Spring Break
A question of funding: an ire of charger ball
Underfunded baseball program seeks to re-structure; three people, three ideas for improvement
Chase Purdy
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Sports
"I believe they ought to have the maximum number of Division II baseball scholarships," Lude said. "If you've got three and you're splittin' 'em, well, then you've got peanuts. It's almost like having none."
Lude led Hillsdale's 1948 and 1949 teams to two consecutive Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference championships. Six members of his teams immediately signed professional contracts, including signings to the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians.
After coaching at Hillsdale, he accepted a position as head baseball coach at the University of Maine. He led his new team to a conference championship win in 1950. Lude went on to coach football and baseball at the University of Delaware and Colorado State University.
Lude said he thinks it's impossible for smaller, private schools like Hillsdale to compete successfully each year against large state schools. He said the school cannot recruit the talent it needs, with such a small budget.
"It has to be a decision of the administration," Lude said. "If they don't to do it then they have to be satisfied with mediocrity."
Lude suggested Hillsdale join another conference or start a new one.
Stepping up to the plate
Senior Jesse Smith serves as co-captain of the baseball team. He said he doesn't think the money presents a huge problem because he's seen the talent on the field. There's a lack of focus hurting the team more than anything, he said.
"At this level, and the teams that we're playing against, it requires additional sacrifice and additional commitment," Smith said. "You only see that from half the guys or less, not all of the team - and it affects everyone negatively."
He said the team's small budget feeds into the performance issues.
"It's definitely a problem, getting the adequate amount of money," Smith said. "But at the same time I feel like the money has been well used. We've brought in the talent, but there hasn't been development."
Lude led Hillsdale's 1948 and 1949 teams to two consecutive Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference championships. Six members of his teams immediately signed professional contracts, including signings to the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians.
After coaching at Hillsdale, he accepted a position as head baseball coach at the University of Maine. He led his new team to a conference championship win in 1950. Lude went on to coach football and baseball at the University of Delaware and Colorado State University.
Lude said he thinks it's impossible for smaller, private schools like Hillsdale to compete successfully each year against large state schools. He said the school cannot recruit the talent it needs, with such a small budget.
"It has to be a decision of the administration," Lude said. "If they don't to do it then they have to be satisfied with mediocrity."
Lude suggested Hillsdale join another conference or start a new one.
Stepping up to the plate
Senior Jesse Smith serves as co-captain of the baseball team. He said he doesn't think the money presents a huge problem because he's seen the talent on the field. There's a lack of focus hurting the team more than anything, he said.
"At this level, and the teams that we're playing against, it requires additional sacrifice and additional commitment," Smith said. "You only see that from half the guys or less, not all of the team - and it affects everyone negatively."
He said the team's small budget feeds into the performance issues.
"It's definitely a problem, getting the adequate amount of money," Smith said. "But at the same time I feel like the money has been well used. We've brought in the talent, but there hasn't been development."
Be the first to comment on this story