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Printer-Friendly ModeReloading for another run
Making regionals in 2007, senior-laden team has their eyes set on the top in 2008
February 25, 2008 —
This year's Cardinals baseball team have been around the basepaths for a long time.
Returning six seniors - including last year's GLIAC strikeouts and innings logged leader Scott Roy - SVSU's boys of summer feel their experience will carry them to the next level.
"We're so deep this year," senior catcher Max Bell said. "I feel like a lot of guys can step in. In the last few years we haven't had anyone who's been in any situations like going to regionals last year, and the GLIAC tournament. Now, because of our experience, we're a lot more confident."
Finishing 2007 third in their conference with a record of 34-14 (21-7 GLIAC), the Cards made the regional tournament, lasting three games, but eventually would lose to Drury 12-4.
"We only lost two seniors, both who were starters and played a lot," senior outfielder Reed Welker said. "But compared to last year, our hitters have improved a lot from what I've seen so far. And our pitching staff should be just as strong since we only really lost one guy."
Along with Roy - who finished last season with an ERA of 2.17, second best in the GLIAC - the Cards are also returning sophomore pitcher Andrew Doyle. In 2007, Doyle recorded 75 strikeouts, good enough for fifth in the GLIAC, and held batters to a conference best .209 average.
"Our pitching is as good as anybody's. I think Roy and Doyle are as good as anybody," coach Walt Head said.
While Head knows his starting pitching is solid, and his bullpen is improved, his team still faces some questions.
"There are some question marks, but if you look back at last year, those question marks all filled in pretty good."
Despite those question marks, he remains concerned about his team's ability to hit consistently. Last season, the Cards team average finished at .294, putting a lot of pressure on the team's pitching staff, who came together for the second best ERA in the conference, finishing with a 3.49 ERA.
"I'm so tired of playing in one run ball games," said the Cardinals skipper, who's entering his 25th year as head coach. "We had so many of them last year. Last season, we didn't hit very well, and our bullpen just didn't get the job done.
"We had to run a lot, we had to bunt a lot. I think we won 13 games on squeeze bunts out of 34. You can't count on your starters to throw shutouts every game. I think there has been improvements in our bullpen, but we've got to hit. My teams have always hit, and I'd like get out there and bang away, but in the past year, we've had to change and run more."
Senior first baseman Brandon Fanion returns to the lineup this year. Fanion led the Cards in all major batting categories in 2007, posting a .346 average, 4 home runs and 39 RBIs.
The team is headed to Florida this weekend, playing six teams and 11 games. Head says his team's performance there should prove a good barometer for the coming season.
"We've got a tough schedule in Florida," Head said. "We open up with a double-header against a team who beat us 4-0 down there last year. Then our second double-header on Sunday is a Kentucky Wesleyan from our region, the Great Lakes Valley. Then on Wednesday we play St. Joe, another team from our region. Those are games we have to win. There's no question about it. In Florida, the way I see our schedule is that anybody can beat us, and we can beat anybody."
Last season saw a log jam at the top of the GLIAC standings, with Ashland, Grand Valley, and SVSU all finishing within a game of each other. Head sees the completion stacking up in much the same way.
"Teams like Grand Valley might have lost some players, but with the amount of scholarships they have, they reload fast," Head said. "We could win it, we could be second, we could be third, it's up to us. And that's what I've been telling these guys so far this year."
Head's team knows their future is up to them to make, and have focused on the little things to take their season further into the summer.
"To win big, you have to work at the little things," Bell said. "We got better last year when we went to the regionals, so now you work on the little things: techniques in pitching, techniques in hitting, techniques in fielding. With those little things you bring about bigger wins and bigger opportunities to go farther."
