Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 127

2K DETROIT FREE PRESSTHURSDAY, MAY 2. 1996 Whitmer learning, teaching as EMU coach ft '11 I season, Whitmer remains upbeat, "There are some good points and some down points," he said. "It's frustrating when you're trying to get them to do things that they should be able to do and they go for a while, but then they fall back. It's not like the big leagues where most of the people can play and all you have to do is refine them a little bit. "There is a lot of teaching involved here.

You have to really work with them day in and day out to keep them going. But you have to do it with a positive attitude, because you don't want them getting down on themselves." Because of his heavy class load, Whitmer misses games and practices from time to time. But Eastern head coach Roger Coryell is grateful for the time Whitmer has given. "His school is the most important thing right now," Coryell said. "His experience, from playing it and coaching it, has been a lift to the kids." "If baseball didn't work out for me, I was going into teaching anyway," said Whitmer, who has less than eight classes left before he's certified.

"I love the game and I love working with the kids. But I never went back for my teaching certificate." In 96 major league at-bats, Whitmer hit .229 with the California Angels and Toronto Blue Jays in 1980-81. Because of injuries, Whitmer made the big jump from the California rookie league to the Angels in just two years. Unfortunately, his playing career plummeted just as fast with the Blue Jays. He bounced around the minor leagues for most of next six seasons.

The highlight of his short-lived major league career was catching Frank Tan-ana in his first big league game in 1980. When Toronto released Whitmer after the 1983 season, the Tigers signed him as a player-coach. He was assigned to Double-A Birmingham. As for coaching at Eastern, though the Eagles have struggled much of this By Bill roose Free Press Sports Writer After 11 years as a bullpen coach, Dan Whitmer was told by the Detroit Tigers he was too old to oversee their young pitching staff. But Whitmer has proved he's not too old to work with young players or too old to go back to school.

Whitmer, with the Tigers from 1984-94, is a full-time student at Eastern Michigan University. And when he's not cramming for exams, the former major league catcher finds time to act as the Eagles' graduate assistant coach. "I'd eventually like to be a head coach at the college level," said Whitmer, 40. "Ultimately, I'd like to get back into coaching in the majors, but once you leave that fraternity, it's tough to get back." Released by the Tigers following the 1994 season, he needed a career change. Teaching was the obvious choice for Whitmer, who graduated with an education degree from Cal State Ful-lerton in 1978.

Whitmer, who lives in Farmington Hills, with his wife, Lori, and their three sons Matthew, 13, Taylor, 10, and Chad, 8, will graduate in the fall He hopes to do his student-teaching next winter in Oakland County. At Eastern, the players appreciate Whitmer's input and find his advice beneficial. "From every angle, whether it's pitching, catching or hitting, he seems to know how to tell you when you're doing something wrong," said junior shortstop Don DeDonatis (Warren De La Salle). "He's always positive, which is what everyone wants to listen to when they know they've done something wrong. He just has that characteristic about him where he can tell you you're doing something wrong.

People respect him for that. "Everyone here knows he's been in the big leagues, so everyone can take that into consideration. When he tells someone something, they.listen." KIRTHMON DOZIERDetroit Free at Former major league catcher and coach Dan Whitmer is now a student Eastern Michigan and the baseball team's graduate assistant. 0 'a WILLIAM ARCHIEDetrolt Free Press Coach Tom Noland's pitching experiments have paid off for Lincoln Park this season. The Railsplitters have used six different starters.

Lincoln Park, Noland still finding ways to win llll IAN H. RON7AI F7T)ftmlt Freft Press Tigers catcher prospect Phil Nevin, left, now at Jacksonville, got some guidance from manager Buddy Bell during spring training. Nevin catching on to new job Leaves 3rd for home in Jacksonville third baseman turned catcher, Phil Nevin is taking quite well to his new position. Nevin and Tigers officials hope his experiment behind V'), i the plate this season will eventually bring him back to Detroit as their catcher of the future. "Hoftestly, it's going better than I thought it would," Nevin said.

