2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball team hopes
Kathleen Groves
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Sports
The Pitt State baseball team had a rough start to its season on Feb. 2 and 3 in Lawton, Okla. Cameron University walked with 7-0 and 4-0 wins on Saturday, and the Aggies ended the weekend with 6-1 and 7-4 wins against the Pitt State Gorillas on Sunday.
The Gorillas' next games will be played on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 16 and 17, against Wayne State in their home opener at Al Ortolani Field. The team is under the direction of head coach Steve Bever.
"Coming up this weekend we play Wayne State from Nebraska," said senior pitcher Darrell Dinger. "It's not a conference game, but I am looking forward to it because they are ranked and it should be a really exciting game."
Along with their veteran players, the team welcomed both freshmen and transfers this season - one of which is Dinger, who transferred to Pitt State after playing two years at Allen Community College and one year at Mississippi Valley State.
"We have a group of very talented players coming in this season, along with the talent from last year and years before," said assistant coach Beau Schultz.
"We've got some really good guys on the team that should all shine at some point this season," added Dinger.
With cold winter weather limiting outdoor play, the team has had to practice whenever and wherever it could.
"We have limited room in the Weede, and we have to take turns with the softball team," said Dinger. "The Weede is not the same as being outside, but we just have to practice as much as we can with what the weather is like now."
Despite stumbling at their first games, the team hopes to end the season strong. Coaches say having a team with focus and positive attitudes may be leading factors in helping Pitt State make it to regional play-offs.
"We have a well rounded group that is very, very deep," Schultz said. "I think that is going to be our strength."
The trust and compassion among the team could be exactly what they need to turn this season around and end it strong.
"I really like the focus and the camaraderie around the team," Schultz said. "They are a real tight-knit group. That is worth a lot of wins in itself. Then, take the friendships and the great team atmosphere and you put that on top of the talent, and then the sky is the limit."
Pitt State will take the field against Wayne State at 1 p.m. this Saturday, and again on Sunday at noon.
The Gorillas' next games will be played on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 16 and 17, against Wayne State in their home opener at Al Ortolani Field. The team is under the direction of head coach Steve Bever.
"Coming up this weekend we play Wayne State from Nebraska," said senior pitcher Darrell Dinger. "It's not a conference game, but I am looking forward to it because they are ranked and it should be a really exciting game."
Along with their veteran players, the team welcomed both freshmen and transfers this season - one of which is Dinger, who transferred to Pitt State after playing two years at Allen Community College and one year at Mississippi Valley State.
"We have a group of very talented players coming in this season, along with the talent from last year and years before," said assistant coach Beau Schultz.
"We've got some really good guys on the team that should all shine at some point this season," added Dinger.
With cold winter weather limiting outdoor play, the team has had to practice whenever and wherever it could.
"We have limited room in the Weede, and we have to take turns with the softball team," said Dinger. "The Weede is not the same as being outside, but we just have to practice as much as we can with what the weather is like now."
Despite stumbling at their first games, the team hopes to end the season strong. Coaches say having a team with focus and positive attitudes may be leading factors in helping Pitt State make it to regional play-offs.
"We have a well rounded group that is very, very deep," Schultz said. "I think that is going to be our strength."
The trust and compassion among the team could be exactly what they need to turn this season around and end it strong.
"I really like the focus and the camaraderie around the team," Schultz said. "They are a real tight-knit group. That is worth a lot of wins in itself. Then, take the friendships and the great team atmosphere and you put that on top of the talent, and then the sky is the limit."
Pitt State will take the field against Wayne State at 1 p.m. this Saturday, and again on Sunday at noon.
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