Article: Get To Know: Gophers RHP Toby Anderson (And Gophers Notes)

[Seth Stohs]

Following their solid showing in their Dairy Queen Classic, the Gophers have played a couple of upper-Midwest colleges the last couple of nights. They were able to add a couple more wins and have improved to 8-4 overall. They will play three more home games this coming weekend (against Missouri State) before heading on the road for a couple of weeks.Today, we’ll share a few Gophers Notes. But first, let’s get to know another Gophers senior. Right-handed pitcher Toby Anderson has made a start each weekend so far for the Gophers. The Idaho native came to the Gophers and has split his time between starting and working in the bullpen. In 2016, he went 7-1 with a 3.32 ERA.

 

Seth Stohs (SS): Growing up in Idaho, who was your favorite team and who were some of your favorite ballplayers?

Toby Anderson (TA): I would say growing up with no pro team close to me, I was always a fan of the Giants just because I love their stadium and had always wanted to play for them. Favorite player would be Roy Halladay. He was always fun to watch.

SS: What were some of the highlights of your high school career?

TA: Winning the first baseball district championship in our school history and making it to the state championship.

SS: What was it about the University of Minnesota that made you decide to play for the Gophers?

TA: When I was in the college search and started seriously talking to teams there was never really a competition, I was drawn to this place from the first time I talked to the coaches. Also my dad played with TO (Todd Oakes) at Nebraska, so having that connection helped with the comfort level as well.

SS: Have you played summer ball through your college years?

TA: I played one full summer for the Duluth Huskies, and about 2 weeks of another summer just on a temporary contract.

SS: Which pitches do you throw, and what makes you successful on the mound?

TA: Fastball, Changeup, slider. I think what makes me successful is the ability to go at people with my fastball and command that pitch consistently.

SS: What have been some of the highlights of your time with the Gophers?

TA: Starting against the Twins my sophomore year was a big highlight, and then really all of last season. The whole process of us winning the Big Ten and making a regional was something I will never forget.

SS: What are your goals for the 2017 season?

TA: Being in that Sunday role again, I want to make sure no matter what the stats say or how I'm pitching I always give my team a good chance to win the series at the end of the day. We obviously want to repeat as Big Ten champs and also take it a step farther and possibly make a push to Omaha.

SS: What is your major, and what are your career goals going forward? (How does baseball fit into that equation?)

TA: Sports management, and I grew up in a family of coaches so it has always been a dream of mine to coach either baseball or basketball at the college level. Hoping to get a shot at pro ball and to play this game as long it will allow me too before telling me to hang it up.

 

Thank you to Toby Anderson for taking time out of his busy schedule of school and baseball to answer our questions.

 

GOPHERS NOTES

 

On Tuesday night, the Gophers hosted South Dakota State at US Bank Stadium. Minnesota got off to a quick start with three runs in the first inning. They added four more in the third inning and then held on for the win. Terrin Vavra went 2-4 with a double. Alex Boxwell was also 2-4. Toby Hanson went 1-3 with a walk. Matt Stemper was 1-3 with a double and three RBI. Nolan Burchill, the freshman from Sioux Falls, started. He gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks in 3.2 innings. Jackson Rose came in and gave up two runs on a hit and a walk in 2.1 innings. Jeff Fasching struck out two in two scoreless innings. Tim Shannon got the final three outs.

 

On Wednesday, UW-Milwaukee came to town. The Gophers needed a walkoff to win it. Sophomore Reggie Meyer made the start. He gave up one run on three hits and a walk in five innings. Jake Stevenson gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. Tim Shannon came on and gave up a run (on a homer) in 1.1 innings. Brian Glowicki threw a perfect ninth inning. In the bottom of the ninth, Luke Pettersen led off with a single. Terrin Vavra was hit by a pitch. The next two batters got out which brought Toby Hanson to the plate. The first baseman hit a double to score Pettersen and end the game. Alex Boxwell went 3-4. Vavra went 2-3 with a triple. Pettersen went 2-5. Micah Coffey drove in two runs.

 

What’s next? The Gophers will host Missouri State at US Bank Stadium Friday through Sunday. On Friday, the teams play at 6:30. Saturday, the game will begin at 2:00. Sunday’s finale has a start time of 1:00.

 

The Gophers will spend the next week in California, and then the following weekend, they will start Big 10 play with a series at Ohio State. Their next home game is scheduled for April 4th at Siebert Field against North Dakota State.

Please feel free to discuss the Anderson Q&A or any goings on with the Gophers baseball program.

 

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