Local Standouts Returning to Kalamazoo for Growlers Season
May 14, 2015 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Kalamazoo Growlers News Release
Kalamazoo Growlers Signee Tim Cerven
(Kalamazoo Growlers)
KALAMAZOO, MI - The Kalamazoo Growlers are pleased to announce the signing of two pitchers and Southwest Michigan natives. Lefty Tim Cerven of Decatur and right-hander Cole Schaefer of Portage will play for their hometown team in the summer of 2015.
Tim Cerven: 6'3" - 210lb, LHP, Bats L/Throws L, KVCC/Grand Valley State (So.), Decatur, MI
Cole Schaefer: 6'2" - 190lb, Bats R/Throws R, Coastal Carolina (So.), Portage, MI
Tim Cerven has committed to play at Grand Valley State University next spring after completing his outstanding career at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. He made 11 appearances this season (10 starts), going 8-2 with a 1.55 ERA, 1.017 WHIP, and 53 strikeouts. Cerven led the team in innings pitched (58) on the back of seven complete games, the third most in NJCAA Division II. He also garnered national rankings in wins (11th), ERA (ninth), and shutouts (10th).
One of Cerven's complete games came on March 13 when he held Lincoln Land CC to one unearned run and three hits, and the southpaw struck out 10 hitters in seven innings of an April 16 start at Mott CC, both wins for the Cougars. In his final start last Thursday, he pitched a one-hit shutout over five innings of a 10-0 win against Ancilla College. Cerven's success continues from his freshman year at KVCC when he went 4-1 with a 2.88 ERA in nine games (two starts).
A product of Decatur, Cerven became a local hero in 2012 when he led Decatur High School to the Michigan Division 4 state championship. The lefty pitched a complete game five-hitter in the title game at C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek, leading his Raiders to a 4-1 win over top-ranked defending champs Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett. The crown clincher gave Cerven a perfect 10-0 record with a 1.23 ERA in his junior season, which he followed up with an outstanding senior campaign in 2013 (8-3, 0.80 ERA, 107 strikeouts in 72 innings). According to Decatur coach Ben Botti, Cerven has outstanding offspeed pitches and fools batters by changing speeds and locating well.
Cole Schaefer is currently in his second season pitching at Division I Coastal Carolina, which is currently tied with Radford and Liberty atop the Big South Conference standings. Through five appearances this season (two starts), he is 0-1 with a 12.38 ERA over eight innings of work. As a freshman, Schaefer went 3-5 with a 5.09 ERA in 17 appearances (10 starts). His highlight as a Chanticleer came in a 2014 matchup with UNC Greensboro in which he tossed seven innings of four-hit shutout ball en route to his third collegiate win.
As a standout at Portage Central High School, Schaefer got looks from big league scouts while he was still playing junior varsity. He posted a 1.94 ERA as a junior, following it up by going 7-2 with a 1.33 ERA, 57 strikeouts, and just nine walks in 47.1 innings in 2013. Behind Schaefer's a senior campaign for the ages, the Mustangs finished the year ranked third in the state's Division 1 polls. Schaefer's mastery of local competition earned him a spot on the Kalamazoo Gazette Area Baseball Dream Team, as well as all-conference and all-district selections. With a fastball that topped out in the low-90s before his final year of high school, Portage Central coach Paul Schneider expects "big things" out of his former ace.
Kalamazoo begins its second season on Tuesday, May 26 at Madison. The Growlers' home opener comes on Friday, May 29 against the Battle Creek Bombers. The full Growlers schedule can be found here. For information on 2015 Growlers season tickets, click here.
This recruiting update is presented by OnStaff Group. OnStaff Group is the largest human resource services firm in Southwest Michigan, maintaining an exceptionally experienced and stable staff. Learn how your company can benefit from over 168 years of expertise from a vast variety of organizations and industries today!
Images from this story
 Kalamazoo Growlers Signee Tim Cerven |
Northwoods League Stories from May 14, 2015
- Duo of Dominant Right-Handers Added to Bullfrogs Pitching Staff - Green Bay Rockers
- Kenosha Kingfish and Sparks Insurance Announce Partnership for 2015 Season - Kenosha Kingfish
- Rox Add Four to Roster and Hire Pitching Coach - St. Cloud Rox
- Kingfish Announce Military Appreciation Sundays Presented by Columbia College of Missouri - Kenosha Kingfish
- Gorman Thomas to Highlight Loggers Opening Day Festivities - La Crosse Loggers
- Local Standouts Returning to Kalamazoo for Growlers Season - Kalamazoo Growlers
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.
