The Indiana State Sycamores baseball team is the NCAA Division I baseball program of Indiana State University, located in Terre Haute, Indiana. It is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 2024. Their first season was 1896. The Sycamores have had 12 All-Americans, 26 Major Leaguers, and more than 2,200 victories. The team's most successful season was in 1986, when the team appeared in the College World Series and finished with a record of 48–21. The Sycamores have appeared in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 1979, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024.

They appeared in the NAIA Baseball World Series in 1958 and won the NAIA "Midwest" District Championship in 1964. In 2013, the 1958 team was honored on the 55th Anniversary of their appearance at the NAIA Baseball World Series.

Past coaches include John Wooden, Bob Warn, former ISU and MiLB'er Paul L. Wolf, Wally Marks and Mitch Hannahs. The Sycamores play their home games at Sycamore Stadium at Bob Warn Field (900).

Division I NCAA tournament results The Sycamores have appeared in 13 NCAA Division I Baseball Championships. Their combined record is 16–26; they won the 1986 Mideast Regional and the 2023 Terre Haute Regional; they reached Regional Finals in 1989, 2019 and 2024.

Year Result Games 1979 Midwest Regional 0–2 1983 Mideast Regional 0–2 1984 Mideast Regional 1–2 1986 Mideast Regional 3–0 1986 College World Series 0–2 1987 Central Regional 1–2 1989 South Regional 2–2 1995 Midwest II Regional 1–2 2012 Eugene Regional 0–2 2014 Bloomington Regional 0–2 2019 Nashville Regional 2–2 2021 Nashville Regional 1–2 2023 Terre Haute Regional 3–02023 Fort Worth Super Regional 0–22024 Lexington Regional 2–2

National awards (2) Year Player Organization 2010 Ryan Strausborger, CF Rawlings Gold Glove 2023 Grant Magill, C Rawlings Gold Glove

All-Americans (17) Year Player Organization 1963 Harlan Lautenschlager, IF NAIA 1985 John Howes, P Baseball America 1979 Wallace Johnson, 2B CoSIDA NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship 1981 Marty Martino, 2B CoSIDA Academic All-American 1986 Paul Frye, OF Collegiate Baseball 1989 Mitch Hannahs, 2B ABCA, Baseball America 1990 Chad McDonald, 3B ABCA, Collegiate Baseball 1991 Mike Farrell, P/1B Collegiate Baseball 1992 John LaMar, OF ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball 1993 Casey Whitten, P ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball 1995 Todd Tatlock, DH ABCA, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA 1996 Dan Olson, OF ABCA, NCBWA 2014 Ryan Keaffaber, SP Louisville Slugger 2016 Tyler Ward, SP Louisville Slugger2021 Geremy Guerrero, SP ABCA, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball.com, NCBWA2022 Randal Diaz, 3B Collegiate Baseball2023 Connor Fenlong, SP ABCA, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball.com, NCBWA

Most Valuable Player

Conference (reg. season) 2012 Jeremy Lucas, C Missouri Valley Conference 2023 Connor Fenlong, RHP Missouri Valley Conference 2023 Grant Magill, C Missouri Valley Conference

Conference Tournament (6) 1979 Wallace Johnson, 2B Missouri Valley Conference 1986 Dave Travis, DH Missouri Valley Conference 1989 Larry Russell, OF Missouri Valley Conference 1995 Jeff Leaman, 3B/P Missouri Valley Conference 2019 Chris Ayers, OF/DH Missouri Valley Conference 2023 Randal Diaz, IF Missouri Valley Conference

All-Conference (113) Only players selected for the conference first team are displayed; for second team and honorable mention, please consult the Indiana State baseball media guide at www.gosycamores.com

All-Indiana Collegiate Conference (35) Henry Smith, (P) – 1954 Henry Smith, (P) – 1955 Henry Smith, (P) – 1957 Parker Eaton, (P) – 1958 Gerald Jeffries, (2B) – 1958 Paul Edgerton, (C) – 1958 Bill Gilkey, (OF) – 1958 Jim Bates, (OF) – 1958 Joe Decker, (SS) – 1962 Gary Cunning, (C) – 1962 Paul Gries, (SS) – 1965 Larry Roesch, (2B) - 1965 Mike Harlan, (OF) – 1965 Randy Miller, (OF) – 1965 Paul Edgerton, (C) – 1965 Randy Miller, (OF) – 1966 Drew Thomas, (P) – 1966 Robert Warren, (P) – 1966 Alan Buell, (1B) – 1966 John Smith, (SS) – 1966 Mike Phillips, (3B) – 1966 Mike Harlan, (OF) – 1966 Steve Hollenbeck, C – 1966 Drew Thomas, (P) – 1967 Alan Buell, (1B) – 1967 Randy Miller, (2B) Mike Harlan, (OF) – 1967 Mike Phillips, (3B) – 1967 Mike Lecklitner, (OF) – 1967 Steve Hollenbeck, (3B) – 1968 Dave Lecklitner, (C) – 1968 Nick Petrycki, (SS) – 1968 Mike Russell, (OF) – 1968 Drew Thomas, (P) – 1968 Mike Phillips, (1B) – 1968

