shawn Yarbrough, 270-247-8521, ext. 621 (syarbrough@midcontinent.edu)
  • Alma Mater:  McNeese State University (Louisiana), 2004
  • Record at Mid-Continent:  26-81 (begins third season as head coach)
  • Career Record:  26-81
  • 2010 Overall Record:  9-40
  • 2010 TSAC Record:  3-18
  • Starters Returning/Lost:  7 returning/2 lost 
  • Lettermen Returning/Lost:  23 returning/10 lost
  • Assistant Coaches:  Tyler Pittman (pitching and recruiting coordinator); Tyler Owen (assistant coach)
  • Head Athletics Trainer:  Ashley Taylor
 
Sports Information
 
  • Baseball Information Director:  Tim Shay (tshay@midcontinent.edu)
  • SID Phone:  270-247-8521, ext. 259
  • SID Fax:  270-251-8952
 
Key Players Lost from 2010
  • Joe Joe Simms, Fr., 5-11, 180, 2B-SS, Springfield, KY, Washington County HS. Hit .250 (21-84) with 4 doubles, 2 triples and 2 home runs, 13 runs scored and 12 RBI as freshman for MCU in 2010. Three-sport star at Washington County High School; Kentucky State All-Star football game participant at quarterback; Starting guard for WCHS basketball team; Played in East-West All-Star baseball game as junior and senior; Hit .522 (35-67) as senior in 2009 with 11 doubles, 3 triples, and 5 HR, 31 runs, 31 RBI, 16 SB, 20 BB, 3 HBP, .644 on-base pct., 1.000 slugging pct., 1.644 OPS.
 
Key Returning Players from 2010
  • Lance Davis, 6-2, 167, Sr., SS-3B, Paducah, KY/Heath HS. Lance begins his senior season in 2011 with 131 hits in 473 career at-bats (.277), 24 doubles, 5 home runs, 90 runs scored, 51 RBI, 51 walks, 24 sacrifice bunts and 33 career stolen bases. Mid-Continent (2008-10): As a junior in 2010, Lance hit .286 (48-168) and led the team in hits and home runs (4) and was tied for the team lead with 26 RBI. Davis also banged 10 doubles and a triple, scored 30 runs, laid down 6 sacrifice bunts, walked 9 times and stole 9 bases in 11 attempts. Defensively, Davis split time between shortstop and third base, and he committed 13 errors in 177 total chances and was involved in 12 double plays. Davis hit .307 (51-166) as a sophomore in 2009, mostly in the number two hole in the batting order, and finished with 8 doubles and 1 home run and 16 RBI, and led the team with 19 stolen bases in 28 attempts and a school single-season record 14 sacrifice bunts. He also co-lead the team with 26 walks and ranked second on the team with 51 hits, 37 runs scored and a .417 on-base percentage. Davis started 48 games as a freshman in 2008, and hit .230 (32-139) with 6 doubles, 23 runs scored, 16 walks, and 9 RBI, and also laid down 4 sacrifice bunts and stole 5 bases in 7 attempts. High School (2003-07): As a senior at Heath HS in 2007, Davis was named to the 2nd District All-Tournament team and the All-1st Region team. He was named to the East-West All-Star team and won his team's Gold Glove Award. He helped Heath win four consecutive District and Regional championships, two sub-State championships, and one All "A" State championship.
  • Cory Bowling, 6-1, 210, Sr., OF, Corydon, KY, Henderson County HS, Southeastern Illinois College. Mid-Continent (2009-10): Cory hit .237 (27-114) with 3 doubles, 3 triples and 2 home runs and ranked third on the team with 21 RBI. He also scored 19 runs, stole 5 bases in 6 attempts, walked 8 times and was hit by pitches twice. Community College (2007-09): Bowling also attended Southeastern Illinois College for two years. Bowling started in center field for SIC as a sophomore and earned Academic All-Conference honors in 2009. High School (2003-07): Cory was a two-time All-2nd Region and three-time All-District selection at Henderson County High School and played in the East-West Kentucky All-Star game after his senior season in 2007.
