Bob Herold as Odysseus

The University of Nebraska Omaha baseball team enters an new era as they make the jump to Division I this spring. Yet looking at the schedule it appears that Head Coach Bob Herold is auditioning for the role of Odysseus by the fact that the vast majority of their games are on the road. You will find the word "at" on the schedule 31 times. Plus there are an additional seven games played at the 2012 RussMatt Central Florida Invitational which is an annual spring break event. The UNO Mavericks have a total of four home games on their schedule.


They start off the season against the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders. That certainly plays into the Odysseus theme as they battle Islanders, Black Knights, Braves and Rebels on the road. Of course with as many miles logged comparisons could be made to Lewis and Clark. The team will criss cross the country from Texas to Washington to Florida. Like Lewis and Clark they will see much wild life in the form of mascots such as Cougars, Tigers and Bears. Oh my! Actually on the road they see two sets of Cougars, two sets of Wildcats, Tigers, Bears, Bison, Gophers, Redhawks, Blackbirds, Gamecocks, Hawkeyes and Blue Jays. They even wander across some Mastodons. 


Their only home games include three against North Dakota State and one against BYU. More Bison and Cougars to add to the list. Originally BYU was not listed as a home game but when they added a game at Creighton it must have helped to convince them to spend an extra day in Omaha.


In all seriousness it will be fun and interesting to watch how UNO does this season. They don't play many traditional baseball powers and their biggest challenges should be against Washington State, Missouri and Creighton. While Creighton is in UNO's backyard both games in the series are at Creighton on March 27th and May 9th. That could help the genesis of a local rivalry.


Coach Herold enters 2012 in his 13th year as UNO's skipper. He has had some success with a 408-244-2 record and his teams made it to the post season seven times and won three conference championships. Three times he was the NCC Coach of the Year taking the honor in 2002, 2005 and 2008. Now Herold helps guide the team as they enter the Summit League although only IPFW, North Dakota State and  Oakland are on the schedule this year.


The Mavericks top four hitters from 2011 all return. Shortstop/third baseman Brady Hohl hit .408/.472/.534 with five home runs, 35 RBI, 59 runs and 15 steals in 55 games. Second baseman Caleb Palensky hit .366/.432/.549 with four home runs, 36 RBI, 35 runs and 2 steals in 50 games. Outfielder Mark Waldron hit .364/.463/.438 with zero home runs, 32 RBI, 31 runs and 5 steals in 39 games. Outfielder Connor McCrite hit .359/.394/.534 with two home runs, 14 RBI, 22 runs and 5 steals in 36 games.


Two of the Mavericks starting pitchers from 2011 return. RHP Matt Tew was 6-1 with a 2.98 WHIP, 39 strikeouts and 1.43 WHIP in 48.1 innings over 13 games. LHP Cory Buckley was 5-3 with a 3.57 ERA, 29 strikeouts, 1.42 WHIP and 2 saves in 45.1 innings over 14 games.


I'll be watching UNO make the transition and will be rooting them on as a fan and as an alum. Go Mavs!