All-Missouri Valley Conference (87) Bill Hayes, (C) – 1977 Jay James, (3B) – 1977 Jeff Brisson, (OF) – 1977 Bill Hayes, (C) – 1978 Greg Baker, (OF) – 1978 Preston Williams, (1B) – 1979 Wallace Johnson, (2B) – 1979 Pete Piskol, (SS) – 1979 Greg Baker, (OF) – 1979 Mark Walberg, (P) – 1979 Pete Piskol, (SS) – 1979 Pat Dumochelle, (C) – 1980 Dave Browning, (DH) – 1980Zane Smith, (P) – 1982 Pete Piskol, (SS) – 1982 Mark Walberg, (OF) – 1982 Rob Baker, (OF) – 1983 Brian Dorsett, (C) – 1983 Rod Zeratsky, (DH) – 1983 Tim Barrett, (P) – 1983 Mike Coin, (1B) – 1984 Scott Mann, (OF) – 1984 Rod Zeratsky, (C) – 1984 Tony Collins, (DH) – 1984 Blaise Ilsley, (P) – 1984 Boi Rodriguez, (3B) – 1985Bob Zeihen, (OF) – 1985 Tony Collins, (DH) – 1985 Blaise Ilsley, (P) – 1985 Boi Rodriguez, (3B) – 1986 Paul Frye, (OF) – 1986 Mike Eberle, (C) – 1986 Mitch Hannahs, (2B) – 1987 Dan Roman, (SS) – 1987 Mike Eberle, (C) – 1987 Jamie Allison, (OF) – 1987 Mitch Hannahs, (Util) – 1988 Mitch Hannahs, (2B) – 1989 Chad McDonald, (3B) – 1989Kurt Olson, (UT) – 1989 Mike Farrell, (DH) – 1990 Dave Doster, (2B) – 1992 Steve Ruckman, (3B) – 1992 John LaMar, (OF) – 1992 Stoney Burke, (C) – 1993 Demetrius Dowler, (OF) – 1993 Casey Whitten, (P) – 1993 Ric Johnson, (OF) – 1994 Jeff Leaman, (UT) – 1995 Todd Tatlock, (DH) – 1995 Ric Johnson, (OF) – 1995 Brad Finken, (P) – 1996Dan Olson, (OF) – 1996 Rick Angell, (OF) – 1998 Tony Harden, (P) – 1998 Pete Hennecke, (IF) – 1998 Clint Barmes, (SS) – 2000 Mitch Stetter, (P) – 2000 Jason Frome, (OF) – 2001 Nevin Ashley, (C) – 2006 Ryan Strausborger, 2B – 2008 Ryan Strausborger, UT – 2009 Brady Shoemaker, OF – 2009 Nick Ciolli, OF – 2009 Joe Rodriguez, (SP) – 2009Ryan Strausborger, (OF) – 2010 Jacob Petricka, (SP) – 2010 Robby Ort, (OF) – 2011 Jeremy Lucas, (C) – 2012 Rob Ort, (OF) – 2012 Dakota Bacus, (SP) – 2012 Ryan Keaffaber, (RP) – 2014 Tyler Wampler, (SS) – 2014 Andy DeJesus, (2B) – 2016 Hunter Owen, (OF) – 2016 Tony Rosselli, (OF) – 2017 Jake Means, (3B) – 2018 Tyler Grauer, (LHP) – 2019Collin Liberatore, (RHP) – 2019 Jake Means, (3B) – 2019 Aaron Beck, (OF) – 2021 Connor Fenlong, (RP) – 2021 Geremy Guerrero, (SP) – 2021 Jordan Schaeffer, (SS) – 2021 Max Wright, (C) – 2021 Lane Miller, (SP) - 2023 Matt Jachec, (SP) - 2023

Conference specialty (12)

Pitcher of the Year (2) Geremy Guerrero – 2021 Connor Fenlong – 2023

Defensive Player of the Year (3) Tyler Wampler – 2014 Jake Means – 2019 Grant Magill – 2023

MVC Newcomer of the Year (5) Rich Angell – 1998 Clint Barmes – 2000 Tim Brewer – 2005 Collin Liberatore – 2019 Aaron Beck – 2021

MVC Freshman of the Year (2) Mitch Stetter – 2000 Ryan Keaffaber – 2014

Career leaders

Batting average Name AverageLarry Bird* (1979) .500 Todd Tatlock (1994–95) .423 Wallace Johnson (1977–79) .422 Rob Barker (1981–83) .399 Pete Piskol (1978–82) .396 Paul Frye (1984–86) .383

Bird appeared in one game for the baseball team, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI.

