Current Release: April 28th, 2009 | Vol. XXX Iss. 10

Marlin baseball looks to veterans for leadership after loss in season opener

By Mary Cuff

mecuff@vwc.edu

One goal: Win ODACs.

If you ask any Virginia Wesleyan Marlin baseball player or coach, what their major objective is for the 2009 season that will be your response. Last season the Marlins fell a game short of this aspiration as Randolph-Macon defeated them in the ODAC championship game 4-2.

 All our returners know how it feels to work so hard and not come home with a title, assistant coach Mike Loyd said.  All nine players were not focused when it came to that particular game.

Focus and determination are what will set this team apart from previous seasons, as the lineup is led by seniors C.J. Rhodes, Phil Cadle, Brandon Hathaway and Kevin Nally. All 4 players started as freshman and are expected to make a huge impact at bat, and on the field. The pitching staff this year is anticipated to be led by junior Gary Bulman and seniors Shawn Polke and Brett Horowitz.

 A lot of returners will be coming back so I believe this should be another successful season, Loyd said.

Though the returners are projected to make a mark on this season, freshmen such as Gage Collins, Josh Hathaway and Jake Cameron are expected to see playing time if starting players are hurt or not producing. Sophomore transfer from Old Dominion University, Myles Shipp, also joined the line up this season, as starting center fielder.

Team comradery seems to be another important aspect that separates this year s team from last.

 We are closer as a team, junior 3rd baseman Max Axelrod said.  I think this will help us win the ODAC tournament this year and go to regionals.

Senior infielder Hilton Ianniciello also feels that each player on the squad has the same team mentality.

 In previous seasons we had the talent but we weren t able to perform together, Ianniciello said.  This year we are more focused on coming together and playing for each other rather than ourselves.

Even though the Marlins lost their opening game on Saturday Feb. 7 against no. 9 ranked Salisbury University, it helped them understand the adjustments that need to be made to dominate the ODAC s.

 The pitching staff needed to compete better and believe in themselves, Loyd said.  As we traveled to Averett University the following day, our pitching came around with only four competing pitchers.

The Marlin s faced a double header on Sunday Feb. 8 against Averett, winning the first game 6 to 2, and lost the second game 5 to 6. Junior Mike Marion and seniors, C.J. Rhodes and Kevin Nally each produced a homerun while at bat.

Although, opening weekend wasn t as successful as the Marlins hoped for, they are planning to adjust each aspect of the game, to play to their best ability.

 This was only the first three games of the season so we are not too worried about it, Loyd said.  We are going to take these games and build off of them.

The Marlins will be back in action on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. as they take on Neumann College of Pennsylvania.