"I feel pretty good with the move. Obviously there are some things I have to learn and it will take time. But that's with a lot of things, not just behind the plate." Bill ROOSE Farm report i Through 19 games at Double-A Jacksonville, Nevin has committed three errors as the everyday catcher. He's hitting .284 with three home runs and 12RBIs. The Tigers purposely sent Nevin to Jacksonville to Fresh out of Bowling Green in 1952, Noland became Lincoln Park's third baseball coach, following Max Paunn (1933-40) and Tom Cuozzo (1941-51).

A lot has changed since then, but not Noland, who still demands discipline and hard work from his players. "The biggest change is the parents," Noland said. "In the old days the kids would ride their bikes up to the games and ride their bikes back. Now you have parents clubs and PTAs. "By and large, baseball is the same.

The uniforms have changed a little, but the attitude now is, 'What have you done for me Don't get me wrong I'm not bothered by that. But times change, I suppose." As for Noland's milestone, perhaps the biggest thrill was having Dick Perchekette throw out the first pitch. "Dick Perchekette pitched my very first game," said Noland, who pitched at Dearborn Sacred Heart. "I remember the game. It was against Ecorse.

It was very nice of him to come out for the 700th." Noland, 70, is only the eleventh coach in the country to surpass 700 career wins. But his work is cut out for him if he's to catch the nation's win-ningest coach. Gene Schultz, of Lansing Kee (Iowa) High, has coached since 1969. He entered this season with 1,083 victories. Through last week, Noland has compiled a 706-282 record a .715 winning percentage.

The Railsplitters, ranked No. 10 in Class have never won a state championship. They made it to the regional finals three times in recent years, before falling to Westland John Glenn, Walled Lake Western and Redford Catholic Central. But trophies aren't a top priority. "It doesn't bother me," Noland said.

"My ambition isn't to win state titles, my ambition is to try to get every player into a good college program." Fred Wolcott, a catcher who played in Double-A in the mid-60s for the Boston Red Sox, was the best player to come through Lincoln Park, Noland said. Now, like many of Noland's former players, Wolcott is coaching high school ball, at Grayling. Another former player turned coach is Melvin-dale's Gary Szalka. Noland has been fortunate to have coached a few former major leaguers, including Bob Welch and Pat Sheridan in Lincoln Park summer leagues. And he'll soon have company in the state's 700 Club.

Through Sunday, Midland Dow coach Tom Roberts had a 688-186 record. "When I hit 600 in 1990, it didn't even appear that I'd get it," Noland said. "I had a four-way bypass eight years ago. The doctor told me I had 15 years of good living left. So I'll let my body do the talking.

I think 800 wins can be a reality." by Bill L. Roose Free Press Sports Writer Pitching has been tricky this season for Lincoln Park. The loss of two pitchers put the Railsplitters (11-1, 0-1 Mega Red) in a hole before the season even began. So far, Lincoln Park has weathered the storm, by handing the ball to just about anyone who can throw. "Our pitching staff is our utility staff," coach Tom Noland said.

"We don't have a pitcher who pitches today and sits tomorrow. That makes it a little difficult, because they're not getting that proper rest. But our pitchers seldom throw more than 100-110 pitches an outing because we want to preserve these young arms." The Railsplitters have used six different starters senior third baseman Billy Kish (1-0), junior shortstop Terry England (1-0), junior first baseman Kevin Yancey (3-0), senior second baseman Bryan Beaudion (3-1), sophomore leftfielder John Taucher (3-0) and senior utility player Tim Cuylor. Everyone in Noland's starting lineup, except junior catcher Jason Baker, has played at least one other position besides pitcher. "We certainly didn't expect to do this well this season," Noland said.

"But everyone has handled it great. We were down a few pitchers before the season, but now we have a team of pitchers that can start, as well as relieve." Adding to the excitement, Noland, last month, became the only baseball coach in state history to reach 700 victories. "With the 700th win and the way the whole program as been going, we're pretty delighted," he said. "Right now we might have as much speed as there is around. We have a very, very young team.

