Summer 2001 - Wayne State College

AthleticsBorner Drafted by Pittsburgh PiratesWayne State College standout pitcher Brady Borner has been drafted by the PittsburghPirates in the 31st round of the major league baseball draft.Borner, a senior from Chaska, Minn., posted a 9-2 record this year with a 2.74 earned runaverage. He was named to the NCAA Division II All-Central Region American BaseballCoaches Association 2001 first team. He was a first team All-Central Region selection in2000 and a second team all-region pick in 1999. He was named the Northern SunIntercollegiate Conference Pitcher of the Year in both 2000 and 2001.Borner set many records in his four seasons for the Wildcats. He is the career leader inwins, strike-outs, complete games, shutouts and innings pitched, and is the season recordholder in wins, strike-outs and innings pitched. He also holds the game record with 17 strikeouts.This year, he pitched his first no-hitter of his collegiate career against Minnesota-Morris,striking out 15 and walking only two. Borner will complete his bachelor’s degree at WSC thissummer.“We are extremely happy for Brady and his family,” said Wildcat coach John Manganaro.“His ultimate goal when he came to Wayne State was to get drafted. Over his career he hasworked diligently to achieve this goal. Considering Brady’s ability, work ethic and mentaltoughness, I have no doubt he will do well in professional baseball.”Brady BornerNSIC Baseball Coach of the Year:‘I Just Point Them in the Right Direction’Coach JohnManganaroIt’s been quite a year for JohnManganaro, WSC baseball coach. His teamset the school record for most wins in aseason; four Wildcats earned all-regionhonors; pitcher Brady Borner was namedNorthern Sun Intercollegiate ConferencePitcher of the Year and drafted by thePittsburgh Pirates; the team won the NSICtournament and advanced to regional playfor the first time in Wayne State history.Manganaro was also named NSICBaseball Coach of the Year. He gives thecredit to his players and coaching staff. “AllI did was point the players in the rightdirection,” he said. “And I wouldn’t be ableto do it without my assistants BruceSchlecht, Tracy Archuleta and TrevorGarbers. You couldn’t ask for a better groupof guys to work with!”In his 13th year at WSC, Manganarowas assistant to Lenny Klaver until beingnamed head coach in 1993.To say that Manganaro is proud of histeam is an understatement. “This team hadgreat leadership,” he said. “The 13 seniorswere a very focused group, goal-oriented,and had an excellent work ethic. All 35team members represented themselves onand off the field very well.”He’s especially pleased with the overallgrade-point average of the team. “They hada 3.114 for the first semester and 2.93 for thesecond semester, giving them over a 3.0GPA for the year,” said Manganaro.“Considering they missed 20 days of classesfor away games and tournaments, I thinkthat’s outstanding.”One highlight of the season was theNSIC Tournament win in May. “Every dayI’d tell them I had high expectations forthem, and that they could accomplishwhatever they decided to,” he said. “Theyreally proved what they were made of at theconference tourney--to lose one game andthen come back to win four in a row. Thething I did was to try to get the team tobelieve in themselves, and they did it.”Although the team was disappointed towin only one game at the regionaltournament in Missouri, those feelings didn’tlast, Manganaro said. “The team that wonthe regional tourney--Central Missouri--finished second in the nation. After wereturned from the tournament, the seniorscame in one by one to thank me. That tellsyou what kind of young men they are.”It is also a reflection of the coach andhis philosophy. “My job isn’t just to coachbaseball,” Manganaro said. “I raise thosekids when they’re in college. I’m their dadaway from home. It’s most important to meto see them graduate; the team consistentlyhas a higher than 90% graduation rate. Thelines of communication--and my officedoor--are always open. There’s a genuinerelationship between all of us. I get a lot ofsupport from my wife, Janice; she’s a momto all the boys and lets me know if she thinksI’m being too demanding. ‘You be nice tothem, John,’ she’ll tell me!”He also appreciates the support of theGardner Foundation and the Gardner family.“The Gardner Foundation has supportedWayne State College in so many areas,including the baseball program,” he said.“We are very appreciative of all they’vedone.”When Manganaro looks back at therecently-completed season, one thing comesto mind. “I believe the 2001 team set thestandard for Wayne State baseball teams,”he said. “Our goal each year is to win theconference so we can get to the regionals.This year, we proved that we could do it.”Wayne State Magazine 17WSC Magazine Summer 011710/2/01, 2:49 PM