  • Adam Connor, 6-1, 234, Jr., 1B, Murphysboro, IL, Murphysboro HS. Now a junior, Connor has totaled 94 career hits in 302 at-bats (.311) with 28 multiple-hit games, 22 doubles, 3 home runs, 35 runs scored and 63 RBI in 100 games during his first two seasons. Mid-Continent (2008-10): As a sophomore in 2010, Connor ranked second among MCU's starters with a .338 average and 44 hits and tied for the team lead with 26 RBI. He ripped 9 doubles, 2 triples and 2 home runs, including a game-winning, walk-off grand slam against Hannibal-LaGrange, February 26. He also walked 8 times, lifted 2 sacrifice fly balls and struck out just 11 times in 141 plate appearances. Connor finished with 16 multiple-hit games and 5 multiple-RBI games last season. In his first season at MCU in 2009, Connor started in 56 of MCU's 58 games, mostly at first base, and also made five pitching appearances, starting three games. Connor hit .291 (50-172) with a team-best 13 doubles and one home run, 17 runs scored and led the Cougars with 37 RBI. Adam put together 12 multiple-hit games. He also posted a 1-1 record in 2009 with a 10.50 ERA in 12 innings on the mound with 12 strikeouts and 8 walks. High School (2004-08): Adam was a two-time All-Conference first team selection at Murphysboro High School and was named 25th District Most Valuable Player as a senior in 2008.
  • Daniel Edwards, 5-7, 167, Jr., Utility, Paducah, KY, Lone Oak HS, Rend Lake CC, IL. Mid-Continent (2009-10): Edwards hit .289 (39-135) with 2 doubles and a triple and 8 RBI in 43 games for MCU in 2010, playing at 2B, SS, 3B, and all 3 outfield positions. Edwards led MCU with 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts and ranked second on the team with 31 runs scored and also walked 15 times and was hit by pitches 5 times and had an on-base percentage of .381. Community College (2008-09): Edwards attended Rend Lake College in Ina, Illinois, where he played in eight games as a freshman in 2009, hitting .135 (5-37) with 2 RBI. High School (2004-08): Edwards was a two-time All-District and All-Region shortstop at Lone Oak High School.
  • Hunter Burge, 6-2, 205, Jr., RHP, Bardwell, KY, Carlisle County HS, Southeastern Illinois College. Mid-Continent (2009-10): Hunter appeared in relief 13 times and started six games as a sophomore for MCU in 2010. In 47-2/3 innings, he allowed 86 hits, 68 runs, 54 earned runs, struck out 29 and walked 21 batters and posted a 3-5 record with a 10.20 earned-run average. Burge defeated Martin Methodist in a conference start on April 10, with 7 strong innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 unearned runs, 2 walks and striking out 4. High School (2004-08): Burge was a four-time All-District selection in baseball from 2004-08, and earned First District Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2008. Burge led Carlisle County HS to three consecutive District championships in 2005-07, and also was a member of the American Legion State championship team in 2007 and the second-place team in 2008.
  • Nathan Lawrence, 6-0, 175, Sr., CF, Wickliffe, KY, Ballard Memorial HS, Southeastern Illinois College.  Mid-Continent (2009-10): The starter in center field most of the season, Lawrence led all 2010 MCU regulars in batting average with a .339 mark (43-127) with 7 doubles, 2 triples and one home run and also led the team with 35 runs scored and 12 times hit by pitches. He drove in 15 runs, walked 15 times and stole 5 bases in 8 attempts. Community College (2007-09): Nathan attended Southeastern Illinois College where he started at second base as a sophomore in 2009. High School (2003-07): Nathan was an All-District and All-Region baseball selection as a senior.
