2008 Woodie Awards
Diamonds in the rough
Baseball turns early start around with four straight wins; young talent heats up
Will Hardaway
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Sports
After a rocky start, the Trinity baseball team has won four straight to put themselves in a close second in the SCAC standings.
"We stayed positive at the beginning of the season and recognized that with so many young guys in the lineup, mistakes were going to be made early," said catcher Zach Fregosi, senior.
After sweeping Rutger's University-Newark (N.J.) in two blowout wins and an extra-innings nail biter, Trinity traveled to Kerrville where Schreiner University failed to slow down the Tiger's momentum.
Dominick Robusto and Dylan Early, first years, gave the Tigers an early lead with their RBI in the first inning.
Pitcher Brian Oates, senior, commented on the help he's been getting from his younger teammates around the plate.
"We have a phenomenal freshman class that can really hit and they have been doing a great job for us," Oates said.
The Tiger's had a field day in the second and third innings, with five runs in each. Trinity complemented their dominance around the plate with stifling defensive play, allowing only one hit through three innings.
Early continued to help the Tiger's with RBI doubles in both the fifth and seventh innings and John Paillet, first year, scored on an error in the sixth rounding out the score at 15-4.
"I think the biggest thing that we are doing to help us win these games is at the plate," Oates said, "Guys like Kevin Calbick [first year] and Dylan Early [first year] have been huge so far this year and those young guys, together with some of our more veteran guys like Evan Jones [sophomore] and Stosh Hoover [senior] have really been carrying the load."
Pitcher Drew Bignall, senior, has witnessed the recent changes that have put the Tigers in second place in the SCAC.
"We have continued the competitiveness that coach has always been preaching," Bignall said, "but now we are scoring in five, six, or seven innings in the game rather than two or three."
Zach Bukowski, sophomore, got the start and pitched five strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out three. Mike Hunter, sophomore, and Ryan Tamez, first year, came on in relief and pitched four shutout innings to end the game.
"Our pitching has been consistent with good games from guys like Evan Bronson" Oates said "but I think that it has really been our hitters that are making this little win streak look impressive."
Although the future appears promising for Trinity, the veterans recognize the task ahead of them.
"We haven't started conference play yet, and we know that'll be a grind," Fregosi said.
Trinity faces off against Huston-Tillotson University (Texas) on Sunday at 2 p.m., Hardin-Simmons March 4 and Texas Lutheran University on March 11.
"We stayed positive at the beginning of the season and recognized that with so many young guys in the lineup, mistakes were going to be made early," said catcher Zach Fregosi, senior.
After sweeping Rutger's University-Newark (N.J.) in two blowout wins and an extra-innings nail biter, Trinity traveled to Kerrville where Schreiner University failed to slow down the Tiger's momentum.
Dominick Robusto and Dylan Early, first years, gave the Tigers an early lead with their RBI in the first inning.
Pitcher Brian Oates, senior, commented on the help he's been getting from his younger teammates around the plate.
"We have a phenomenal freshman class that can really hit and they have been doing a great job for us," Oates said.
The Tiger's had a field day in the second and third innings, with five runs in each. Trinity complemented their dominance around the plate with stifling defensive play, allowing only one hit through three innings.
Early continued to help the Tiger's with RBI doubles in both the fifth and seventh innings and John Paillet, first year, scored on an error in the sixth rounding out the score at 15-4.
"I think the biggest thing that we are doing to help us win these games is at the plate," Oates said, "Guys like Kevin Calbick [first year] and Dylan Early [first year] have been huge so far this year and those young guys, together with some of our more veteran guys like Evan Jones [sophomore] and Stosh Hoover [senior] have really been carrying the load."
Pitcher Drew Bignall, senior, has witnessed the recent changes that have put the Tigers in second place in the SCAC.
"We have continued the competitiveness that coach has always been preaching," Bignall said, "but now we are scoring in five, six, or seven innings in the game rather than two or three."
Zach Bukowski, sophomore, got the start and pitched five strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out three. Mike Hunter, sophomore, and Ryan Tamez, first year, came on in relief and pitched four shutout innings to end the game.
"Our pitching has been consistent with good games from guys like Evan Bronson" Oates said "but I think that it has really been our hitters that are making this little win streak look impressive."
Although the future appears promising for Trinity, the veterans recognize the task ahead of them.
"We haven't started conference play yet, and we know that'll be a grind," Fregosi said.
Trinity faces off against Huston-Tillotson University (Texas) on Sunday at 2 p.m., Hardin-Simmons March 4 and Texas Lutheran University on March 11.
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