Players to Watch
The Fighting Scots return six players who were in the starting lineup from the final game of 2020 plus numerous other contributors.
Senior first baseman Mike Dato (Oswego, Ill.) hit .333 in 10 games last year with six RBI and three doubles. The middle of the lineup slugger enters this 2021 season needing four home runs to tie the career Monmouth record and he is also within striking distance of the top 10 of the career lists for RBI, total bases, doubles and at-bats.
Senior second baseman Matt Temaner (Gurnee, Ill.) is a mainstay atop the Fighting Scots lineup. He hit .297 in 10 games last season with a team-high 12 run scored, two triples, six RBI and two steals. Temaner is climbing up the career charts in runs, at-bats, hits, doubles, steals and hit by pitches.
Junior outfielder Justin Bost (Reynolds, Ill.) hit .333 in nine starts last year with three extra-base hits, seven RBI and seven runs scored.
Sophomore outfielder Logan Komater (Ottawa, Ill.) hit .478 in seven starts last spring with six RBI and seven runs scored. He drew five walks and posted a .571 on-base percentage.
Senior infielder Sean Davis (Barrington, Ill.) made seven starts last year and led the Fighting Scots with nine RBI. He had a home run, three doubles and a triple while batting .391 and slugging .739.
Senior catcher Shamus Murphy (Milan, Ill.) made five starts last year and had a home run with four RBI while batting .333.
The Scots lost leading pitcher Conner Sharp (2-0, 0.00) to graduation. Senior Trevor Davis (Waterloo, Ill.) is expected to start the opener after earning a save in is only outing last year. Sophomore Addison Fletcher (Monmouth, Ill) is expected to start game two of the DH. He was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA over six innings in his only start last season.