Hits Name Hits Bob Zeihen* (1985–88) 290 Mitch Hannahs (1986–89) 274 Steve Ruckman (1990–93) 257 Dan Roman (1984–87) 253 Pete Piskol (1978–82) 250

Bob Zeihen holds the National NCAA career record for triples (32)

HRs Name HRs Boi Rodriguez (1985–87) 48 Dan Frye (1989–92) 39 Mike Eberle (1984–87) 37 Tyler Thompson (1995–98) 32 Dan Olson (1994–96) 30

Wins Name Wins Mike Gardiner (1984–87) 30 John Howes (1982–86) 29 Mike Farrell (1988–91) 27 Casey Whitten (1991–93) 27 Paul Quizner (1983–86) 25 Blaine Ilsley (1983–85) 25 Randy Keaffaber (1990–93) 25 Brad Finken (1994–97) 25

ERA Name ERA Jim Ridenour (1977–78) 3.03 Casey Whitten (1991–93) 3.04 Dave Thomas (1977–78) 3.09 Blaise Ilsley (1983–85) 3.20 Jim Rasmussen (1977–78) 3.32

Strikeouts Name Strikeouts Casey Whitten (1991–93) 299 Mike Gardiner (1983–86) 296 Brad Finken (1994–97) 275 Blake Ilsley (1983–85) 274 Mitch Stetter (2000–03) 254

Sycamores in MLB While long-time baseball great Tommy John is an alumnus of Indiana State; he did not play baseball for the Sycamores as he attended classes around his professional baseball schedule. Future New York Yankees-great, Don Mattingly, declined his baseball scholarship from Coach Bob Warn after he was drafted by the New York Yankees.

Bill Hayes had 2 "cups-of-coffee" in the majors but would go on to a long career as a minor league manager before beginning a 15-year coaching career with the San Francisco Giants, winning 3 World Series Championships (2010, 2012, 2014); in December 2014, he was named first base coach for the Giants. Long-time college basketball coach Ron Felling was a 2-year letterman for the Sycamores.

In addition, basketball legend Larry Bird appeared in two games for the Sycamores, in the spring of 1979, following the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Indiana State has placed over 75 Sycamores in the minors, of which 27 have reached the major leagues or Negro major leagues. They are by order of appearance: #PlayerPrimary TeamCareer 1 Junius Bibbs Kansas City Monarchs 1933–1944 2 Jeff James Philadelphia Phillies 1968–1969 3 Danny Lazar Chicago White Sox 1968–1968 4 Bill Hayes Chicago Cubs 1980–1981 5 Wallace Johnson Montreal Expos 1981–1990 6 Rick Grapenthin Montreal Expos 1983–1985 7 Zane Smith Atlanta Braves 1984–1996 8 Brian Dorsett Cincinnati Reds 1984–1996 9 Tim Barrett Montreal Expos 1988 10 Mike Gardiner Boston Red Sox 1990–1995 11 Tom Gilles Toronto Blue Jays 1990–1990 12 Blaise Ilsley Chicago Cubs 1994–1994 13 David Doster Philadelphia Phillies 1996, 1999 14 Chuck Smith Florida Marlins 2000–2001 15 Clint Barmes Colorado Rockies 2003–2015 16 Alex Graman New York Yankees 2003–2004 17 Mitch Stetter Milwaukee Brewers 2007–2011 18 Joe Thatcher San Diego Padres 2007–2015 19 Brian Omogrosso Chicago White Sox 2012–2013 20 Jake Petricka Chicago White Sox 2013–2021 21 Colin Rea Milwaukee Brewers 2015–present 22 Ryan Strausborger Texas Rangers 2015 23 Nevin Ashley Milwaukee Brewers 2015 24 Sean Manaea Oakland A's 2016–present 25 Andy Young Arizona Diamondbacks 2020–202126 Dakota Bacus Washington Nationals 202027 Hunter Owen Pittsburgh Pirates 2021

Major League Baseball All-Stars YearNamePositionTeamNotes1937Junius “Rainey” BibbsINFCincinnati Tigers 1968 Tommy John SP Chicago White Sox 1978Los Angeles Dodgers1979New York Yankees1980

Coaching leaders