  • Kalip Merrill, 6-0, 190, P, Sr., Marion, IL, Marion HS, Southeastern Illinois College. Mid-Continent (2009-10): Merrill started 13 games and appeared in relief in 4 more as a junior for MCU in 2010. He posted a 2-7 record with three complete games and a 6.84 earned-run average and allowed 104 hits, 68 runs, 55 earned, and 39 walks and struck out 48 hitters in 72-1/3 innings. Merrill pitched 7 or more innings in four of his starts and went at least five innings eight times. Community College (2007-09): Merrill was a first team All-Conference selection as a sophomore at SIC. High School (2003-07): As a senior in high school, Merrill earned All-South Seven Conference first team selection and was named Marion High School's Most Valuable Player.
  • William Ruthven, 5-8, 193, OF, Sr., Marked Tree, AR, Marked Tree HS, Three Rivers CC. Mid-Continent (2009-10): Ruthven ranked third among MCU's regulars with a .300 batting average as a junior in 2010 (39-130) and led the team with 13 doubles and 19 walks in 48 games. He hit 2 home runs, drove in 19 teammates and scored 17 runs stole 8 bases in 10 attempts and was hit by pitches 8 times. His .420 on-base percentage ranked second on the team. Community College (2007-09): Ruthven hit .248 (32-129) with one home run, 10 doubles, 11 walks and 16 RBI and was hit by pitches 3 times in 46 games as a sophomore at Three Rivers CC in 2009. High School (2003-07): He grew up in Marked Tree, Arkansas, graduating in 2007 from Marked Tree High School. Ruthven earned All-Conference and All-Region selection in baseball for three seasons and won All-State honors as a senior. He also was a two-time All-Conference choice in football. Ruthven helped Marked Tree HS baseball win three conference championships and one regional title and was a key player when his football team won the conference championship.
  • William Brown, 6-3, 205, Sr., OF, Carbondale, IL, Carbondale Community HS, Shawnee Community College. William attended Shawnee College in Illinois and played baseball for two years and Lindenwood University in St. Louis for the fall semester of 2009-10 before transferring to MCU. Mid-Continent (2009-10): Brown hit .200 in 30 games for MCU as a junior, picking up 9 hits in 45 at-bats with one double, one home run, 9 RBI and 8 runs scored. He powered a three-run home run and scored 2 runs in the season's final game against NAIA national champion Cumberland, May 7. He also pitched in four games, totaled 8-1/3 innings on the mound with an 0-1 record and a 6.48 earned-run average. Community College (2007-09): William hit .352 with 2 home runs, 7 triples and 23 RBI as a sophomore for Shawnee Community College in 2009. High School: (2003-07): As a senior, Brown earned All-Conference South 7 baseball honors and also played football.
  • Sam Cheng, 5-10, 180, Sr., C, Taiwan, Crescent HS, South Carolina. Sam begins his fourth year at Mid-Continent University and his third season of MCU baseball. He played baseball for the Cougars in 2008 and 2009 but did not play in 2010. Mid-Continent (2007-09): MCU catcher for two seasons, Sam threw out 22 of the 61 runners (.361) who tried to steal against him in 2009 and 12 of 34 runners (.353) in 2008. Sam hit .252 (32-127) with 6 doubles, one home run, 9 runs scored and 12 RBI in 55 games as a sophomore in 2009, and had 5 multiple-hit games. As a freshman in 2008, Sam hit .254 (33-130) with 8 doubles, one home run, and 20 RBI in 47 games.
Key Newcomers and Transfers
  • Tomas Rodriguez, 6-0, 215, Jr., Camuy, Puerto Rico, Luis Crespo HS, Rend Lake Community College. Rodriguez comes from Camuy, Puerto Rico, where he attended Luis F. Crespo High and attended Rend Lake Community College for two seasons. Community College (2008-10): Rodriguez played baseball for two seasons at Rend Lake CC. As a freshman in 2009, Tomas went 5-4 with 3 saves and an ERA of 2.70 as a closer. He allowed 26 hits and 15 runs and struck out 30 and walked just seven hitters in 30 innings of work over 11 appearances. As a sophomore in 2010, Tomas was 4-1 with a 5.44 ERA in 14 appearances and allowed 33 runs, 33 hits and 20 walks and struck out 43 in 39-2/3 innings over 14 appearances.
