2008 Woodie Awards
Winning ways inescapable
Flames Claim 7th straight league title, Coddington drafted
Andrew Smothers
Issue date: 6/16/08 Section: Sports
Media Credit: UIC AthleticsUIC freshman Steve McGuiggan was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and to the Ping! Baseball All-freshman second team. His outstanding play was vital to UIC's continued success.
Though they returned just three starters from 2007, the UIC baseball program claimed another Horizon League championship and once again tallied a victory in the NCAA Championship tournament. That marked coach Mike Dee's seventh straight HL title and the second consecutive season in which the Flames won a game in the NCAA regionals.
"I'm just proud of our kids and proud of the effort they've given us all year," Dee told reporters after the team's final game, a 14-11 loss to Houston in the third day of the College Station Regional.
UIC overcame mass inexperience to extend their impressive streak of League titles. Just senior Grant Kohlstaedt, junior Jake Carr and sophomore Ty Rubio were on last season's roster.
The emergence of true freshman centerfielder Steve McGuiggan, and juniors Kevin Coddington, Derrick Miramontes, Mike Kool and Brett Schaefer were integral reasons as to why the team continued its league dominance.
That's not to say the season was without dramatic moments. The Flames needed a doubleheader sweep of Valparaiso on the final day of the regular season to win the League title.
Game one of that twin bill ended on a controversial double play call in favor of the Flames that needed an umpire huddle after the play to call the 27th out.
In the second game, UIC trailed by one in the bottom of the ninth with two away, but Coddington's title-clinching RBI hit gave the Flames a 7-6 win and the league title thanks to a 17-6 regular season record.
The Flames charged through the League championship tournament until a potential clinching game. UIC dropped their first and only contest of the double-elimination tournament 7-2. But they responded the next day by scoring nine runs in the first two innings, en route to a 16-3 victory over Milwaukee.
In the NCAAs the Flames lost their opening game to top-ranked Texas A&M 15-1, before downing second-seeded Dallas Baptist the next day 9-5.
For their efforts this season many Flames were rewarded. Dee won his eight League coach of the year award, an unprecedented feat in the HL.
Miramontes was named the Horizon League Newcomer of the year and to the All-League second team.
Junior reliever Adam Worthington was voted the League relief pitcher of the year and also named the All-League second team.
McGuiggan was the other Flame named to the All-League second team, and he was also named the league newcomer team, along with Miramontes, and freshman shortstop Rafael Garcia.
Perhaps the greatest reward, however was for junior catcher Coddington. He was drafted by Cincinnati in the second day of the MLB draft. The 6'5" catcher led UIC in walks. With Coddington's 44th round selection, it marked the third straight season that the Flames have had a player drafted by a MLB club.
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"I'm just proud of our kids and proud of the effort they've given us all year," Dee told reporters after the team's final game, a 14-11 loss to Houston in the third day of the College Station Regional.
UIC overcame mass inexperience to extend their impressive streak of League titles. Just senior Grant Kohlstaedt, junior Jake Carr and sophomore Ty Rubio were on last season's roster.
The emergence of true freshman centerfielder Steve McGuiggan, and juniors Kevin Coddington, Derrick Miramontes, Mike Kool and Brett Schaefer were integral reasons as to why the team continued its league dominance.
That's not to say the season was without dramatic moments. The Flames needed a doubleheader sweep of Valparaiso on the final day of the regular season to win the League title.
Game one of that twin bill ended on a controversial double play call in favor of the Flames that needed an umpire huddle after the play to call the 27th out.
In the second game, UIC trailed by one in the bottom of the ninth with two away, but Coddington's title-clinching RBI hit gave the Flames a 7-6 win and the league title thanks to a 17-6 regular season record.
The Flames charged through the League championship tournament until a potential clinching game. UIC dropped their first and only contest of the double-elimination tournament 7-2. But they responded the next day by scoring nine runs in the first two innings, en route to a 16-3 victory over Milwaukee.
In the NCAAs the Flames lost their opening game to top-ranked Texas A&M 15-1, before downing second-seeded Dallas Baptist the next day 9-5.
For their efforts this season many Flames were rewarded. Dee won his eight League coach of the year award, an unprecedented feat in the HL.
Miramontes was named the Horizon League Newcomer of the year and to the All-League second team.
Junior reliever Adam Worthington was voted the League relief pitcher of the year and also named the All-League second team.
McGuiggan was the other Flame named to the All-League second team, and he was also named the league newcomer team, along with Miramontes, and freshman shortstop Rafael Garcia.
Perhaps the greatest reward, however was for junior catcher Coddington. He was drafted by Cincinnati in the second day of the MLB draft. The 6'5" catcher led UIC in walks. With Coddington's 44th round selection, it marked the third straight season that the Flames have had a player drafted by a MLB club.
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