Five Miners Have Retired
Published on April 5, 2013 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, IL - The Southern Illinois Miners and manager Mike Pinto have announced the retirement [1]of pitchers Shawn Gilblair and Daniel Calhoun, outfielder Chad Maddox, catcher Sean Coughlin and shortstop Jake Kaase.
In 2012, Shawn Gilblair pitched in 19 games for the Miners, starting in all 19 games. He pitched to a record of 11-5 with an ERA of 3.85. His 11 wins were second in the Frontier League. He pitched one complete game in 117 innings pitched and allowed 50 earned runs.
Gilblair struck out 93 batters while only allowing 36 walks.
Gilblair pitched in the deciding Game Four of the 2012 Frontier League Championship Series against the Florence Freedom. He received the no-decision as he didn't allow a run in five innings pitched. He gave up five hits, one walk and struck out five batters. The Miners won the game 5-4 in 12 innings to win the Frontier League Cup.
"Gilly had a great season in leading our team in wins", said Pinto. "His big win in the last game of the season to get us to the playoffs was so huge for us. An incredibly hard worker I am sure he will bring that same work ethic to his college coaching career."
Gilblair of Windham, CT signed with the Miners on October 4, 2011 after pitching the previous two seasons with the Worcester Tornadoes of the Canadian-American Association. In two seasons with Worcester, Gilblair pitched to a record of 7-8 with a combined ERA of 3.82.
Daniel Calhoun signed with the Miners on April 2nd, 2012. He only made 13 starts for the Miners as he left with an injury during his fourth start on May 31, 2012 against the Florence Freedom. In his 13 starts, Calhoun recorded a 7-4 record with a 2.52 ERA in 85.2 innings pitched. His 2.52 ERA was third in the Frontier League. He gave up 69 hits and allowed 24 earned runs while walking 12 batters and striking out 62. He pitched a complete game shutout against the Normal CornBelters on August 1st where he only gave up four hits and one walk while striking out six batters. Calhoun made two starts in the postseason and didn't receive a decision in either game.
"We will really miss Cal's professional approach to his outings", said Pinto. "Great results, hard worker and quality person. Cal was a strike thrower among the best in the league. His big win against Schaumburg with three games to go was so big for us. He is another guy who may end up a coach at some point as he really gets it."
Calhoun of Evansville, IN was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 29thround of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. To begin his professional career, Calhoun pitched for Batavia (A-) of the New York Penn League. In 2010, he pitched for Quad Cities (A) of the Midwest League. The following year, Calhoun pitched for Palm Beach (A+) of the Florida State League and Springfield (AA) of the Texas League.
Chad Maddox was acquired by the Miners from the River City Rascals for a player to be named later on April 12th, 2012. Maddox, an All-Star with the Miners batted .256 in 90 games. He hit 11 home runs with 67 runs batted in and 49 runs scored. He recorded a total of 90 hits with 20 of them for doubles and four triples.
"It was great to have Chad on our side of the field this season", Pinto said. "His big home run in the clinching game was one of so many hits for us. The incredible catch against Traverse City with the bases loaded in game 3 of the playoffs may have changed the face of our playoff season."
In the All-Star game at the Corn Crib in Normal, Maddox recorded two hits in four plate appearances, one of the hits being a solo home run and scored two runs. Maddox also participated in the Home Run Derby and scored the winning run in Game Four of the Frontier League Championship Series.
The Knoxville, Tennessee native was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 13thround of the 2007 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft and played two seasons for the Gulf Coast League Braves. In 2009, Maddox signed with the River City Rascals and played three seasons with them. Maddox had been to the playoffs in all three seasons with River City, helping them win a title in 2010.
Sean Coughlin signed with Southern Illinois on April 22nd, 2011 and played two seasons. In 2011, Coughlin was one of five Miners to be selected to the All-Star game. Coughlin hit .242 in 73 games with 13 doubles, 11 home runs and 49 runs batted in. He recorded 63 hits in 260 at-bats and scored 33 runs. He walked 37 times and stole four bases. Defensively, Coughlin recorded a .991 fielding percentage, only allowing four past balls the entire season. In the playoffs, Coughlin hit .333 in three games against River City.
In 2012, Coughlin played in only 50 games due to injury. He recorded 31 hits in 151 at-bats with five doubles, four home runs and 15 runs batted in. He hit one triple, stole one base and walked 21 times. He scored 15 runs. Behind the plate, Coughlin continued his great play from the prior season as he recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage and only allowed four past balls. His career fielding percentage behind the plate is .992.
"Sean was a big part of our team the last two seasons", said Pinto. "He was a leader on the field with his talent and working with our pitchers. They had the utmost confidence in throwing to him and his command of the game. Sean was also a leader in the clubhouse.
He kept the atmosphere fun and helped the young players with the transition to professional baseball. That leadership will be missed."
The Morrison, Colorado native began his professional career after being drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 13th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft out of the University of Kentucky. He was drafted the year prior in the 42ndround but elected to stay at the University of Kentucky. He began his professional career with Missoula (Rk) of the Pioneer League in 2007. In 2008, he advanced to South Bend (A) of the Midwest League. In 2009, he played for Visalia (A+) of the California League and Mobile (AA) of the Southern league. In 2010, he returned to Mobile (AA) to begin the season but finished with Reno (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League.
Jake Kaase signed with the Miners on April 8th, 2012. Kaase, an All-Star with the Miners batted .271 in 93 games. He hit a career high 13 home runs with a career high 47 runs batted in. He recorded 95 hits, 20 of them doubles and one triple. He scored 53 runs, stole nine bases and walked 40 times.
"Jake had an incredible season for us topped off with the walk off walk to win us a Championship", said Pinto. "We will miss his excellent defense and leadership on the field to go along with his all-star offensive production."
Kaase participated in the 2012 Home Run Derby and hit two home runs. Kaase recorded one hit in five at bats in the All-Star game, the one hit being a solo home run. Kaase will be most remembered for drawing the bases-loaded championship clinching walk-off walk in Game Four of the 2012 Frontier League Championship Series against the Florence Freedom.
Kaase of Austin, Texas was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 23rd round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Kaase began his career with the Arizona League Rangers (Rk) in 2007. The following year, Kaase played for Spokane (A-) of the Northwest League, Clinton (A) of the Midwest League and Bakersfield (A+) of the California League. In 2009, Kaase spent time with Hickory (A) of the South Atlantic League and Bakersfield. In 2010, Kaase played for Bakersfield and Frisco (AA) of the Texas League.
The Southern Illinois Miners organization would like to thank Shawn Gilblair, Daniel Calhoun, Chad Maddox, Sean Coughlin and Jake Kaase for their contributions on the field!
The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2012 Frontier League Champions and have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year three times since its inception. It has also set a new Frontier League attendance record in 2007.
Frontier League Stories from April 5, 2013
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
