Shortstop looks to help team chalk up wins

It's not hard to see why coaches and players alike are singing the praises of Bulls shortstop Joe Mihalics.

The senior, who has earned two consecutive team MVP awards after recording back to back .340 seasons, will look to be the first member of UB's baseball team after he graduates this spring.

"I think without question (he'll go to the pros)," said Bulls' head coach Bill Breene. "Joe is the best overall player we've had here in this program for the five years it's been up and running. Basically how Joe goes is how the team goes."

If that is the case, then the team is set to have a great season. Mihalics has already recorded three homeruns and captured 10 RBIs with a .480 slugging percentage. Maybe that's why Breene calls Mihalics a "joy to coach."

Looking back, Mihalics credits much of his love of the game to his father and to his former Little League coach, Dave Martin.

"He was a great guy," said Mihalics. "He made everything fun and we had great games."

Mihalics said that his main goal is to help the team win some games and make some noise in the MAC playoffs.

"This year we're winning and that's great," Mihalics. "I want to keep the winning streak going and really I just want to get into the playoffs where we can really make a dent. We have a really good team this year, so hopefully we can keep it all together, and really get it going."

Breene said it is easy for the Bulls' coaches to envision where Mihalics will end up when he finishes his collegiate career.

"He has a very good chance of coming out of this program with 230, 240 hits," said Breene. "Which is extremely good, no matter where you're playing. Reaching the 200 hit level in college is a great milestone, almost like 3000 hits in the big leagues."

Discussing his progression and accomplishments over the past four years, the senior obviously cares far more about the camaraderie between him and his teammates and the friendships he has been able to forge while being a part of the team.

"He's the kind of kid who listens to you, works very hard at his game, the baseball part and the physical conditioning," said Breene. "He's got a great mental outlook about the game. When things are going bad he had the same attitude as when things are going well for him. He's just a pleasure to coach."

Although Mihalics' baseball career may have started at UB, coaches and players alike are convinced that it won't end here.

"(Getting drafted) has always been a goal," said Mihalics. "It would be a great honor to get drafted and play professionally, not a lot of people get to do it. So I would definitely love the opportunity and give it everything I had."

"Hopefully he'll get a chance to play at the next level," said Breene. "I know there are several teams who have expressed an interest of possibly drafting him in June. I hope he gets that opportunity because I know he can play at that level."

For now, though, Mihalics will be concentrating on bringing the UB Bulls to a respectable spot in the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls are currently on their best winning streak since baseball was reinstated at UB, having won nine of their last 12 games.

The Bulls will play their first home game on April 20.