Honors & Awards

2004 Outlook
Few pitchers on the Nebraska roster were as versatile as right-hander Tim Schoeninger (pronounced SHIN-ing-er) during the 2003 season. The 6-4, 225-pounder from Denver saw duty in nearly every situation, from closing to starting, and performed admirably in every role. The Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American went 4-2 with a team-high six saves, while leading the Husker staff with 25 appearances. Schoeninger became the first NU freshman to lead the team in appearances since current San Diego Padres farmhand R.D. Spiehs in 1999 and Pitching Coach Rob Childress said that experience will pay off for Schoeninger in 2004.

"Tim really had a great year for us," Childress said. "We put him in a lot of different situations as a freshman last year and was someone we would quickly turn to in conference weekends. Having a freshman like Tim lead us in appearances says a lot about the confidence we had in him."

Schoeninger continued his development in the off-season, spending the summer playing for Coach Bob Steinkamp and the Beatrice Bruins in the M.I.N.K. (Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas) League. He was primarily a starter for the Bruins, compiling a 2-0 record with a 2.58 ERA in seven appearances. He struck out 42 and walked only three in 38.1 innings, helping Beatrice to a 28-10 mark. He made two appearances in the Red/White Series to close the fall, going 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA. He started and earned the win in the series clincher, throwing five innings and allowing four runs on seven hits in a 9-5 win.

Childress said that Schoeninger made strides with his off-speed pitches and tinkering with his delivery to be more deceptive on the mound. One certainty is that the right-hander knows the strike zone, as he enjoyed a 7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio during his freshman campaign.

"We think Tim could play several roles for us during the year," Childress said. "Early on, he will likely be our long reliever, but he is someone who definitely has a chance to be a starter for us. He has excellent stuff, and we know he will go out and throw strikes. He won’t beat himself when he’s on the mound."

2003 - Freshman
Schoeninger was a workhorse out of the bullpen, going 4-2 with six saves a 4.30 ERA in a team-high 25 appearances. A Freshman All-American from Collegiate Baseball, Schoeninger established school marks for appearances and saves by a freshman, while his save total topped all Big 12 freshmen. His six saves (in seven opportunities) ranked eighth in the Big 12 and seventh on NU’s single-season lists. He earned saves against Southwest Texas, UW-Milwaukee, No. 22 Texas A&M, Oklahoma, No. 7 Texas and SMS. He fanned 34 in 46 innings, while enjoying a nearly 7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Schoeninger, who walked five hitters all year, didn’t walk a hitter in 22 of his 25 appearances.

Schoeninger, who won the closer’s job during the fall, started quickly, recording his first career save in his debut against Southwest Texas on Feb. 14, throwing two innings of shutout ball. He converted his first four save opportunities, including three straight in Big 12 play. He tossed 1.1 scoreless innings vs. UW-Milwaukee after coming into the game with the tying run at the plate. He retired the final four hitters to preserve a 3-2 win at No. 22 Texas A&M on March 16. Against Oklahoma on March 30, he struck out the side in a scoreless ninth to complete a series sweep of the Sooners. Schoeninger, who pitched at least one inning in 21 of his 25 outings, proved to be durable. He picked up Big 12 wins against Kansas State on March 23, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing one earned run, and at Kansas on April 4, when he replaced an injured Aaron Marsden and hurled a season-long 6.2 innings of relief. In Big 12 play, Schoeninger compiled a 3-1 record with three saves and a 4.91 ERA in a team-high nine appearances. Against No. 7 Texas on April 19, he preserved NU’s 6-4 win with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. He made his only start of the season against Creighton on April 22, allowing three runs on six hits over five innings, while striking out four in a no-decision against the Bluejays.

He was one of the Huskers’ best pitchers during the postseason, posting a 1.80 ERA in four outings. Schoeninger didn’t allow a run in two Big 12 tourney appearances against No. 16 Baylor and earned a save in NU’s elimination win over SMS on June 1, striking out two in 1.2 innings of no-hit ball.

Before Nebraska
Schoeninger starred for Coach Tony Schenbeck at J.K. Mullen High School in Denver, Colo. As a senior, he earned first-team class 5A honors, going 10-1 with a 1.93 ERA. He showed pinpoint control, striking out 74 while walking a total of three hitters in 72.2 innings. Schoeninger, a two-time All-Centennial League selection who was selected to the state all-star game at Coors Field, helped his school to the state semifinals in 2002. In that game, he pitched the first 12 innings of a state-tournament record 17-inning contest, but was not involved in the decision. Over his three-year varsity career, Schoeninger went 20-9, while striking out 154 and walking just five in 157.2 innings. Schoeninger chose Nebraska over several community colleges, as well as the University of San Francisco and Notre Dame.

Personal
Birthdate: Sept. 7, 1984; Parents: Frank and Becky Schoeninger; Brother: Vincent; Sister: Alisa; Major: General Studies.