  • Drew Bennett, 6-3, 220, Jr., Madisonville, Kentucky, North Hopkins HS, Vincennes University, Indiana. A junior catcher, Drew attended Vincennes University in Indiana where he played two seasons of baseball prior to coming to MCU. Community College (2008-10): Bennett hit .241 (7-29) with a .368 on-base percentage as a freshman at Vincennes in 2009, with 3 doubles, 2 sacrifice flies, 6 walks and 8 RBI. As a sophomore in 2010, Bennett hit .284 (19-67) with a .467 on-base percentage, one double, one home run, 23 walks, one sacrifice fly, 13 runs scored and 11 RBI. Vincennes won the 2010 NJCAA Region 12 championship and participated in the 2010 NJCAA World Series. High School (2004-08): Drew was named Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player as a freshman at North Hopkins High School in 2005. As a junior in 2007, Bennett led the team in RBI and was named to the All-District 7 team, and as a senior in 2008, he was named NHHS's Most Valuable Player and led the squad in home runs and RBI. He participated in the 2008 Kentucky East-West All-Star game and earned All-District 7 and All-Region 2 honors. North Hopkins won four District 7 championships with Bennett behind the plate. He also played soccer in high school and helped his team to two regional championships.
  • Seth McCabe, 6-4, 205, Jr., Madisonville, Kentucky, North Hopkins HS, University of Evansville. A junior lefthander, Seth was a key member of Evansville's bullpen corps as a freshman in 2008, when he made 18 appearances, went 1-0 with a 4.68 ERA and struck out 26 batters and allowed just 23 hits in 25 innings of work. He obtained a medical redshirt and missed the entire 2009 season before returning healthy for the 2010 season. McCabe appeared 14 times with 8 starts for the Purple Aces in 2010 and posted a 4-2 record with an 8.26 ERA. He struck out 34 and walked 36, and allowed 59 hits and 44 runs (29 earned) in 42 innings. High School (2002-07): As a junior in 2007, Seth was Kentucky Region 2 Player of the Year at North Hopkins High School, and earned All-State honors as a senior in 2008 after posting 11 victories and an 0.83 ERA. He participated in both the 2007 and 2008 Kentucky East-West All-Star games and earned All-District 7 and All-Region 2 honors both seasons as well. McCabe struck out 16 batters against Henderson County during his senior season.
  • Taylor Wortham, 5-9, 175, Fr., OF, Clarksville, TN, Clarksville HS. During his senior season at Clarksville HS in 2010, Wortham was hit by pitches 28 times and earned All-District and team Most Valuable Player honors. He helped Clarksville to achieve a 32-10 record, win the District title, place second in the region and advance to the State Tournament. Wortham also played basketball for Clarksville for two seasons.
  • Drew Harrison, 5-11, 169, Fr., 2B-SS, Paducah, KY, Lone Oak HS. Drew was a four-year starter and team captain as a senior in 2010 at Lone Oak High School. Harrison earned All-District honors as a junior and senior and led LOHS to District and Regional championships during his senior season. LOHS posted a 29-10 record and lost in the first round of the State Tournament to Lexington Christian. As a junior, Harrison hit .408 with 2 home runs, 12 doubles, 29 RBI and 29 runs scored.
  • Trevor Buford, 5-9, 160, Jr., 2B, Mattoon, Il, Mattoon Community HS, Lake Land Community College. Buford transferred from Lake Land Community College in Illinois. He attended Indiana State University in Terre Haute in 2007-08 before attending Lake Land, but did not play baseball. Community College (2008-10): Buford played two seasons at Lake Land Community College, hitting .265 (18-68) as a sophomore in 2010 with 3 doubles, one home run, 12 RBI and 13 runs scored in 25 games, and .340 (32-94) as a freshman in 33 games with 2 doubles, 3 triples and 9 RBI. High School (2003-07): Trevor played basketball, football and golf during his high school career. As a senior, Buford won All-Conference honorable mention honors in baseball.