A 1996 Summa Cum Laude graduate of Ashland, Gene Stechschulte started his career as an Eagle in 1993 when he led AU with three triples, and things only got better from there. In 1994 he averaged .274 at the plate in 36 games before improving his clip to .391 through 56 games in 1995 – the school's last year competing in the GLVC. In that same year, he tallied 11 doubles, six triples, 15 home runs (second-most single season in AU history), 58 RBI, 143 total bases (fourth all-time for single-season) and 47 runs while leading his squad to its first ever NCAA Division II World Series appearance. During his breakout junior season, the shortstop was named a First Team All-American and an Academic All-American while also earning Regional Player of the Year distinction. Upon graduation, Stechschulte was drafted to the major leagues where he spent eight years as a professional, including three years with the St. Louis Cardinals. In his major league debut, he struck out the first batter he faced, and almost a year to the date later he got his first appearance at the plate and became the 16th MLB player to hit a home run on the first pitch seen. Despite being a standout shortstop at Ashland, Stechschulte pitched 116 games in the MLB and finished with an 8-7 record, a 4.58 ERA and 84 strikeouts. Additionally, he is one of only two former Ashland baseball players to play in the MLB, following Ken Kravec's tenure from 1975-82. He now serves as the head baseball coach at Ohio Northern University where he has been coaching for the last four years with a 90-65 career record.