Gaub Leads Ashland’s All-GLIAC Baseball Contingent
May 14, 2003

Throughout the 2003 baseball season, Ashland University baseball coach John Schaly emphasized that his team was well balanced. Pitching, hitting, fielding – the AU coach felt the 2003 Eagles had every facet of the game covered.

Catcher Josh Gaub named as the GLIAC Baseball Player of theYear (file photo)

The 2003 All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference baseball team proves Schaly’s point. The Eagles placed 11 players on this year’s All-GLIAC list – six players on the first team, three on the second team and two honorable mention honorees. The teams were selected by the conference coaches.

All of these AU players will have the opportunity to add to their numbers. The Eagles, 36-18-1, will compete in the NCAA Division II North Central Regional Tournament at Grand Valley State, May 15-17.

Catcher Josh Gaub (Brunswick, OH) is the leader of the Eagle all-stars. A junior, Gaub is the GLIAC player of the year. This is the second consecutive year an AU player has been tabbed as the GLIAC’s best. In 2002, outfielder Nate Moore was the GLIAC player of the year.

Gaub leads the Eagles in batting average (.419), doubles (16) and on-base percentage (.507). He has two homers and 38 RBI. Gaub has been outstanding behind the plate, providing leadership for a pitching staff that’s considered one of the GLIAC’s best.

The junior has also been an all-star in the classroom. Gaub is a first team Verizon Academic All-District pick and his name will appear on the national Verizon Academic All-America ballot. This is his third season as a starter. In 2002, Gaub was a second team All-GLIAC selection.

Five other AU players join Gaub on the GLIAC first team. That list numbers senior designated hitter Brock Wiskochil (Holland, OH/Columbus C.C.), senior shortstop Tim Hinchliffe (Ontario, Canada/Glen Oaks C.C.), junior third baseman Eric McDaniel (Curtice, OH/Owens C.C.), junior outfielder Brandon Cornell (Columbus, OH/Bishop Watterson) and senior pitcher Nathan Wright (St. Louisville, OH/Utica).

Ashland’s second team choices are senior third baseman Chris Skibinski (Schererville, IN/Seton LaSalle), senior pitcher Ryan Hartzell (Alliance, OH) and sophomore pitcher Ryan Douglas (Loveland, OH).

Senior pitcher Jon Krugman (Mason, OH/Columbus State C.C.) and freshman outfielder David Waters (Wadsworth, OH) are on the honorable mention list.

This is the second consecutive season Wiskochil has been a first team all-league choice. He’s regarded as one of the top run producers in the region. Last year, Wiskochil drove in 63 runs, the second best single-season total in school history. This year, he has a team-high 47 RBI. He’s hitting .375 and has belted three homers and 11 doubles.

Hinchliffe is listed among the GLIAC’s best in a number of offensive categories. For much of the year he’s been the GLIAC leader in batting average. Hinchliffe is hitting .397 with a homer and 41 RBI. He leads AU in runs (60) and hits (77).

This is McDaniel’s first season with the Eagles. He’s been steady at the plate and in the field and been one of AU’s hottest hitters in the last two weeks. He hit .611 the final week of the regular season when AU went 5-1. For the year he’s hitting .366. He’s second on the team in homers (7) and tied for second in RBI (44).

Like Hinchliffe, Cornell can be found among the leaders in just about every offensive department. He’s hitting .382 and leads the team in homers (8), total bases (112), slugging percentage (.659) and stolen bases (20-23). Cornell is the leader in the outfield from his center field spot. Last season, Cornell was an honorable mention all-conference choice.

Wright is the GLIAC leader in victories. He’s 9-3 with a 2.65 ERA. The senior has completed six of his 11 starts. This is the second time in his career he’s been an All-GLIAC selection. In 2001 he was an honorable mention pick.

Skibinski, a second team choice this season, was All-GLIAC first team a year ago. The third baseman is hitting .384 with four homers and 36 RBI. Skibinski has also enjoyed success as a pitcher, going 5-3 with a 3.28 ERA.

Hartzell is 6-6 in 2003. He needs one more win to take sole possession of AU’s career victories spot. Hartzell currently shares that top rung with former AU lefty Mark Smithberger. In his career, Hartzell is 37-17. This is the third time Hartzell has earned all-league laurels. A year ago he was a first team choice and the GLIAC pitcher of the year. As a sophomore in 2001 he was named to the honorable mention list.

Douglas, a sophomore lefthanded pitcher, is a GLIAC all-star for the first time. He’s on the second team as a relief pitcher. Douglas leads AU with three saves. He’s also started five games. Douglas is 4-2.

Krugman earned All-GLIAC honorable mention status with an 8-3 record. Krugman provided the Eagles with their lone victory in the recent GLIAC tournament, beating Hillsdale, 17-2. Krugman has a team-high 91 strikeouts in 79 innings. He’s started 13 times and has four complete games.

Waters has thrived as a contact hitter who’s made an immediate impact in his rookie season. Waters has played in 42 games and is hitting .353. He has one homer and 24 RBI.