Matt Borelli, Staff Writer:
Despite last season’s heartbreaking ending to the season, the Southern baseball team has come out with one goal this season, a national championship.
“We have a good nucleus back. We just have to get over that hump, host another regional and hopefully this time, win it,” said head coach Tim Shea.
Last year, the Owls season ended at Yale Field when rival Franklin Pierce took two consecutive games to win the East Regional and move on to the World Series. Almost the entire team is back and looking for revenge.
“Yeah, last year was tough, but it just adds fuel to the fire for the team,” said senior catcher Nick DeProspo.
Fuel to the fire is exactly right. The Owls jumped out to a 22-0 start before getting defeated by the Ravens of Franklin Pierce in the second game of a double header on April 2.
In the stretch of 22 straight, the Owls set marks as the best start in program history and were the last remaining
team in all three levels of collegiate baseball to be undefeated.
“I wasn’t surprised at the quick start,” said Shea, who has been with the program for nearly 21 years.
“I can’t say I expected to win 22 straight, but if we want to win games nationally and in conference we need confidence.”
The Owls, currently ranked fifth in the nation, have been all over the country so far this season. The squad opened the season in North Carolina with four games in two days.
“Our goal was to win the series,” said Shea. “It was simple, come back 4-0.”
The Owls did just that, winning all four games against Felician College and Long Island University. They then traveled to Florida for seven games in five days and took all seven of the games outscoring their opponents 56-13 in those games.
“Our goals were similar in the Florida trip,” said Shea, who has led the Owls to four NCAA tournament appearances as skipper. “Beat the team in front of us and go 7-0.”
The Owls have been led by the solid pitching of Chris Zbin (5-1, 1.29 ERA) and Kevin Pettine (4-0, 3.43 ERA) who have paced the Owls pitching staff as one of the top staffs in Division II.
Steve Landell and Steve Simon have contributed solid pitching and junior Ryan Yerina has been seeing action after starting the season with an injury.
“I have just been trying to put my team in the best position to win,” said Zbin, who leads the team with 53 strikeouts.
The Owls bats have been on fire this season as well. Junior transfer shortstop Kyle Cummings has endured
a strong season so far leading the team in batting average (.378), hits and playing stellar defensive play and setting the pace at the top of the lineup.
Ryan Geffert and Kyle Rosadino have been tough outs in the middle of the lineup combining for three homeruns
and 60 RBI so far this season, both with averages over .350.
“I just try to get on base and let my teammates drive me in,” said Cummings,
a transfer from UConn-Avery Point. “I want to play good defense, get on base and get the win.”
The Owls have 20 games remaining on schedule before the Northeast- 10 tournament and the East Regional.
The goal is plain and simple since last year, go to the World Series. Eating, practice, rest- the team knows the recipe for victory.
“Overall, we have belief that we can do it,” said Shea. “A lot of veterans back, good freshman and some transfers and we have the focus. We have to make sure we take no days off and we haven’t since day one.”
“Our team is coherently strong and we have our goals,” said Cummings. “Now it is just up to us to achieve them.”
