2013 Spring Baseball Roster
| NUM |
Name |
HT /WT |
YR |
POS |
Previous School / Hometown |
| 1 |
Johnny Herrera |
5'10 / 165 |
FR |
SS/2B |
Cenopec HS / Santiago, Dominican Republic |
| 2 |
Angus Bills |
6'3 / 200 |
FR |
OF |
Pembroke School / Adelaide, Australia |
| 3 |
Marvin Campos |
6'2 / 185 |
FR |
SS/2B |
George Washington HS / Bronx, NY |
| 5 |
Isaac Sampen |
6'2 / 200 |
FR |
RHP/OF |
Brownsburg HS / Brownsburg, IN |
| 7 |
Dan Leake |
5'10 / 175 |
SO |
RHP |
Champaign Centennial HS / Champaign, IL |
| 9 |
Frankie Picchiotti |
5'8 / 185 |
SO |
OF |
University of Tampa / River Forest, IL |
| 10 |
Sam Thoele |
6'1 / 200 |
R-FR |
RHP |
Dieterich HS / Dieterich, IL |
| 11 |
Jake Weber |
6' / 180 |
FR |
RHP/OF |
Homestead HS / Fort Wayne, IN |
| 12 |
Alex Lesiak |
6'5 / 220 |
FR |
RHP |
Lincoln Way North HS / Tinley Park, IL |
| 13 |
Pat Schutzbach |
5'8 / 180 |
SO |
INF |
St. Anthony HS / Effingham, IL |
| 14 |
Joe Trennepohl |
6'3 / 185 |
SO |
OF |
North Central HS / Indianapolis, IN |
| 15 |
Adam Casson |
6'4 / 200 |
SO |
1B |
Pontiac HS / Pontiac, IL |
| 16 |
Nick Blaha |
6'3 / 220 |
FR |
LHP |
Conant HS / Elk Grove Village, IL |
| 20 |
Taylor Krugh |
6'3 / 200 |
SO |
RHP |
UNC-Asheville / Edwardsburg, MI |
| 21 |
Chase Armstrong |
5'10 / 185 |
FR |
OF |
Henry Clay HS / Lexington, KY |
| 22 |
Mark Munizzi |
5'10 / 190 |
R-FR |
C |
McKendree Univ. / Chicago, IL |
| 25 |
Cody Heisserer |
6'3 / 205 |
FR |
RHP |
Notre Dame Regional HS / Scott City, MO |
| 26 |
Brady Burns |
5'11 / 185 |
FR |
UTL |
Lawrence Academy / Las Vegas, NV |
| 27 |
Sam Sampen |
6'3 / 200 |
FR |
3B |
Brownsburg HS / Brownsburg, IN |
| 28 |
Ramon Valdez |
5'10 / 200 |
FR |
C |
Holy Trinity Academy / Chestermere, Alberta |
| 29 |
Jake Sale |
5'10 / 165 |
FR |
RHP |
Putnam County HS / Mark, IL |
| 31 |
Brett Haan |
6'4 / 200 |
SO |
RHP |
Lafayette Central Catholic / Lafayette, IN |
| 32 |
Kyle Weller |
6' / 190 |
FR |
RHP |
Pleasant Plains HS / Pleasant Plains, IL |
| 34 |
Jason Ziegler |
6'5 / 225 |
SO |
LHP |
Mahomet-Seymour HS / Mahomet, IL |
| 36 |
Jesse Remington |
6'3 / 190 |
SO |
LHP |
Rantoul HS / Rantoul, IL |
| 40 |
Will Polley |
6'5 / 230 |
SO |
RHP |
University of Nebraska / River Forest, IL |
| 44 |
Nolan Wilson |
5'10 / 210 |
R-SO |
C |
South Carolina-Aiken / Taylor, MI |
| RS |
Tyler Anderson |
6'5 / 245 |
FR |
LHP |
University of Illinois-Chicago / Tipton, IN |
| RS |
Connor Currier |
6'1 / 205 |
FR |
1B/C |
Dunlap HS / Dunlap, IL |
| RS |
Caleb Leach |
6'1 / 210 |
FR |
LHP |
Pontiac HS / Pontiac, IL |
| RS |
Nick Mason |
6'2 / 170 |
FR |
RHP |
Anderson HS / Cincinnati, OH |
| RS |
Alex Smith |
5'9 / 190 |
SO |
OF |
Mahomet-Seymour HS / Mahomet, IL |
| RS |
Jack Wietlispach |
6'2 / 200 |
SO |
OF |
Niles Notre Dame HS / Chicago, IL |
Coach Kennedy enters his fifth season as the skipper for the Cobra baseball team. In Kennedy's first four seasons, the Cobras have appeared in two NJCAA World Series (2009-National Champions, 2010--5th Place) and has compiled an overall record of 183 wins to only 53 losses.
In 2012, the Cobras finished with a 40-20 overall record and ranked #12 in the final NJCAA national poll. One Cobra (Bobby Burns) was named an All-American, which is Coach Kennedy's eighth All-American selection in his tenure at Parkland.
The 2011 season saw the Cobras fall short of reaching the NJCAA World Series by falling in the Region 24 Tournament. The Cobras posted a 43-11 overall record, finished 5th in the final NJCAA national poll and saw two Cobras named All Americans (Wes Minton, SS--1st Team and Jon Carlson, LHP--3rd Team).
In 2010, the Cobras put together another outstanding year. The Cobras finished 50-13, captured their second consecutive Region 24 Title by doing something that no team had done before. The Cobras lost the first game of the Region 24 tournament before winning 6 straight games to propel them to the NJCAA World Series. The Cobras placed 5th at the 2010 NJCAA World Series. Kennedy was awarded the Region 24 "Coach of the Year" for the Cobras unbelievable run in the tournament.
