The Wesleyan baseball team began their promising season over spring break in sunny California. While the team went 2-7-1 for the week, all team members insist that this record does not reflect the level of play posted by the Cards.
As the team worked to find their groove and integrate the frosh players, they met some heavy hitters, including the Division III defending national champions, Chapman Panthers. Even when facing teams from warmer climes, who can train outdoors year-round, Wesleyan was right there with the competition.
“We were only beaten well twice, and that was by the defending champs and another independent squad, which may be the best team we see all season,” said pitcher Eric Wdowiak ’06. “Our other losses were close: we were either dominating the score board and then surprised in the final stretch, or neck and neck the whole game.
”The trip to California was amazing,“ said Coach Mark Woodworth. ”We played the best Division III teams in the nation out there, and that level of competition forced us to raise the bar. Every single player but one was in a new position, so we sometimes had to learn by doing, but the passion with which the guys played was exciting.“
The team did well on the offensive side of the game, with 112 total hits and an average of 6.3 runs-per-game, while the defensive side held fast but took longer to get into a rhythm. No longer a rookie, Alexander Brooks ’06 showed his veteran status by posting ten RBI’s and driving out two home runs. Returning outfielder Jeff Maier ’06 led the team in hitting with a California batting average of .568. Maier’s performance throughout the week earned him a place on the California Classic All-Tournament Team. The battles also smiled upon promising rookies Adam Kopiec ’07, who handled the catching duties, and Alex Matone ’07, who held down the hot corner.
”Alex was great, he really stood out as a player who will definitely do good things for us throughout the season,“ said Chris Waelsch ’07.
The team’s performance against top teams such as Chapman and DeSalles left Coach Woodward optimistic for the remainder of the season.
”Our team has a special thing going on. While we graduated seven key players from last year, we have a young group who are willing and excited to learn every day,“ Woodworth said. ”It’s all about energy, enthusiasm and positivity, and we have it. Those things will be the building block for the program for a long time.“
The Cardinals scored five runs in the ninth to tie Pomona, before losing in the tenth, and also came up big scoring three runs in the last inning to tie Whittier. The team made their national television debut on March 15, when talk show host Craig Kilborne mentioned the team on the air, while they sat in the audience.
Wesleyan took to the diamond for the first time on the East Coast yesterday against Coast Guard Academy, defeating the Bears 8-4. The team has its home opener this Saturday at 1 p.m., as they battle Little Three rival Amherst in a double-header.
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