2008 Woodie Awards
Promising baseball season opens with new club, attitude
Issue date: 2/8/06 Section: Sports
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Staff Writer
Though not quite time for the smell of freshly cut grass and the crack of a bat in Major League Baseball, it is time for the ping of aluminum bats in college baseball. The American pastime is widely regarded as the most anticipated sport of the spring, and the Crusaders are looking forward to a season of success.
Following a disappointing 2005 season, the Crusaders are only returning 11 players from last year. "We're coming into this year with a new ball club, a new approach, and a new attitude," said Tim Nihart, head coach. "We expect a campaign resembling the team's 1999 season."
The Crusaders reached the National Christian Collegiate Athletics Association Regional for the first time in school history, and were one game away from the NCCAA World Series that spring. "The team goal is to win consistently in order to get a higher seed in the Regional this year and to hopefully get to the NCCAA World Series," said Nihart.
The 36-man roster touts speed all around the diamond, being successful in 15 of 16 stolen base attempts in only four games, with shortstop Mike Reis, junior Christian studies, leading the team with four steals so far.
Speed is not the only thing the team has.
"We hit and run very well," says Nihart. The team is also has a batting average of .333, and is averaging just over seven runs per game and have hit three home runs so far. They also have three sacrifice bunts and one sacrifice fly on the year, showing an ability to manufacture runs at a rapid pace.
The offense is not the only strong point for NGU. Coach Nihart boasts of his three aces, Dylan Davidson, junior sport management; Devin Vance, sophomore business administration; and Brandon Young, junior marketing.
As a whole, the team's pitching staff has held opponents to a stifling .092 batting average while accumulating a miniscule 0.78 earned run average. The pitchers exercise very good control as well, as they have a strikeouts-to-walks ratio of 33-to-19.
Even with high expectations, the season is sure to have its challenges.
"We play 65 to 70 percent of our games on the road, so traveling can be rough on the players because they miss so many classes," said Nihart.
The team's 56-game schedule has the team traveling as far way as Nashville, Tenn. and Clearwater, Fla.