We're very inexperienced, but we're winning with hard work and luck." And stolen bases have helped, too.l Taucher, the leadoff hitter, leads the Railsplitters with 19 steals in 20 attempts. Junior centerfielder Harold Lambert has 15 stolen bases and sophomore rightfielder Jake Bokatizan has eight "We walk, bunt, steal and pray," Noland said. "We1 don't have much power. We just like to take it one run at a time and burn you with our speed." Noland's milestone victory came last month when the Railsplitters (11-1) defeated Grosse He, 5-0. Since the victory, Noland has received congratulatory letters from as far away as Arizona.

Last week, the Lincoln Park city council presented him with a proclamation recognizing his milestone. Three of Noland's former players are council members. "I got a two-page letter from a guy who used to play against us," Noland said. 'It was a very nice letter. He wished me well and told me he always enjoyed playing against us." league catcher," said Doc Rodgers, the Tigers director of baseball administration.

"At least we hope that he can become a backup catcher, third baseman and outfielder, because you know one of the fastest ways to get to the majors is by being a solid utility player. "There's no hurry with him, but his progress will determine that. He's had a very impressive start to this point." Considering his lack of experience, Nevin has been impressive in the 15 games he has caught. "For somebody who just started catcher in February, he's come a long way," Plummer said. "He's been at the major league and Triple-A level, so he's had to change his thought process.

"Sure, he has a ways to go. There are some things in a game that will happen that I can't teach him. He'll have to experience them for himself that will come with experience." The real test for Nevin comes later in the season, when the Florida heat starts taking its toll at an already grueling position. "Every day is different," Nevin said. "There are some things, certain situations that you have to have happen.

But the progress that I made this spring, I guess they feel I can be a frontline major league catcher." History Lesson: The west Michigan Whitecaps will play five "Turn Back the Clock" games this season at Old Kent Park in Grand Rapids. The Whitecaps and their opponents will wear vintage uniforms, representing the years 1903, 1921, 1922, 1948 and 1950. Professional baseball in Grand Rapids dates back to the late 1800s. The Whitecaps are the seventh team to play there. Other teams were the Furnituremakers, Orphans, Joshers, Billbobs, Black Sox and Jets, BERENCUER BACK: Former reliever Juan Berenguer, a member of the Tigers' 1984 World Series team, agreed last week to return as the closer for the Southern Minny Stars of the independent Prairie League.

Berenguer, 41, pitched in 26 games for the Minny Stars in 1995, going 0-2 with a 0.82 ERA and nine' Vv JULIAN H. GONZALEZDeuort Free Press Phil Nevin was moved from third base to catcher, i know what this will do for me. It could be a big stepping stone for my work with manager Bill Plummer, a former major league catcher. "Randy Smith and I talked about it before spring training," Nevin said, "but it wasn't a done deal until about a week before camp broke up. "I know what this will do for me.

A lot of people in the organization had mentioned it to me. It could be a big stepping stone for my career." Nevin has picked up a lot in a short time. Plummer even has him calling what pitches to throw. "You have to think with every pitch," Nevin said. "I have to know my pitchers strength and what the hitter is thinking.

That's been the fun thing that I like about catching is calling the game." The move to catcher was necessary, said Nevin, who was acquired last August from Houston for reliever Mike Henneman. It was difficult to imagine Nevin cracking the Tigers' lineup behind Travis Fryman. "Our hopes are for him to progress and develop intolf major expansion teams coming in next year. You see Baltimore give up 26 runs and the Tigers giving up 24, so a guy like Jack, who has stayed in shape, has a fighting chance to get back to the majors." The Saints of the independent Northern League open training camp May 16. They open the 84-game season on May 31 in Duluth, Minn.

Morris is expected to be the third pitcher in the rotation. Bill Roose's Farm Report appears Thursdays in Sports Extra. Write him at 321 W. Lafayette, Detroit, Mich. 48226.

Or E-mail at 102042.263compuserve.com. saves. He was voted the. Prairie League's top reliever. Berenguer also pitched for Kansas City, the New York Mets, Toronto, San Francisco, Minnesota and Atlanta in 15 major league seasons.

SAINT JACK: St. Paul Saints manager Marty Scott said including former Tigers ace Jack Morris in his rotation won't be a problem. "I don't have a problem with extending favors to a guy who has played 18 years in the big leagues," Scott said. "I hope it works for him, because the talent pool in the majors is depleting, especially with two.