Season in Swing
Baseball takes steps in the right direction; return to Fla.
Jancy Nightingale
Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: Sports
The Charger baseball team caught one win and let three games slip away to Kentucky Wesleyan College in a four game series this weekend, making their ongoing season record 2-7.
Junior captain Adam Connell said of their seven losses, five have been by a difference of two runs or less.
"In a lot of the games we'll be winning. We just have to learn how to finish," Connell said.
The pattern continued Saturday, when the Chargers started strong, but after the fifth inning, Kentucky caught up, and eventually took both matches, 7-6 and 11-7. Head coach Paul Noce said the Chargers had a four run lead in the second game in the sixth inning, then didn't hold up against Kentucky's strong hitting team.
Sophomore captain John Bonvillian also mentioned the one inning.
"We score runs, then we give them back," he said.
"We're in every game, and we're putting up a lot of runs and playing good defense."
It's just the one inning.
Sunday's series started rough with a 12-5 loss. For the last match, they gained determination to play the game from start to finish.
"We played with a better attitude, more tough, intense and determined, but more loose and relaxed. We played the game and didn't give up," Bonvillian said.
Noce concurred.
"They showed a lot of courage at the last game, stepped up and won the game," he said. The Chargers sealed the deal, winning the nightcap 5-4.
Sophomore Kris Morris pitched six innings with two strikeouts in the last game and freshman Jeff Scarpelli also contributed to the win, going 2-for-4 with a double, run scored and RBI in the game. Bonvillian and junior Brent Opland each had five hits in the four games, and Bonvillian also drove in four runs.
Besides pushing through the tough inning, Noce, Connell, and Bonvillian acknowledged that both having new players and players filling new positions are factors that non-conference games give them the chance to smooth out.
Connell mentioned some players are fresh starters, and others are playing different positions from last season. Noce said they're still getting a feel for the batting order, among other things.
"We're young in a few positions," Noce said, adding that the whole outfield is new.
He doesn't see it as an excuse.
"I think they can do it," he said.
"We're learning a lot and seeing what we need to improve on."
After getting in a few more games in Florida this weekend starting today with Wheeling Jesuit University, the Chargers will tentatively face Ashland University in their opening GLIAC conference game Wednesday, weather permitting.
"We hope to play," Noce said.
Connell said it'll be tough for a first GLIAC game since Ashland is consistently one of the best teams in the conference, but the games beforehand should help.
"Florida trips help us get ready to play the Ashlands and Grand Valleys," Connell said.
Bonvillian also put Ashland as one of the best teams in the league every year.
"They'll be a good challenge for us."
Junior captain Adam Connell said of their seven losses, five have been by a difference of two runs or less.
"In a lot of the games we'll be winning. We just have to learn how to finish," Connell said.
The pattern continued Saturday, when the Chargers started strong, but after the fifth inning, Kentucky caught up, and eventually took both matches, 7-6 and 11-7. Head coach Paul Noce said the Chargers had a four run lead in the second game in the sixth inning, then didn't hold up against Kentucky's strong hitting team.
Sophomore captain John Bonvillian also mentioned the one inning.
"We score runs, then we give them back," he said.
"We're in every game, and we're putting up a lot of runs and playing good defense."
It's just the one inning.
Sunday's series started rough with a 12-5 loss. For the last match, they gained determination to play the game from start to finish.
"We played with a better attitude, more tough, intense and determined, but more loose and relaxed. We played the game and didn't give up," Bonvillian said.
Noce concurred.
"They showed a lot of courage at the last game, stepped up and won the game," he said. The Chargers sealed the deal, winning the nightcap 5-4.
Sophomore Kris Morris pitched six innings with two strikeouts in the last game and freshman Jeff Scarpelli also contributed to the win, going 2-for-4 with a double, run scored and RBI in the game. Bonvillian and junior Brent Opland each had five hits in the four games, and Bonvillian also drove in four runs.
Besides pushing through the tough inning, Noce, Connell, and Bonvillian acknowledged that both having new players and players filling new positions are factors that non-conference games give them the chance to smooth out.
Connell mentioned some players are fresh starters, and others are playing different positions from last season. Noce said they're still getting a feel for the batting order, among other things.
"We're young in a few positions," Noce said, adding that the whole outfield is new.
He doesn't see it as an excuse.
"I think they can do it," he said.
"We're learning a lot and seeing what we need to improve on."
After getting in a few more games in Florida this weekend starting today with Wheeling Jesuit University, the Chargers will tentatively face Ashland University in their opening GLIAC conference game Wednesday, weather permitting.
"We hope to play," Noce said.
Connell said it'll be tough for a first GLIAC game since Ashland is consistently one of the best teams in the conference, but the games beforehand should help.
"Florida trips help us get ready to play the Ashlands and Grand Valleys," Connell said.
Bonvillian also put Ashland as one of the best teams in the league every year.
"They'll be a good challenge for us."
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