In 2009, Kennedy guided the Cobras to a 49-9 record that included an M-WAC Conference Title, a Region 24 Championship and the programs second National Title. At the completion of the season, Kennedy was awarded M-WAC "Coach of the Year" and Region 24 "Coach of the Year" honors as well as being named the ABCA NJCAA Division 2 Coach of the Year.
Kennedy, a graduate of McCutcheon High School in Lafayette, IN, played one season at Kankakee Community College (2000) before transferring to Kentucky Wesleyan College (2001-2003) in Owensboro, KY. While at KWC, Kennedy was a three year starter for the Panthers as a middle infielder. He finshed his career in KWC's all time top ten in fielding percentage and assists.
Kennedy began his coaching career at his alma mater in 2004, where he worked with infielders and assisted with the hitters. While at KWC, the Panthers led the GLVC in homeruns (54) and doubles (90) while slugging a league best .444 and also finishing third in average with a .289 clip. The Panthers finished 30-25 and qualified for the GLVC conference tournament.
In 2005, Kennedy accepted a position at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, IN, where he worked primarily with the outfielders and catchers while he assisted with the hitters. The Pumas finished the season with a 42-19 mark, led the GLVC in hitting, fielding percentage, second in runs scored, RBI's and hosted the NCAA Mid-West Regional Baseball Championships.
In 2006, Kennedy was a part of legendary coach Bob Warn's staff at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN. While at ISU, Kennedy was the Sycamores hitting coach while also working with the outfielders and catchers. The Sycamore hitters finished second in the league in hitting, slugging percentage and first in triples. Two Sycamore hitters were drafted in the 2006 MLB First Year Player Draft. (Nevin Ashley-6th round, Jake Eigsti-20th round)
During the 2007-2008 seasons, Kennedy headed back to Rensselaer, IN to rejoin Rick O'Dette's staff at Saint Joseph's College. During this time, Kennedy was the Pumas top assistant, as he worked with the hitters, infielders and catchers. Kennedy also was in charge of heading the recruiting efforts. The Pumas had an overall record of 74-37 during this time.
Travis Webb
Assistant Baseball Coach
Coach Webb enters his first season with the Cobras coaching staff. Webb will work with the pitching staff and also head recruiting efforts as well as assist with camp coordination.
Webb, a former Cobra himself, helped lead the Cobras to the 2005 National Title game. After spending two years with the Cobras, Webb continued his career at the University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM) that competes in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). While at UTM, Webb set the single season appearance record (32) and was also ranked 3rd in E.R.A. in the OVC. Webb graduated in 2009 with a bachelors degree in Health and Human Performance and Biology.
Webb began his coaching career in the summer of 2009 when he caugh on with the Front Royal Cardinals. At the completion of the summer, Webb became the pitching coach for Black Hawk Community College in Moline, Illinois. During his three seasons at Black Hawk, Travis helped the Braves to multiple 40+ win seasons as well as a #3 national ranking. While at Black Hawk, Webb helped seven pitchers reach the NCAA D1 level, seven to the NCAA D2 level and saw two pitchers selected in the MLB draft.
Webb is also an associate scout with the Philadelphia Phillies and also created Controlled Chaos Baseball, which is an instruction company that has served over 140 players of all ages.
Mark Walther
Assistant Baseball Coach
Coach Walther in entering his first season with the Cobras, as he joined the coaching staff in August. Walther worked with Coach Kennedy and the staff during the summer of 2012 as part of an internship to finish his degree of Sport Management from the University of Southern Indiana. Walther will work primarily with the outfielders and assist with pitchers. Walther will also coordinate all camps while assisting in recruiting.
Walther, a graduate from Herscher High School, which is located outside of Kankakee, IL, lettered in basketball and baseball. After high school, Coach Walther attended Parkland on a baseball scholarship and was a relief pitcher for the Cobras during the 2008 and 2009 seasons where he helped lead the Cobras to the 2009 NJCAA National Title. After two seasons with Parkland, Walther then transferred to the University of Southern Indiana (NCAA D2) in Evansville, IN where he was a relief pitcher. In his first season with the "Screaming Eagles", Walther played a big role in capturing the NCAA Division 2 National Title.
Jordan Comadena
Assistant Baseball Coach
Coach Comadena enters his first season with the Cobras after finishing his professional career. Comadena will work with the Cobra catchers and assist with the hitters.
Comadena is a 2004 graduate of Normal West High School where he was a four year letter winner as a catcher. Comadena played collegiately at Purdue University from 2005-2008 where he was a utility player for the Boilermakers. During the summers, Comadena played for the Madison Mallards all three summers. Comadena began his professional career in 2009 with the Houston Astros where he was primarily a catcher and made it to Double-A. This past summer Comadena coached for the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League.
Rod Lovett
Director of Baseball Operations
Long time Cobra Head Coach and current Athletic Director Rod Lovett will continue his association with the Baseball program as the Director of Baseball Operations. Lovett, who retired from coaching in 2001, finished with a career record of 501-214 and led the Cobras to four Collegiate Conference of Central Illinois titles and Region 24 titles in 1995, 1997, and 2001.
During his tenure at the Cobra Athletic Director, five different teams have qualified for National Competition highlighted by four World Series appearances by the Baseball and Softball Teams. The Baseball team won the National Title in 2002 while the Cobra Softball squad finished as National Runner-Up in both 2002 and 2005. Lovett received both his bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Illinois in Sports Administration.